The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-10-07
CHPTnlN CLOSE
By CAPTAIN CHARLES KING.
~lcopyrish,, 1924, by J. b. Lippincot, Col


VI itC NinltI vi lCtO-l1s NEVER III Or
inamental, never a social, and often an
embarrassing feature of garrison life,
the first lieutenant of Company g had
been laboring under the further disad-
vantage of q six months absence from
the post of the regimental colors. There
were many to speak against and none
10 speak for him. His singular habits
and characteristics, the rumors in cir
culation with regard to his Saving"
propensities when on bureau duty, and
the queer yarns in circulation as to
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
nouncement of his arrest. But this
wa not all. For months the regiment
al commander had been the rccipiehto of
frequent letters from two despairing
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, iewelry, money, martial
equipments, etc.-of which Capt. Close
had assumed charge and for only a very
small portion of which had he ever rem
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 as lit
tie of Close as did they. He asked his
adiutant and one or two captains what
they thought; he had a 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 a weel,
elapsed before reply came. Close wrote
~ ldDoI1HG III III ~ III oili'iii hAt'
ter employed the company clerk as
amanuensis. This being personal, ba
spent hours in copying his reply. He
said he was tired of answering the let
tiers of Mesdames Stone and Tighc or
this subject. He had sem them inven-
tories of everything of which their'hus-
bands died possessed, and had RENTED
every cent he had realized from the
sales thereof. Only one of them had a
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 DR.. Meigs could also
testify that the deceased officers had
hardly my effects TO speak o%f--could
they only be found. But thereby hung
n 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 al
Ship island. Here Close thought TO end
il all, but the widows-sisters they
were, who were born in the laundress
quarters of old Fort Fillmore and ha6
I .L. I.,-, all qua. Tnxsno m.
New Mexico before the war-haf
welded strapping %sergeants and seer
their spouses raised TO the shoulder
straps in the depleted state of the reg
uIar army during the four years of vol
unteer supremacy-the widows were
row backed by a priest and a pettifog,
ger, and, mindful of the success achieved
by such proceeding when led by a nam,
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 o.
il and applied for a c~ourt-martfal to
try the case.
The day after Christmas. therefore
and before the official copy of the order
was received at the barracks las. oddly
often happened in those times, until the
leak was discovered and duly plugged)
the New Orleans evening papers con
tanned the following interesting item:
"A genera! court-martia of unusual
Importance is to be held at the bar
racks, the session 10 men at ter
a. IN. ON the I'd of January. for the triaI
of Breret Capt. j. p. Close, of the
-teenth infantry, on charges serious
ly rejecting upon his character as an
officer and a gentleman. The detail for
the court comprises officers of several
other regiments, as il is conceded that
there is a widespread prejudice against
the accused among his comrades in tho
-teenth. Even the light battery has
been drawn upon i'm this instance, ar
unusual circumstance, as officers of thai
arm generally claim exemption from
such service in view of the peculiar and
eugrossing nature of their battery du'
ties. Brevet Brig. Gen. Pike, of the til
cavalry, is detailed az president, and
First Lieut.. S. X. Waring. of the til
artillery, as Judge advocate of the court
The latter officer will be remembered
ms the hero of a remarkable adven'
ture in connection with the recent
~ .aAlla a Hglp "