Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-27
THE HARTMAN CASE.
IT'S HEARING IS CONCLUDED DE.
FORE THE couRT-MARTIAL.
HIS VERSION OF THE TROUBLE.
He Took Exceptions at BEING Re-
auced 10 the Ranks, and Declares
That He Had Pressed for Hts Dis
charge-ChRrges Against Miller.


Private John H. Hartman. Of Company
c. The charges against Private c. Miller,
OF the same company. were also heard.
There was very large crowd OF mill
tary men and lawyers present in the
band-Toom, where the court was held, and
particular interest was evinced in the
Hartman trial. Private Hartman was
on hand early with his attorney Mr..
Mnetree Folkes, and his defence was very
strong.
The proceedings were interfered with
IN some degree by the drilling OF a COM
pany overhead. and by the practicing Of
the drum and fife corps in an adjoining
room.
The court met promptly at $50. with
the following officers present: Major w.
+. Slmons presidenO, Major l.. T. Chris
tian. Captain c. Gray Bossieux. Captain
Z. J. Euker Captain Shackelford, Cap
tain Morgan r. Mills, Captain Lanier,
Lieutenant Williams. Lieutenant Cheat
wood. and Judge-Advocate f. NJ. Woon.
The officers were duly sworn and the
court stenographer read the account Of
the trial Of Private J. II. Hartman as
far as IL had been proceeded with when
the court rose on Monday night.
THE STATES LAST WITNESS.
Sergeant Guthrie was called TO the
Gand by the Judge-Advocate, Before
lhis witness was examined DIR. Folkes
asked Captain Shackelford whether the
IL. IL
had ever been posted in the company
room or In the Armory. Captain Shack
elford said that the order had been read
10 the company and had been posted in
the file used for such papers. Mr..
FoIkes asked whether il would be proper
10 read the notice to the company Wit
ness said Il would be proper. but not
necessary. Captain Shackelford then re-
tired.
The Judge-Advocate asked Sergeant
Guthrie II ne had ever heard Private
Hartman use language detrimental to
the service. and witness replied that he
had not. only on one occasion had wit
ness heard accused use disrespectful Ian
guage to his superior officer, and that
was on the night OF the inspection. He
seemed fretted when he told Captain
Shackeford he would not put his uniform
on. and his manner implied disrespect
The Judge-Advocate then rested the case
for the State
PLEA OF THE DEFENDANT.
Private Hartman was then put upon the
stand. Major Christian said he under
stood that the witness could make
statement instead OF testifying. This
was overruled. The accused stated that
he was under the impression that he held
the rank of corporal until Monday night,
when he heard the Coloners order read.
lie had heard on July 18th that Captain
shackelford had applied for his reduction
10 ranks, but had never heard of the
Coloners order until Monday night. On
the night of the inspection he had gone
10 his locker TO put on his uniform ana
found that his stripes had been taken OIL
He met Captain Shackelford, and the
Captain remarked that he was very late
Tie replied that the uniform in his locker
was that of a private, and he did not
propose 10 put II on. He had been absent
frequently from drills because he was
student at the Medical College or Nlr-
ginia. and his duties as a student and
military man conhicted greatly. He ask
ed repeatedly for his discharge, but Cap
tain Shackelford replied that his com
many was at such low ebb that he ala
not want him 10 withdraw just tnen'
CAPTAIN Shaokelford understood his posi-
ton. and told him that he was TO DO the
hest he could under the circumstances,
and IL he would just show up at drills ne
should be marked present. lie ala not
thirk Captain Shackelford had any right
10 make this arrangement. When VIII
ness missed drills he would frequently
meet CAPTAIN Shackelford. who would
1,ree him 10 do the best he could. lie
never expressed dissatisfaction. lie had
taken a great pride in Company c ana
loved II. and. Furthermore. he believed he
had done as much for the company as
any one else. He had made 100 per cent
for two years and his percentage was
always high until recently.
MEANT NO DIsRESPECT.
His action and bearing towards Captain
ahackelford on the night Of the inspec-
fion was not meant in disrespect. He
honored the Captain, but on the night In
question, when he found that his stripes
had been removed. he declined TO put
ON a private's uniform, because he
held Colonel Jones's warrant as a cor
poral. and believed, and still believed,
that he would have been disobeying Col
onel Jones's orders 10 act In any other
capacity than that of corporal. He did
not understand that Captain shaekelford
had ordered him to remain in the COM
pany-room. He considered it merely a
request He waited a reasonable time.
ana then, in pursuance of the established
custom he reported TO Lieutenant
Skipwith that he was going up stairs,
and II Captain Shackelford returned he
would come down at once. He had made
FIVE applications for his discharge, but
hs request was not granted, as Cap
tain Shackelford wanted TO build up the
company Witness denied that Cap |
tain Shackelford had telephoned him. |
on the contrary. witness had telephoned |
the commandant His brother Lieuten- |
ant Hartman. did not seem 10 know |
whether he twitness) had been degraded. |
He asked what sort Of uniform he was |
70 wear. and Captain Shackelford asked |
him what kind Of uniform private gene
rally wore, and then digressed, speaking |
Of his record He denied emphatically |
that he had ever used language unbe- |
coming soldier.
ATTENDED WHEN HE COULD.
Cross-questioned by the Judge-Advo- |
cate Mr.. Hartman said he had attended |
every drill that II was practicable for him |
10 attend. lie did not know whether |
Lieutenant Skipwith knew that he was |
under arrest when he gave him permits /
sion 10 go up stairs on the night OF |
Inspection. In reply 20 question by the |
CourS. witness stated that he was not |
Present when the order reducing him 10
ranks was read. He knew that il was |
his duty 10 be present unless his bust |
ness lnterfered. He did not know what /
night the order was read. but as he was
not present his business evidently did |
interfere. He did not know officially |
that he had been reduced 10 ranks until {
Monday night though he had heard as
much through other sources. did not
In a.