The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-27
Tries 10 Explain TO the COurt-dartial
Why He Refused 10 Obey Orders.
NO NOTICE OF REDUCTION TO RANKS.
The Absence of Omcer's Stripes From the
Sleeve the FIRST Conhrmation--A Spicy
Letter From Hartman 20 Shackle-
ford Submitted as Evidence.

cused. who testified in his own behalf
dlsclaimod that he had az any time been
| diTespectful to superior officers or con-
Quoted himself in a manner unbecoming
a soldier. lie also claimed that only on
hast Monday evening he received official
| notice that he had been reduced to ranks.
Private r. Miller OF Company a, First
Regiment Infantry, was then tried on the
| charge OF absenting himself without leave
/ from drills and parades.
in both cases the findings OF the court
will be submitted TO Governor OFerrah,
as C0mmander-in-Ch for his approval
before they are made public
! The court viii sit again this evening.
| DELAY IN THE PROCEEDINGS.
The general court-martial was opened
| n feW minutes past s o'clock by the pre-
| sident. Major W. e. Simons. The follow
| ing members OF the court answered 10
the roll: Major W. f. simons. president.
| Major j.. r. Christian. Captain T.. j.
| Euker. Captain NJ r.. Mills. Captain
| George =. Shackelford. Lieutenant r.. A.
! Williams. Judge-Advocate Frank NJ
| Woon. Captain G. Gray Bossieux. Lieu
| tenant l.. J.. Cheatwood. The absentees
| were Captain a. l.. Lanicr and Major r..
| r. sutton
Private J. n. Hartman. the accused.
and his counsel. Mr.. Minetroe Folkes,
were absent at the time. and the Judge
| Advocate suggested that recess be taken
until the arrival Of the two in order 90
save time, because with the consent OF
| the accused the reading Of the records Of
| the last session OF the court could be dis
| pensed with, while otherwise IL would
have TO be read from beginning IN end.
On motion Of Captain Euker a recess
for fifteen minutes was then taken, dur
ing which Captain A. J.. Lanier reported
as q member Of the court.
When the court reconvened the Judge
Advocate stated that while Captains Mills
and Lanier had the right 10 sit in this
case tho law said il was doubtful policy
to admit members of the court who had
not originally sat i'm the case. Captains
Mills and Lanicr having been absent
when the case was gone into at the pre-
vious session. The court decided. how
ever on motion Of Lieutenant Williams,
that Captains Mills and Lanier should sit.
The proceedings Of the last session
were then read by the stenographcr, Mr..
John ID. Ritchie, and it was afterwards
approved by the court After Captains
Mills and Lanier were sworn. Mr.. FOlkes
asked Captain Shackelford If the order
reducing Corporal Hartman TO ranks had
been published and posted. lie replied
that the order had been hlcd away after
its contents had been communicated TO
the Company. While IL was proper TO
read the order II was not necessary.
Sergeant r. G.. Guthrie was then called
to the stand and testified as follows:
"I am twcnty-thrcc years old and live
at Gl2 east Clay street / know the ac-
cused as a private of Company G.. ON
the night of the inspection Private Hart
man refused 20 put on his uniform when
asked 10 do so boy the First Lieutenant
lie did not give any reason for his re-
fusal"
The Judge Advocate here rested his
case for the time being and the accused
took the stand ON questions by his
counsel he testified as follows:
THE ACCUSED TESTlFlES.
"Afv name IS John H. Hartman. i am
twenty-five years old, a dentist by pro-
fession and live at g5 east Broad street
I thought / was a Corporal IN Company
c.. until the official order was shown me
reducing mo TO ranks. ON July lZth on
coming 10 the Armory / was informed by
some one that Captain Shackelford had
either recommended my reducuon 10
ranks or would do so.
walked into the regmental armOry and
into ths room Of Company G.. on opening
nv locker / found that the corporal
stripes had been removed from my uni
form. / therefore left the room and
started up stairs. when ! met Captain
ShackelfOrd who told me that / was late
i'm putting on my uniform. | told him
that / could find no corporal's uniform
and I declined 20 put on a privato's uni
form. when he ordered me 10 do so.
'T thought az the time that ] still was a
corporal and / have the warrant signed
| by Colonel Jones now In my pocket IL
is dated August l.. 1896. and entities me TO
act as corporal. ! think prior 10 SIX
months ago I missed about two-thirds OF
! the drills. I was then student al Inc
University College Of Virginia ana my
closses iuterfered with the drills Of the
Company ] have asked Captain Shack
elford repeatedly for my discharge once
al the Armorv. when he told me that he
could not give IL at the time, there was
trouble at headquarters. but he promised
10 do what he could for me. He never
told me that he would recommend me
for promotion To Corporal and when ne
aid apr oint me it took me by surprise.
HAD NO RIGHT TO DO so.
ssT told CAPTAIN Shdckeioru thdt on the
tbird Mondays of the month my dental
eocietv met. which / would have TO at
tend. He replied that II l came 10 the
.rr,or,, on those evenings and answered
n my name. he would see that l was
marked present, which I.claim he had no
right 10 90. A..
street ON several occasions ana always
treated him politely and think i d'd
moro for the company than any Other
member during the last five years. For
tho six months following my appointment
| attended about fifty per cent. OF the
drills.
"On the evening OF September Goth my
action towards the Captain was not
prompted by disrespect When I came 90
the armory and saw that had no Cor
poraPs uniform, not having been officially
notified OF my reduction 20 ranks.
thought that I'm justice % myself / could
not wear the uniform Of "A private. / hold
my warrant to act as corporal from
Colonel Jones. and ! think now ] would
have dsobeyod the latter's orders IL /
had acted otherwise.
II am a dentist by profession aud am
also demonstrators in charge of the dem
tai department at the University Col
lege OF Virginia. | often have to work
late and do my laboratory work AT night
To my knowledge / never used language
unbec0ming a soldier. on the evening OF
September 2oth | said In the presence Of
Lieutenant Skpwith. ] don't see how
can put on a priyate's uniform I'm ius-
10. 4 l..I