Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-06-16
FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
Proceedings of the Court Of Inquiry In the
College Campus Case.

campus case, continued its delibera.
tions up to last Saturday afternoon
and then adjourned to Tuesday, June
%.
The most interesting features of the
investigation developed last Saturday,
when General Watts contradicted a
great many things that had been sworn
to by other witnesses, and Lieutenant
Stokes, who, being a West Pointer, is
thoroughly up on military law, badly
confused the court as to the relevancy
of number of questions.
The first part of General Watts's
testimony was a reproduction of his
statement in which he said Colonel
Jones gave him to understand he had
permission to use the grounds on the
evening indicated. AS for guying the
students, he did not, nor did they guy
him. Questioned by the judge advo-
cate, he said when he rode across the
diamond on first entering the field, he
did not notice that a game of ball was
in progress.
Asked if his position near the third
base did not interfere with the game,
he answered that if it did he was not
requested to move. He was fifteen
feet distant from the third base. He
denied that he had over one CONVEX
sation with Major Sloan, neither did
he hear Major Sloan speak to him. If
his horse touched Major Sloan he was
unaware of such. He did not see any
of the professors near there. He did
not command Colonel Jones to clear
the field; but simply to move his bat
talon forward.
"How do you account for the fact
that Professor Sloan says he came to
you as president of the college and
requested you not to interrupt the
game? ?"
"It was possible" answered General
Watts, professor Sloan was mista-
KEN"
AS to fixed bayonets, he did not hear
any command to fix bayonets but OBJ
served that many were fixed. Ques-
toned as to his right to order the troops
marched forward, he answered that un-
der the laws of the state and the
regulations of the United States army,
he had perfect right to command the
troops as he did, and could have Or
dered them as he pleased.
A member of the court asked Cen
eral Watts did he not think. if he had
observed his promise to Professor Sloan
not to interfere with the game, that
the disturbance would have been pre-
vented. General Watts considered
that he had observed his word to Pro-
fessor Sloan. Under the same circum.
stances he would give the same order
to the troops again, for he considered
the two policeman endangered.
Colonel Jones related receiving the
order from General Watts to march
forward "and clear these grounds. !"
He did so.
"When reached the crowd, fearing
nv sword might stick some one unin'
tentionally on my part, l placed my
sword in my left hand and held it point
ckward, and with my right hand
waved to the crowd and said to them !:
Gentlemen, please give way, as l am
ordered, to across this field, and must
do So The crowd gave way, and did
not say a word to me or any member
of my command that I saw. They did
not even give me harsh look"
When fight took place in the space
between the company, he went there
to try and stop it. On returning to
the front of his battalion, General
Watts said to him:
eff you cannot manage your men,
you had better turn them over to the
captain said to him that I could
manage my men, and was doing So"
Lieutenant Stokes, the next witness,
began by refusing to answer q question
handed the judge advocated by Pro-
fesror J. w. Finn, who was not a
member of the court. The judge ad-
vocate said he was asking questions
from both sides.
"There are no sides in this court"
said Lieutenant Stokes.
The court retired for consultation
and decided not to press the question.
Lieutenant Stokes is a graduate of
West Point, and is detailed from the
army to assist the adjutant general
to instruct militia in encampments.
The examination proceeded. Lieu
tenant Stokes did not remember hear
ing an order given to fix bayonets.
Asked did he hear any such sugges-
ton, he replied he did not. He
noticed one captain had difficulty in
keeping his men in ranks.
Members in one company, he said,
had bayonets fixed, "and under the
the circumstances I will add very
proper'v %. I turned to Captain
Ba nu I'd said he had better have
bay nets fixed in his company. 1t
struck me such action might be nec-
essary."
"Was it necessary for General Watts
and staff to take position so near the
third base?"
"That is a matter of opinion, and
not of fact"
care you a graduate Of West
Point?"
"That is irrelevant"
"West Point is the highest military
school in the country, isn't it?'
"That is irrelevant"
care you thoroughly versed in mil
itary matters ?"
Lieutenant Stokes submitted that
that was matter for the court to
form an opinion on and not for the
witness.