The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
COMPANY A DIDN'T WIN 1T.
cor SEWARD DECIDES AGAINST
IT ON THE SEWARD TROPHY.

Capt. o'connor says the Decision Is Unjust. ana
That Re viii Garry II Higher. asa, n Nee
essarv, to the Ceurts-Tho Score or Private
E.v. Grace OF Company A the Peint At 1ssue-
The controversy in the Ninth Regiment over
the rife contest at Creedmoor for the Seward
trophy, which began last spring between NOM
bers Of Companies A ande X, and which cul.
minated in formal charges against members
OF Company A, has just beer settled by Col.
William Seward. the Commander Of the Ninth,
who has decided against Company A. The
members OF Company A are very much stirred
up, and they consider the decision OF the
Colonel very unjust. Capt. Samuel s. OConnor
declares that no will lay the matter before Q
higher authority, and. should occasion require,
will take 1t into the courts.
Tho trouble began while some members Of
Company X were keeping an eye on the scores
of Company AS men, and tho outcome Of tho
matter was that the watchers declared they
saw evidence of fraudulent scoring, and made
affidavits to that effect. Private +. G. Rocder
and Corporal y. ]. Bubaseck sToro that they
saw Private f. V. Grace Of Company A credit
cd with . score to which he was not entitled.
Grace swore that he had not fired moro than
the regular allowance Of shots and that the
scorer had marked the shots correctly. Grsce's
testimony was backed up by Private II. A.
Harris and Corporal NJ. F. Donohue. who sworo
that the scoring was correct, as did Private NJ.
L. Charvers OF Company K. Twenty second
Regiment, the scorer.
The testimony was completed q few days ago,
and was submitted to Col. Seward for his do
cision. which is that the score OF Private Grace
should DO thrown out. Col. Seward said yes
terday: after examining all the testimony
very carefully, l came to tho conclusion that
there mad been Some carelessness In scoring on
the range for ths member of COMPANY A In
question. l cannot say that there was any dis
honest intent Jon the, part OF any one. ! be-
lieve 1t was simply carelessness, and in conse-
quence l think It only just to decide against
Company A, and throw out the score OF Pri-
OF my decision"
Capt. o,'Connor was. very indignant that the
p pans's should ! ih Be S q1esti 10 sd. He E% sSfd: Charge" + GSpa,
rejecting on the good name OF Company A
have been made. and l do not think the weight
OF evidence warranted the decision against my
company. l consider that the company has u
perfect, right to lay the matter before the high
est authority in the State, and l intend that this
shall be done. and that, furthermore, the civil
courts shall be appealed to II necessary. Col.
Seward may claim P the right; under Is , The so cor IL
decide who the winner Is, which Is all right, un.
der ordinary circumstances, but whenla company
name is impuSned. 1t should leave no stone un-
turned to yfndicate itself before the highest tri-
any Of my men with making a dishonest score.
Instead OF restgninE. as l seriously conten-
plated doing. | shall stay with my company,
and shall use every effort to prove that its
standing was honestly won.'
When Capt. o'Connor Joined the Ninth In
1893, Company A stood eighth among the COM
panies OF the regiment in craftsmanship. In
1894 II jumped to first place. with a percent
nge Of 1922; in 1898 1t was first with a percent
age OF los: in 1896 It still held first place with
a percentage OF l03, and this year, up to date,
1t still leads the regiment. The company has
won all the prizes In the regiment since 1898,
with the exception OF the contest for the Sew
ard trophy in 1898. The last Inspector Generals
report gives Company A a very high rating.
and states among other things that IL mnde the
best general appearance in the regiment. and
that its attendance at drill was excellent.