The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-29
which some very vile language was i'm

puleQ TO Hurd.
charges? He said: -Four old veterans.
Il asked: Major, did they max them
yoluntarily?' He said: Certainly they
Il asked: Weren't they solicited to
make them?' He said: I don't know;
that was none of my business.
truthful and reliable?' He said: L don't
know the character of every man in
this Home-whether they are reliable or
not
Il asked: Major, who are these aides
do NOT know them
II asked: Major, by whom we're these
chaplain
q asked: Major. this comrarde is about
the Homer He said: That is my bust
ness; / I'M responsible for any man who
is discharged from this Home
4 asked: Major, IS it the business Of
no one else? He answered.: Only the
managers, and they generally do as 1
say
to defend himself?' ON, hat is never
done he said; they always take my
word; am the sole manager here
on charges of which his friends do not
think him guilty, will you. allow me to
question the witnesses. ) having them
Hurd?' No, sir: this is no court of law
answered the Major.
g But I said. Major, you want to be
fair trial, so that he. may defend him
self, do you not?' L am capable of judg-
ing, and / know these affidavits are true;
nor no one else will take charge of this
case; l am the manager of this Home
Il asked: Major, do you wish to be
the prosecutor, judge and jury? He said:
1 shall, handle this case myself
II asked him if he would allow me to
remain and hear the case. He said: Well,
you may stay; but | shall not allow you
to interfere in any manner
Mr.. Hurd to cross-examine the wit
nesses@ He said: No, sir; you can sit
on the sofa
II did so. and heard the proceedings.
Major Rogers then said to Hurd: You
know what you are charged with; are
you guilty or not?'
Hurd said: I am not guilty of doing
or saying anything ungentlemanly.'
"Hurd sked: Who are my ~accusers?'
The Major said: You know
"Hurd said: I would like to nave them
brought before my face, Major, and hear
what they have to say Major said:
up; rave you the witnesses you were to
bring today?' Hurd said: I have z.
Smiths affidavit; he could not be here
Major said: Where is it?'
"Hurd gave the ffidavit to the Major.
The affidavit stated that Hurd said Moth
testified that he was within a few feet of
Hurd and heard no offensive language;
but would have heard it if there had been
any used.
feet were you away?' Five or ten.' said
Colt.
'sThen, without producing the men who
made the charges, the Major said passion.
Home
Il then asked the Major how long he
would consider his dismissal for. He
answered: sHe hadn't considered hat yet
st asked: DO you consider this fair
treatment to an old comrade n years OF
age?' He said: He has had what I think
II asked him if he thought that was
all the justice New Jersey would accord
an old soldier of four years service. and
he made no reply.
ION May IA / went down to the Home
to see the ladies who were holding SER
vices in the chapel. | was accompanied
by Mr.. Wright and Mr.. Hurd; We met
the ladies and talked with them about
the case. We met them later outside.
The ladies denied that they heard any
such offensive expressions as We're i'm
were in the least insulted. One of the
ladies said she believed the dismissal was
due to political reasons.
Very respectfully,
JAMES FREEMAN,
ivan Houten Post, No. 8, G. A. R.
This is to certify that I was present
with Mr.. Freeman, and that the state
ments made by Mr.. Freeman are the truth
"HERBERT WILLIAM WRIGHT
This is a sample Of the methods of
Major Rogers, to which the G. A. r. is
opposed. The case of Conrade Hurd was
considered at the State E-ncampment OF
the G.. A. R. and was only dropped be-
cause Major Rogers pleaded to soaps an
exposure and promised faithfully to re-
instate Hurd if the charges against him
were dismissed. Weeks passed after the
encampment and Hurd's condition became
moro and more desperate, yet Major
Rogers did not keep his promise. Finally
died in the streets for lack of the sus-
t~ainance which a generous government
had provided for him and of which he
had been deprived by one man. The death
of Hurd will bring relief to other suffer
ing veterans as it has spurred the G. A. r.
to fight for the interests of its unfortunate
members who are in the Soldiers Home.