The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-02
BLUNDER BY RONEYN
LOST HIS TEMPER DURING HIS
COURT-MARTIAL LAST WEEK,
And Applied an Epithet to Lieutenant
O'Brien That Caused a Sensation
at the Georgia Army Post.
REVIEW OF THE TESTIMONY
CAPTAIN ROMEYN.s CLOSING STATE
MENT AND G'BRIEN's EVIDENCE.
Miss ROmeyn's story of Her Relations
with Lieutenant BamfOrd-Three
More CO~urts-MartiaI Probable.


Correspondence of the Sunday Journal.
ATLANTA, Ga, April 30.-The court-mar-
tial at Fort Mcpherson, an army post To-
Gated in the suburbs of this city, is draw
ing to a close and the testimony may be
all in by Saturday night. AS stated by your
correspondent last week the trial has at
tracted much interest here and at every
post in the United States army. The officers
of the Fifth Infantry and their wives are
directly concerned in the affair. Lieutenant
OBrien has a pretty, engaging wife, who
Is a bicyclist enthusiast. O'Brien did not
ride, and on her daily excursions to neigh
boring villages his wife was accompanied
by Lieutenant Bamford a handsome young
officer. Bamford was engaged to marry the
daughter of Captain Henry Romeyn, of the
garrison. Miss Romeyn objected to his at
t%entions to Mrs. O'Brien. The engagement
was broken and then came whisperings of
scandal. O'Brien met Romeyn on the parade
ground one day and called him to account
for circulating reports disparaging to his
wife. Romeyn slapped his face. O'Brien
then preferred charges against Romeyn
for spreading the rumors. The O'Briens, it
is said, are being ostracised at the fort,
and the scandal is receiving close attention
at the War Department.
Last week many officers and ladies con-
nected with the garrison testified as to the
conduct of Mrs. O'Brien and Lieutenant
Bamford, and proved beyond the shadow
of a doubt that the association of these
Two people was a matter of comment all
over the post. Several officers went so far
as to characterize their actions as amount
ing to a public scandal. Others stated that
in their opinion the words used by Lieu
tenant O'Brien just before he was struck
by Captain Romeyn were such as. to ex-
cite the deed, and furthermore that they
thought trouble was brewing when the lieu
tenant stepped tragically TO the front of the
officers line on that day and began his re-
marks concerning Captain Romeyn.
.ROMEYN INSULTS O'BRIEN.
Tho testimony this week has been inter-
esting and somewhat of the sensational
order. On Thursday Major Charles Porter.
the commanding officer at the fort, detailed
a special guard to accompany Captain
Romeyn during his trips between his resi-
denee and the administration building. in
which his is now being held.
This was done through the fear that
Romeyn's life was in actual danger as a
result of a terrible epithet which he applied
to Lieutenant O'Brien during the course of
testimony on Tuesday; This epithet is one
~ 49, - AtbAiN " LIZ a SIIOlSul
INTO play tn~Georgia, and which, it is said,
mas caused more killing than any other
single. word in the English language. The
fact that the court forced Capt. Romeyn to
apologize for using it in it's presence was
regarded as OF no moment by the officers
OLtne garrison, so far as Lieutenant
- Brlen Was concerned, and that he will
nave to resent ii or suffer a social ostra-
clsm, which will include every man in the
barracks.
Captain Romeyn took the witness stand
N ms w behalf on Tuesday. In opening,
ITO S1ld. III ThGFA. IG- mr. -nhinnfinn- On - r.
part of the court or the judge. advocate, 1
Prefer 10 give my testimony. specification
ges. In regard to first specification. first
charge, IN which | am charged with saw
ing DR.. Taylor would not allow his daugh-
Ter TO put her foot in Lieutenant O'Brien's
mouse. L acknowledge that / said this to
captain Randall, an old colnrade, whom 1
had known for years. 1t is true that DIR.
Taylor said what l quoted him as saving.
lie must have forgotten it. 1t is true that
nad the convsrsation, as charged, with
Mr. Bennett. ! had seen him here at the
garrison frequently and had grown to like
him | did for him what l would like for
any man to do for me or my sire
captain Romeyn acknowledged that he
warned Mr.. Bennett not to go to Washing
ton with Mrs. ,O'Brien. He said the con
~Versaton, was held where it could not be
overheard, and was in confidence. las to
the statement that my words were false and
slanderous in regard to Mrs. O'Brien- 7
deny" the captain said. Il have seen Mrs
OBrien cut by officers and ladies in this
room and outside. ! have heard a man say
- @-AZ CCA ma Il " bIlGn > CODOlCt
toward Lieutenant Bamford was a 'brassy'
Ihlng' nave kseen Lieutenant Bamford
meet Mrs. O'Brien at the street cars and
greet her with all the ardor of a lover. a
thlng l nave never seen her husband do.
The charge that / said deemed it my
christian duty to warn Mr.. Bennett, is
not true. l am a church member and am
not ASHAMED of it, but I do not push that
matter forward. The word Christian was
suggested by Mr.. Bennett.
In regard to the difficulty on the par
aoe ~grounds; l was SO disguised with the
conduct OF Lieutenant Bamford. who had
not called at my house once during the
ten days my daughter was i'll. He did not
even call to ask how she was, an engage
ment at that time existing between them.
bat he could spend time with Mrs. O'Brien
go bicycle riding with her and meet her
al the cars. 1t was one day when he met
ner at the car with a lover-like air that
saw tnem. That capped the climax of my
anger and 1 resolved to break off the en-
gagement. l then wrote him the letter
which has been put in evidence.
BAMFORD ORDERED OFT.
"A short time afterwards heard him in
the parlor talking to my daughter. His
tone seemed to be very heartless. I went
to the room where they were and said:
Lieutenant Bamford, there is the door to
my house. Get out of here as quick as God
will let you and he got. He has not been
back to my house since. That afternoon he
made especial effort 10 overtake me as T
walked from the parade ground. He did
overtake me and used very insulting Ian
guase to me. 1 said: Mr.. Bamford. if If
were not for my physical condition 1 would
slap your face. and but for that condition
/ would have done it.
ION the parade ground when the difieuItv
occurred l noticed Lieutenant O'Brien
standIng apart from the other officers. His
face was pale. j thought from drink. Then
] heard him say something about me.
thought 1t was his intention to Willy me