Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-28
THREE CASES TRIED.
4 TRIO OF OFFENDERS BEFORE
THE GENERAL couRr-NARTrAL.
IL ADJOURNMENT FOR TWO WEEKS.
.s. c.vrt win Not SIT Again Until
xoxcmbcr rsth--Cascs of Privates
r..shornc, strang, and stertsbach
Heard--versicts kept secret.

Langhorne, III. l.. strang, and William
stertzbach. of Company c OF the First
pesiment. sending their verdicts under
seal to the Governor. The court, whea
Il concluded she trials Of these cases.
adjourned. to meet on November 18Th
next.
when the court convened there re-
sponded 10 their names the following
members OF the court: Major w. Il.
simons. Captains G. q. Bossteux, @. +.
shsckelford, u. j. Euker. NJ. r. Mis-
A. q I,auier. IF. NJ. Woon, and Lieuten-
ant II. A. Williams. The first case
called was that Of Private J. M. lang
horne. Of Company C. and Captain
Shsckelford being witness for the COM
monweaith. retired from the court.
THE CHARGE.
The charge against Mr.. Langhorne was
"absence from parade. in violation OF the
ssa article OF war" and the specification
that he mot being prevented by sickness
or other necessity, did fail to repair at
the time fixed TO the place appointed by
his commanding officer for annual In
spection. This at Richmond, Va, on the
18th day of September, 1891"
To both the charge and specincauon
the accused pleaded not guilty. the
trial was at once gone into, and captain
shackelford took the stand. he testlned
that Ianghorne was absent from inspee-
zion without excuse, and that from
conversation he had with him subse-
ouent to the date of inspection, he had
reason 10 believe that there was no
legal reason for his absence.
mis- closed the testimony for the gro
secution. and Mr.. Josiah Wilson, super
In.endent of the Traction Company, In
whose employ Mr.. Langhorne Is. was
rallied He testified that Mr.. Langhorne
was ct work on the night OF Inspection
and that he showed no disposition 10 ODD
tain leave of absence, which wouio
probably have been granted him had
he requested 1t.
DID ASK FOR LEAVE.
Mr.. j. r. Hockaday, dispatcher for
thl Traction Company, testified tnat inc
accused asked him for leave OF absence,
but he was unable TO grant the leave De-
cause ne had no one TO put In MS piace.
Mr.. Ianghorne took the stand In his
own behalf He testified that ne haa
seen Captain Shackelford on Inc day Vi
inspection, and had promised 10 be pre-
sent If he could arrange for leave oi
absence He received no order NOTIFY
ms. him of the inspection, but after ne
had seen Captain Shackelford he mace
futile attempt to secure leave Oh aD-
sence -,
CAPTAIN shackelford. being recalled
ia statement
him accused had knowledge OF the IN
spection. prior to It's being held He tes-
tiled that the general department or the
accused had been very poor; that ne
rarely attended drills. and his conduct
was preiudlcial 10 good order and mill
tarv discipline The accused, the oncer
testified. had some months ago INFORMED
him that he could not, on account OIL
his business engagements, attend drils
regularly. The last time he ATTENDED
drill was In May. The case was submit
ted and the court was clear verolct
being reached in about twenty minutes
though as usual. 1t was withheld from
the public.
THE STRANG CASE.
The next case called was that OF Pri-
yate III. l.. Strang, of Company " VINO
was charged as follows:
Charge /: Disrespect towards his com com.
mandlng officer. in violation OF the -o'ii
article OF war. ~ -, - c,rans
specifcat ton: That Private H. l.. Strang,
Company c. First Regiment Infantry. aid,
in the presence OF enlisted men, deny III
a manner disrespectful and unbeconlhg
soldier the right of his conlmahu,hg ol,i-
Ger TO inquire into the reasons for ms pro-
tyacted absence from drills. rms at ine
First Regiment, virginia Volunteers, VA
the 2lSt Qay of June, 1891.
Charge II: Absence without leave, IN
violation of the 32d article OF war.
Specification: That private "a. -. otIdlis,
Company c. First Regiment Infantry. did
abseift himself without leave from MS
commanding officer on the following
dates: March LIST. 18th, 22d, 18th; April 5tn;
May 3d. l'th; J9 1sS aa s sS p 1I,s istb
27th. and october 4th--all of the above
dates being in the year OF 1897, ana being
the dates on which regular company dr'ils
We're held. Also thar me sald rriya ;nesa ar
from his company on May 2lst and on
Tune eth and nth. these being the dates
upon which battalion drills were held, IN
which his company was ordered 10 parti-
cipate. and that he did also absent him
self on June 1ith, which was drill of the
First Regiment.
Charge III: Absence from parade. in
violation OF the ssd article OF war.
Specifications: That Private II. Ia
Strang. Company c. First Regiment In
5antrv. Virginia. Volunteers, not being
prevented by sickness or other necessity,
did fail TO repair at the time fixed to the
place appointed by his commanding officer
for annual inspection. This at Richmond,
Va. on the Goth day of September. 1897.
PLEADED NOT GUILTY.
Mr.. strang pleaded not guilty. both 10
the charges and specifications. and Cap
tain Shackelford was called upon to tesfi-
~. He said the accused was a regularly
enlisted man In his company, having en-
tered the service March 81 1897 With
reference TO the first charge. Captain
Shackelford testified that he had written
a letter to the accused, calling upon him
10 show cause why he had been absent.
He responded In few days In person,
and said the captain was not the proper
person TO question his absence; IL he Uhe
Captain) did not like his absence he
should court-martial him.
With reference to the second charge,
Captain Shackelford testified that We ac-
cused was absent from drill on the dates
specified, and that his absence was with
out leave. He said he had sent several
men TO him TO request him TO be present
on the night of inspection, and still he
was absent that night.
Mr. Strang asked Captain Shackelford
IL he hadn't told him Qhe CGptain) that
his business was such that he could not
DO military duty, and asked him TO ex-
cuse him. and this Captain Shackelford
partially admitted. The record of the
accused as a soldier was. in point Of at
tendance. very poor. Captain Shackelford
said, but he had been respectful TO his
superior officers until the time OF the
committai OF the offence specified in the
flrst charge. The accused. the Captain
testifIed. asked for a discharge some