The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-17
COL. PAGES STAND
HE STYLED LIEUT.. MORFORD AS
DEVOID OF HONOR AND GEN
TLEMANLINESS.
DUPLICATE PAY VOUCHER
WAS THE FINAL THING WHICH
THE COLONEL TOOK EX-
CEPTION TO.
1t Includes Number of Prominent
People in and Out of the
Twin Cities.

In scathing language does Col. Page,
of the Third United States infantry
and the commandant in charge of Fort
Smelling, denounce the character and
conduct of Lieut.. w. II. Morford, on
trial by court martial at the fort. In
his communication to the adjutant
general, after Lieut. Morford had
withdrawn his resignation, the colonel
said: He is devoid of a scintilla Of
honor and has defrauded everybody
for years. There is not a spark Of
gentlemanliness in his makeup, and
the service should be rid of this officer,
who has been a disgraceful incubus
to my regiment
The colonel by his testimony yester-
day showed that he had exercised ev-
cry leniency towards his junior officer,
and, after detailing the events and
causes which led to his arrest at
Lakeview last summer, had then
called Morford to him and advised him
to resign from the service rather than
run the risk Of a court martial and dis
honorable dismissal Morford told him
that he was trying to pay up all his
Indebtedness and was not guilty OF
any of the charges made against him.
few days later the duplication of
the lieutenant's pay voucher for one
month was discovered, and the err
ing subaltern was again sent for and
confronted with the damning evidence.
Col. Page then told him that he would
give him an hour to decide whether 1t
should be voluntary resignation or ar
rest and court martial, and Morford
handed in his resignation. This was
forwarded to the department head
quarters, but on the day following
Morford had evidently changed his
mind, for he withdrew it.
Capt Richard L. Randall, Of the
Fifth infantry, stationed at Fort Nc
Pherson, Ca, was the next witness.
He was the father of Lieut. Morford's
wife. April last his daughter had writ
ten him that her husband was owing
certain debts and that she would come
home for the purpose of economizing
and paying off these obligations The
witness told of an arrangement made
with Capt. Roe and ]. B. Morford, Nor
ford's uncle, looking to a plan where
by the lieutenant's debts might be
paid. The plan was to pay off the
debts pro rata, Capt. Roe to act as a
kind Of receiver. It was intended that
the lieutenant was to contribute a
good share of his earnings. j. B. Nor
ford and Capt. Randall were to pay
as much as they could spare.
A letter from Morford to Mrs George
B. Lenten, his siSter-in-law, was read
in evidence. In it Morford spoke CT
his debts and that he was in need of
$3.50.
that she was unable to let him have
the money owing to certain reverses
of fortune.
A letter from the uncle to Mrs Nor
ford was read, in which the former
stated that he had done all he could
to settle Harry's debts. and express
ed sorrow for his nephew's predica-
ment. He could see no way of liqui-
dating the indebtedness without mort
gaging his home.
On scross-examination the judge ad-
vocate asked Capt. Randall if Lieut.
Morford had not made up a list of his
debts and sent the same to him. He
replied that there was such a list The
judge advocate produced the document
and offered the same in evidence. The
offer was strenuously objected to by
counsel for the accused and the ac-
cuSed himself, who stated that the pa
per was in the nature of a personal
communication which had been en-
closed in a certain letter by mistake.
After consideration by the court the
objection was overruled.
The paper was read in evidence. The
list of creditors, with addresses and
amounts, was as follows:
F. j. Herburger, Washington, $500; John
g. Haas, Lancaster, Pa, SIS; United States
National bank, Omaha, s57; Nebraska Ma
tional bank, Omaha, $780, A. Rokenberg, Leav-
enworth, Kan. SIPS: G. c. Bennett, Mime
apolis $500; Union bank, st. Paul, SIS; A.
Miesen, st. Paul. s2S5; T. H. Norton, Wheel
ing. W. Va, S513; Lieut. ]. H. Beacon Fort
Smelling. $50; Lieut. H. NJ. Reeve, West Point,
N. Y, 500: George F. Hall, st. Paul, $50;
]. T. Schusler, $12; First National bank, $40;
George W. Mead, Mankato, $125; William
Fletcher, Brooklyn. SOS; j. L. Strauch, ST.
Paul $25; W. H. Rafferty,, Lake City. $3.50;
w. H. Stacey, Leavenworth, Kan, S425; Bos-
ton store, St. Paul, Sc. Total, s2,954.
In connection with the statement of
debts there was a memorandum from
Lieut. Morford to the effect that lie
could produce receipts showing that he
had paid off 49, 900 of Indebtedness In.
two years. He had paid an average of
$40 month.
The dispositions of Col. Breck and
Alvin Saunders were read. The for
mer advised Morford to get out of debt
or else he would be dismissed in dis
grace. Mr.. Saunders stated that Nor
ford was a promising young man up to