Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-22
THE HAMLlN RITES.
An investigation Of the Company's Affairs Be-
ing Held at Bangor.

Bangor. April 2l-(Speeian.-The inves-
tigaton ordered by the adjutant general
into the affairs of the Hamin Rifles Co.
G, I'd Regiment. n. G. S. NJ was he d
here, today. The examining board con-
sisted of Brig. General E. L. Newcomb
of PASSPORT. Inspector General q. a.
Philbrook. commander Of the I'd Regi-
ment. Lieut. Col. !. X. Stetson ct the
Governors staff with Lieut.. c. g.. Morton
OF Portland as advisory officer. The wit
nesseS We're Capt. f. Il. Spencer of the
company, Lieut.. +. Il. Cummings Lieut.
y. c. Williams, Corp. Charles X. Ollver.
Private Tinker Corp. Tinker ana Mai.
f. A. Robinson of Bangor of the I'd Regi-
ment.
The trouble in the company in this city
is familiar to military men throughout
the State. 1t dates back three or four
years when ex-Captain Mitchell was dis
honorably discharged. Since that time
there have been differences the principal
trouble coming during the last year or
so. Last September Sergt. Aver was dis
missed for conduct unbecoming an Officer
and he turned over a new leaf. Capt.
Spencer tried to enlist him rumpus oc
CURED. The men who caused 1t claimed
that he was not fit man to belong to
the company. An investigation was held
and it turned out that there We're other
things at the bottom of the differences.
notably A. Z. A.-ism. Since December
1t was ready to go under at any time and
it was only through the exertion of Capt.
Spencer and a few of his supporters that
it has hung together until this time.
AT the investigation today. several new
points were brought out. Gen. Henry l..
Mitchell conducted the examination of
the witnesses on the part of Capt. Spen-
Ger. The latter was the first witness
called. H testified that he thought his
first lieutenant (Williams) had worked
against him. He said that Williams ex
pected to be captain of the company wher
he was elected and because he did not
get there he has been opposed to him
since in almost everything.
He testified that the dances which had
been held by the company had been al
tended by women who We're said to be OF
immoral character. He said that the
only means of revenue the company had
was to hold these dances. Finally they
got so bad that he ordered them stopped
and none of them had been held during
the past few weeks. He said that the
company had never asked for support
from any of the citizens. The men who
opposed him were against asking the cit
liens TO help them and We're in favor of
the dances. He thought that if they
could be gotten out of the company Il
could be recruited and everything woule
move along well.
Lieut.. Williams testified that he had
drank liquor when in uniform, in the ar
mory and at muster. He had drank with
the captain. He thought that he did lit
tie harm. He said he had never opposed
the captain in anything and was ready to
help him at all times if asked. But the
trouble was. he had never been asked
The captain had never consulted him
about anything. He thought that the
members who had signed the paper TO
turn to and help the captain would sign
another one tomorrow to do him up.
The testimony of Lieut.. Cummings cor
roborated some statements made by uhe
other officers. He also said that the com
pany was not efficient in hardly anything
at the present time. He did not believe
that the citizens of Bangor would lend
amy aid to the present company. but he
did think that a company could he formed
Of the leading young society men in town
who would have the undivided support of
Bangor people.
Major Robinson's testimony was the
most important of the afternoon. He was
closely examined by Gen. Mitchell He
said the company had been going down
hill for the past six years and he be-
lieved that the general feeling was that
Bangor should have new company. He
said that the people thought that the
present one was a disgrace to the city.
He said that if it was possible to recruit
the present company from the best class
of mechanics, it would have been done
several months ago.
The hearing closed at $50 o'clock until
p. NJ.