The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-06-28
REPRIMAND WATTS
SAYS THE COURT
Report on the Columbia Riot Is Made
to Governor Ellerbe.
MATTER GOES TO LEGISLATURE
The Governor Has Under Amusement
the Issuance of the Order of
Reprimand.

Ellerbee ITO examine into the conduct of
all officers and men connected with the
disturbance which occurred on the grounds
in charge of the South Carolina college
at Columbia in May. 1885," made its report
this evening.
1t goes as far as the most partisan
friends of the college could wish-farther
than was expected-and is an unpleasant
surprise TO General Watts.
The court reviews fully its powers rs
cited in Winthrops Military Law and Pre-
ccdcnts
Here are its findings of facts with rec
concentrations:
THE review, inspection and drill having
been completed, the purposes for which
the troops had assembled We're accom-
plishcd.
in the battalion dress parade which was
about to be held the adiutant and lnspec-
tor general did not have any inherent
right and could not take any official part
as no position or participation in TINS cere-
rnony is prescribed for such an officer ana
he could be present only by courtesy "r
by invitation Of the colonel commahd'hs'
and was. therefore. without authoil'5 ~
command the troops.
'In taking and retaining posllloh
amidst a crowd OF turbulent students at or
near third base thereby cncroachinS upon
tn. lawful territory of the baseball play etS
ana. uselcssly interfering with their game
when ample and suitable grounds Weis
available near 10y. General Watts showed
serious lack Of judgment and lack OF Iv-
gard for the rights of others.
"His ordering tho battalion forward Tor
the purpose Of clearing the field was al
assumption of authority that was uhWlsT
Unnecessary and unwarranted.
section V, "A OF the revised statutes o.
1883 reads: All commissioned officers OF the
militia may be removed from once by the
commander-in-chiel. Removal may also be
nadc bv decisions of a courtmarJial. or re-
firing or examining board pursuant to law;
and for misconduct any officer may DC
suspended by the commandments
",rhc term any officer, as herein used
cannot. in our opinion, include the adj
jutant and Inspector general, VINO Is an
executive officer and who could be sus-
pended or removed only under artlcIe NJ
teen of the constitution OF 1875.
..Siuce. therefore. from the circumstances
OF the case a trial by court1artim could
result in nothing more than recomme MIA
ton to your excelency that the matter be
brought TO the attention of the general as
s.mbly; and since We are not restricted
to recommend a courtmartiaL but may
say what other action is called for by the
interests of the service, or IS otherwise de-
slra6le to be taken, we respectfully recon-
mend that your eXcollcncy lay The whole
matter before the general assembly for sucl
action at it's next session, under article
five of the constitution OF 1880 as that body
may deem proper.
I'VE further recommend that the govern
or and cornmandcr-in hief publish a eener-
81 or,ier reprimandng General W. Gary
watts Tor serious lack Of Judgment and dis
regard OF the rights of Others on the coca
sion of the disturbance on the athietc
grounds of the South Carolina college AT
Columbia ON May Is 1891. OF course IL Is
to he regretted that Colonel Jones failed TO
mention the fact to General Watts that the
written permission given for tho use of the
grounds was Tor the 18th of May. ana NOT
tbe 2Sth. and the further fact that on said
written permission the military Were re-
oucsted TO confnc themselves as much as
possible 10 the eastern portion ct the
grounds.
"eurthernore. the colonel of the regi-
ment or its adjutant. in accordance WIN
section G6S of the infantry drill regulations,
United St9tes army, under the head "l
General Rules and Reviews should nave
DESIGNATED specifically by haS some
place on ,he grounds as the post linc.'
which said post could then have answered
as "a conI enient point from which the All
iutant could have Witnessed the dress pa
radc.
I'VE further recommend that Private
j
fe Company, bc DISCHARGED from the mill
tarv service OF the state. and in support
Of said recommendation we would call the
attention OF the governor anc commanders
in-chipf to the testimony Of $50 fishburne,
together with that Of Captain Frost the
commandine officer of said company, when
recalled to the stand
we further recommend that the cap
tain of the Richland Volunteer Rifle Com
pany be directed TO publish an order repri-
mandinG Private DunniEG, of s10 compa-
NY. for leaving the ranks without permits
sion"
Tha report is signed by the fun board
and is unanimous The governor will refer
the matter to tho general assembly and
has taken under ady.scment publishing the
report of censurc.
No Reprimand Yet.
Columbia. $. c.. June 6.-(Speciall-GOv-
erncr Euerbc will not issue a general order
reprimandug adjutant General Watts. as
recommended 10y the court of inquiry.
Ii is probable that the governors not be-
ing on the pleasantest personal terms with
tho general may have influenced him in
this regard. he desiring 10 avoid the possibjl-
ity OF lettins personal feeling influence him.
Then the action of the board is equivalent
to a reprimand and the legislature can de
eide whether a more serious Wow shall
be taken Of the case.
The governors order issued today says;
"The report OF tho court of inquiry and
record al its proceedings VIII b. at the
proper time transmitted to the general as
scmbly for such action as that body may
deem proper with reference to the adiutant
ond trsDector %, neral who in this state is
q constitutional officer. and it is ordered;
First. That Private ftShburn. OF the
Richiaud Volunteers. be discharged from
the military service of the state.
second That tho captain Of the Rich
land Nomnrct rs publish an order rcpri-