Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-10-09
CAPTAIN CLOSE
by CAPTAIN CHARLES kIN0.
lcopyrishi. 1904. by J. D. Lippinco,. COL
KY.

OF the winter of 1901. Never an or
nnmental, never q social, and often an
embarrassing feature OF garrison life,
The first lieutenant OF Company g had
been laboring under the further disad-
vantage OF n six months absence from
The post OF the regimental colors. There
we're many to speak against and none
10 speak for him. His singular habits
md characteristics, the rumors In cir.
culntion with regard to his Saving"
propcnsities when on bureau duty, and
the queer "yarns" In circulation as to
his disposition Of the property OF the
,flicers 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
nume was on the regimental market
nj low quotation. even before the an
1ouncement OF his arrest. But this
was not all. For months the regiment
nj commander had been the rccipientof
frequent letters from two despairing
widows. relicts Of the late Capt. Stone
md Lieut.. Tighe. which letters claimed
hat 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 rem
lered account. They. with other H.
lilies OF the regiment, had been sent
north when il 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-
ceived from the regiment, that he was
robbing the widow and the orphan,
and they appealed to the colonel for re-
dress.
Now, old Draxton knew almost MS lit
tie Of Close as did they. lie asked his
ndiutant and one or two captains what
they thought: he had letter written to
Close telling him Of these allegations
and calling for his version Of the mat
ter. II did not come, and another let
ter-a "chaser"-was sent, demanding
immediate reply, and nearly week
elapsed before reply came. Close wrote
laboring hand. and for all official mat
ter employed the company clerk rs
smanuensis. This being personal, he
spent hours in copying his reply. He
said he was tired OF answering the let
tiers Of Mesdames Stone and Tighe on
this subject. He had sent 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
watch. II either had ever owned di-
amond studs, ms was alleged, he, Close,
rad never seen them, nor the hundreds
II dollars alleged TO he 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 rs to the
truth OF his story, and Hospital Stew
ard Griffin and DR.. Mcigs could also
testify that the deceased officers had
hardly any effects to speak of-could
they only be found. But thereby hung
a tale OF further trouble. Meigs him
self had died OF the fever, and Griffin,
after 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 dishonorablc discharge, n prisoner ut
Ship island. Here Close thought to end
IL all, but the widows-sisters they
we're, 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 sergennts and seen
heir 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
now backed by priest and 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-
rember came, such was the nccumula-
lion Of charge and specification against
the absent and friendless officer that
old Brax took the simplest way out OF
Il 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 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-martial Of unusual
Importance Is to be held at the bar
racks, the session to commence Mt ten
4. m. OH the cd Of January. for the trial
81 Brevet Capt. ]. p. Close, of the
-teenth infantry, on charges serious
" rejecting upon his character as an
officer and n gentleman. The detail for
the court comprises officers Of several
other regiments, as II Is conceded that
there Is 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, Us officers OF that
arm generally claim exemption from
such service in view Of the peculiar nnd
engrossing nature Of their battery du-
ties. Brevet Brig. Gen. Pike, Of the til
.avalry, Is detailed Us president, and
First Lieut.. S. K. Waring. OF the -til
artillery, as judge advocate Of the court.
The latter officer will be remembered
as the hero Of q remarkable adven-
iure In connection with the recent
cause celebre, the Lascelles affair"
tvva,l mav no kissed 10 death!" ex.