The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
0'BRIEN'S PLAN FAILED
HE HAD NOT COUNTED on A COURT
MARTIAL BEING ORDERED.
His Alleged reason for D~enOuncing
Captain ROmegn on the Fort
Mcpherson Parade round

ATLANTA, Ga, May 16.-The Constitu-
ton says: All the army novels that Captain
Charles King ever wrote would not equal
in verbal extent the newspaper literature
of the Romeyn court-martial, but there
yet remains to be told the real and true
story of the reasons-eXtraordinary rea-
sons, many have said they must
actuated Lieutenant Michael OBrien to
pursue the course he did with reference to
bringing the charges to general notice.
Here is told for the first time that i'm
portant story. 1t has not been told before
because Lieutenant O'Brien would not tell.
He has yet to speak the first time for pub
LEGATION. He has declined all interviews.
He has maintained the position that his
attitude was that of an official; that he
occupied the position of an official and
could not properly talk until the case was
disposed of. Hence he declined any and all
interviews. SO great and widespread did
the interest in the affair become that dur
ing the progress of the court-martlal the
New York papers. on several occasions,
wired him offering the free use OF their
columns to him to give his version of the
case. He declined these. And even now
he refuses to speak for publication. But
from a source which cannot be regarded
DIS OIn6E imam DIS perfectly representative "
his position in the matter, comes this story.
In the first instance it is declared that
Lieutenant O'Brien desired a
less than anything else and in the course
on which he originally started out had no
thought of bringing about one. 1t is de-
clared that O'Brien, when he denounced
Captain ROmeyn before the officers on the
parade ground that afternoon. intended by
that act to bring it to the attention or the
post commander, WIO at that time Was
Lieutenant Colonel Russell. Lieutenant
O'Brien had heard of the talk that Captain
Romeyn had been INDUCING in concerning
Mrs. O'Brien.
In ordinary life this offense would have
been visited by either a shooting or a
horsewhipping,h said a gentleman yester-
day, but Lieutenant O'Brien was an officer
of the army. BY profession he is q, soldier.
Captain Romeyn is his superior officer. BY
any act of resentment he would put, him
self in a serious way, and all the blame
husband Of Mrs O'Bpien. whose character
had been put in question, and as her pro-
tector, he must act. He did not wish to
cause a c~ourt-martial over the affair; but
after mature elaboration, decided upon the
course he was to pursue He would DEF
nounce Captain Romeyn upon the parade
ground in the presence of all the ~of1cers,
thus bringing the matter before the COM
manding officer in such a way that 1t would
be of necessity investigated and squelched.
He had no idea that it would go beyond
the post commander, who at the time was
Colonel Russell. He thought both himself
ana captain ROmeyn would be placed unOer
arrest by. Colonel Russell a prompt and
vigorous investigation had by that gentle
man, and the proper steps be taken;
O'Brien thought Colonel Russell would
force Captain Romeyn to apologize for
what he had said, and there would be an
end to the matter; that It would never
get outside the garrison. But Lieutenant
Colonel Russell is not a decisive officer,
and did not take the vigorous steps he
should have taken. He put ROmeyn under
arrest, it is true, but released him right
away. Then 1T fell upon OBrien to file
charges, which he greatly regretted to do:
He had hoped and believed that Colonel
Russell would settle the matter, and was
greatly chagrined and disappointed that he
did not.
Lieutenant Colonel Russell had it in his
power to nip the trouble in the bud by one
vigorous, decisive act, If he had only per-
formed that act. 1t was a surprise to all
Personally, Lieutenant Colonel Russell is
a fine officer, Out he is not a forceful and
firm commanding officer. He certainly neg
lected to take the steps that were neces-
sary at this juncture. Such trouble as
arose between O'Brien and Romeyn would
have been settled by the post commander
that it was not Lieutenant Colonel Rus
sells regiment; that he was acting in the
place of Colonel Kellogg, who was very
ill, but he should have acted effectively
and at once"
From the same source the statement was
made that only four families at Fort Nc
Pherson are opposed to Lieutenant O'Brien
in the recent trouble. A rather curious
for their taking sides against Lieutenant
O'Brien. The gentleman said: You know
a regimental staff officer is to be appointed
before long and it is Just possible that the
l~ieutenants who are arrayed in opposition
to Lieutenant O'Brien took that stand be-
cause he is in the line of promotion and
might get the place. OF course, such a
reason sounds very strange, but it is pos
Sible.'