The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1897-10-15
GhPThIN CLOSE
BY CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
lCopyrfght, 1894. by J. B. Lippincott Col
XIV.

.hadowed the lettre de cachet episodes |
of the winter of 1ST0-71. Never an or
pamental, never a social, and often an |
embarrassing feature of garrison life.
the first lieutenant of Company had |
been laboring under the further dlsad-
vantage of a six months absence from
the post of the regimental colors. There
we're many to speak against and none
TO speak for him. His singular habits
and characteristics. the rumors in cir
culation with regard to his Saving
nropensities when on bureau duty. and |
the queer warns" in circulation as 10 |
his disposition of the property OF the
officers who had died on his hands dur
ing the fever epidemic, had all received
additional impetus from the publica-
ton in northern papers of the Parmelec
side of the Tugaloo stories, and Closes
name was on the regimental market
at low quotation. even before the an
Iouncement of his arrest. But this
was not all. For months the regiment
al commander had been the recipient OF
frequent letters from two despalrlng
widows, relicts of the late Capt Stone
and Lieut.. Tighe, which letters claimed
that their husbands had died possessed
of certain items of personal property
watches, jewelry, money. martial
equipments, etc.-of which Capt. Close
had assumed charge and for only very
small portion of which had he ever rer-
dered account. They, with other Ia
dies of the regiment, had been sent
north when it became apparent that an
epidemic was probable; they had never
met Capt. Close, but were confident,
from the unsatisfactory nature of his
replies, and from all they could learn
about him from the letters they re-
oeived from the regiment, that he was
robbing the widow and the orphan,
and they appealed to the colonel for re-
dress
Now. old Braxton knew almost rs lit
tie of Close as did they. He asked his
adiutant and one or two captains what
they thought; he had letter written 10
Close telling him of these allegations
and calling for his version of the mat
ter. 1t did not come, and another let
ter--a "chaser"-was sent. demanding
immediate reply, and nearly weei:
elapsed before reply came. Close wrote
laboring hand. and for all official mat
ter employed the company clerk as
amanuensis. This being personal. h
spent hours in copying his reply. He
said he was tired of answering the let
tiers of Mesdames Stone and Tighe or
this subject. He had sent them invcn-
tories of everything of which their hus-
bands died possessed. and had RENTED
every cent he had realized from the
n,,1,, &c thay, ho1
watch. If either had ever owned di-
almond studs, as was alleged, he. Close,
had never seen them, nor the hundreds
Of dollars alleged to be in their pos
session. nor the company fund for
which Stone was accountable. In point
of fact, he, Close, was compelled to say
he did not believe the ladies knew what
their husbands did or did not have.
He was ready to make oath as to the
truth of his story, and Hospital Stew
ard Griffin and DIR. Meigs could also
testify that the deceased officers hal
hardly any effects to speak of-could
they only be found. But thereby hung
tale of further trouble. Meigs him
self had died of the fever, and Griffin,
after a fitful career, had been found
guilty of all manner of theft and dis
honesty as to hospital stores in his
charge, and was himself languishing,
in dishonorable discharge, a prisoner at
Ship island. Here Close thought to end
it all, but the widows-sisters they
were, who were born in the laundress'
quarters of old Fort Fillmore and had
followed the drum all over Texas and
New Mexico before the war-had
welded strapping sergeants and seen
their spouses raised to the shoulder
straps in the depleted state of the reg
ular army during the four years of vol
unteer supremacy-the widows were
row backed by a priest and Il pettifog
ger, and, mindful of the success achieved
by such proceeding when led by name
of their own nationality. were deter
. mined to push things" When De-
Cember came. such was the accumula-
ton of charge and specification against
the absent and friendless officer that
old Brax took the simplest way out of
it and applied for court-martial to
try the case.
The day after Christmas. therefore
and before the official copy of the order
was received at the barracks (as. oddly.
often happened in those times, until the
leak was discovered and duly pluggeG),
the New Orleans evening papers con-
tanned the following interesting item:
"A genera! court-martal of unusual
Importance is to be held at the bar
racks. the session to commence at ten
a. m. on the I'd of January. for the trial
of Brevet Capt. j. P. Close, of the
-taenth infantry on char peS serious
ly rejecting upon his character as an
officer and gentleman. The detail for
the court comprises officers of several
other regiments, as it is conceded that
there is a widespread prejudice against
the accused among his comrades in the
-teenth. Even the light battery has
been drawn upon in this instance, an
unusual circumstance, as officers of that
arm generally claim exemption from
such service in view of the peculiar and
engrossing nature of their battery du-
ties. Brevet Brig. Gen. Pike, of the til
cavalry. is detailed as president. and
First Lieut.. S. X. Waring, of the til
artillery, as judge advocate of the court.
The latter officer will be remembered
as the hero of remarkable adven-
ture in connection with the recent
cause celebre, the Lascelles affair"
well, may be kissed to DEATH" ex-