The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-22
ROMEYN BRINGS ON A ROW.
CASTS A SLUR ON LIEUT.. O'BRIEN IN
THE COURT MARTIAL.

Realizing That He Ead Made "A bad
Break the Captain Apologies to
the COurt-SubsequentIy He Apollo
gizes to Lieut.. O'Brien by order OF
the COurt-The Lieutenant Testities
That His Wifc's bicycle Rides
With Lieut.. BamfOrd Had His APP
prOvaI-He Also Denies the Cap
tain's story That He and His Wife
Were OstrnciEed by the Ladies of
the Garrison.
Atlanta, Ca, April 21-The trial of Capt.
Henry Romeyn by court martial was con-
tinued at Mcpherson barracks to-day,
without the development of anything of a
sensational or unexpected nature until
few minutes before the adjournment.
At this time Lieut.. o'Brien was on the
stand detailing the alleged improprieties
between Lieut.. Bamford and Mrs.
O'Brien. AS a foundation for the scandal
Gus gossip concerning Lieut.. OBrien's
wife, Capt. Romeyn alleged that she and
Lieut.. Bamford were in the habit of taxi
ing long bicycle rides together, and that
| they were conspicuously devoted to each
other upon the occasion of the post ger
man, just prior to the encounter on the
parade ground between Capt Romeyn
and Lieut.. O'Brien.
Lieut.. O'Brien testified that he and
Lieut.. Bamford had been intimate friends
since last October, and that his attentions
to his wife We're perfectly amicable to
him. that he knew of all the rides they
took together, and gave his approval to
them.
AS to the ostracism alleged to have been
visited upon his wife, and himself, the
| lieutenant stated that at the ball mem
toned, where Capt Romeyn charged they
were "cut dead'' the fact was that they
were heartily received by every one pres
ent, with the exception Of Capt. Romeyn
| his wife and Mrs. Martin. He did not
| deny that the Romeyns had "cut" them
He also testified that at the dinner party
| given by his wife, all those who were in
vited were present with the exception of
| three, and these sent their excuses, the
allegation of Capt. Romeyn that nobody
went to the contrary Notwithstanding.
! The sensation of the day happened when
at the conclusion of this testimony, Lieut.
| O'Brien was turned over to Capt. Romeyn
for cross examination.
Instead of proceeding on that line, the
| accused captain, with look of contemp-
tuous disgust upon his face, simply re-
| marked, Il do not care to cross examine
| such testimony as that"
Immediately Lieut. OBrien flushed up,
and said angriy, II demand the protection
| of the court"
For few moments the court was in a
| futter Of excitement
Then Capt Romeyn, realizing that he
| had made a break, said, II apologize to the
court"
But this did not ease the lieutenant; it
angered him more, and he replied. 81 am
also due an apology for this"
Both men were very angry. They were
sitting within a few feet of each other, the
accused captain glaring al the witness and
the other with eyes to the front and arms
folded, ignoring the glare and speaking
only to the court.
Col. Gunther president of the court,
quickly ordered that the apology be given,
and after a significant Silence of a mo-
ment or two it came, in sullen, defiant
tones, 81 apologize to the witness
At this juncture the court took a recess
until tomorrow morning.
The enforced apology of Capt. Romeyn
to Lieut.. O'Brien IS causing all sorts of
talk as to the probable final outcome of
the bitter feud between the two officers.
Some Of the friends Of both parties think
that personal encounter of a serious ma
ture is sure 10 take place between them
sooner or later, be the finding of the court
what it may. As the trial progresses
there seems to be little doubt that the ami
mus of Capt. Romeyn toward Lieut.. and
Mrs OBrien is due to the interference Of
the latter between Lieut.. Bamford and
Miss Romeyn. This has not yet appeared
in the evidence, but it is strongly appa-
rent in the undercurrent.
Lieut. Bamford declares that he was not
engaged to Miss Romeyn, but the young
lady emphatically denies this, though she
adds that she is not specially proud of 1t
now 1t will probably be brought out In
the evidence later on that the conduct Of
Lieut. Bamford in neglecting Miss Ro-
meyn and playing the gallant to Mrs.
O'Brien caused his afiianced to take to
her bed, so that she had to be placed under
the care of physicians to ward off ner-
Vous prostration.
The only witnesses examined to-day be-
sides Lieut.. O. Brien were DR.. Taylor, the
post surgeon, Mai. Porter and Capt. Til
lotsen. The two latter testified only as
to the encounter on the parade ground.
NAL Porter thought that Capt. Romeyn
had struck Lieut.. O'Brien with his open
hand but Capt. rillotsen was positive that
the blow was delivered with the clenched
fist. They agreed that the blow was
struck after OBrien had publicly de-
nounced Capt Romeyn.
Dr. Taylor testified that he told Capt.
Romeyn that ne did not want his daughter
to go 70 Mrs. O'Briens dinner party on
account of the gossip about her at the
time. but that he and his family had no
Intentions Of ostracising her. and, in fact,
had not, as they had since exchanged vis-
it's The witnesses reasons for not want
ing his daughter TO go to the dinner party
was not that he thought Mrs. O'Brien a
bad woman, but he just did not want to
get mixed up in that gossip at that par
ticular time.
None Of the ladies Of the post were in
troduced to-day. They will probably be
called tomorrow when the defense is be-
gun.
wrnW