Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-02-26

of the winter of 1S7O-71. Never an or
namental, never n social, and often an
embarrassing feature of garrison life,
the first lieutenant of Company G had
been laboring under the further disad-
vantage of six months absence from
the post of the regimental colors. There
We're many to speak against and none
to speak for him. His singular habits
and characteristics, the rumors in cir
culation with regard to his Saving"
propensities when on bureau duty, and
the queer yarns" in circulation as to
his disposition of the property of the
ing the fever epidemic, had all received
additional impetus from the publica-
ton in northern papers of the Parmelec
side of the Tugaloo stories, and Closes
name was on the regimental market
at low quotation, even before the an
nouncement of his arrest. But this
was not all. For months the regiment
al commander had been the recipient of
frequent letters from two despairing
widows, relicts of the late Capt. Stone
and Lieut.. Tighe, which letters claimed
that their husbands had died possessed
of certain items of personal property
watches, jewelry, money, martial
equipments, etc.-of which Capt. Close
had assumed charge and for only very
small portion of which had he ever rem
dered account. They, with other la
dies of the regiment, had been sent
north when it became apparent that an
epidemic was probable; they had never
met Capt. Close, but were confident,
from the unsatisfactory nature of his
replies, and from all they could learn
about him from the letters they re-
ceived from the regiment, that he was
webbing the widow and the orphan,
and they appealed to the colonel for re-
dress.
Now, old Braxton knew almost us lit
tie of Close as did hey. He asked his
adjutant and one q two captains what
they thought; he had letter written to
Close telling him of these allegations
and calling for his version of the mat
ter. II did not come, and another let
ter-a "chaser"-was sent, demanding
immediate reply, and nearly n week
elapsed before reply came. Close wrote
laboring hand. and for all official mat
ter employed the company clerk as
nmanuensis. This being personal, he
spent hours in copying his reply. He
said he was tired of answering the let
tiers of Mesdames Stone and Tighc on
this subject. He had sent them inven-
tories of everything of which their hus-
bands died possessed, and had RENTED
every cent he had realized from the
sales thereof. Only one of them had a
watch. If either had ever owned di-
amond studs, as was alleged, lie, Close,
had never seen them, nor the hundreds
cf dollars alleged to be in their pos
session, nor the company fund for
which Stone was accountable. In point
of fact, he, Close, was compelled to say
he did.not believe the ladies knew what
their husbands did or did not have.
He was ready to make oath as to the
truth of his story, and Hospital Stew
ard Griffin and DR.. Meigs could also
testify that the deceased officers had
hardly any effects to speak of-could
they only be found. But thereby hung
tale of. further trouble. Nlcigs him.
self had died of the fever, and Griffin,
after fitful career, had been found
guilty of all manner of theft and dis
honesty as to hospital stores in his
charge, and was himself languishing,
in dishonorable discharge, prisoner at
| Ship island. Here Close thought to end
| it all, but the widows-sistcrs they
| war ,x-l,N So,
quarters of old Fort Fillmore and had
followed the drum all over Texas and
New Mexico before the war-hatl
welded strapping sergeants and seen
their spouses raised to the shoulder
straps in the depleted state Of the reg
ular army during the four years of vol
unteer supremacy-the widows were
now backed by priest and pettifog-
ger, and, mindful of the success achieved
by such proceeding when led by name
of their own nationality, were deter
mined to "push things" When De-
cember came, such was the accumula-
ton of charge and specification against
the absent and friendless officer that
old Brax took the simplest way out OF
It and applied for court-martial to
try the case.
The day after Christmas, therefore,
and before the official copy of the ordel
was received at the barracks Gas, oddly
often happened in those times, until the
leak was discovered and duly plugged)
the New Orleans evening papers con
tanned the following interesting item;
"a genera! court-martial of unusual
Importance is to be held at the bar
racks, the session to commence at ter
a. m. on the I'd of January, for the tria
of Brevet Capt. ]. p. Close, of til.
tenth infantry, on charges serious
ly rejecting upon his character us al
officer and gentleman. The detail 70,
the court comprises officers of severa
other regiments, as it is conceded tina
there is widespread prejudice agains
the accused among his comrades in Tho
tenth. Even the light battery ha.
been drawn upon in this instance, III
unusual circumstance, as officers of tina
arm generally claim exemption fron
such service in view of the peculiar ant
engrossing nature Of their battery du
ties. Brevet Brig. Gen. Pike, of the I'll
cavalry, is detailed as president, an,
First Lieut.. S. X. Waring, of the I'll
artillery, as judge advocate of the court
The latter officer will be remembered
as the hero of remarkable adven
ture in connection with the recen
cause celebre, the Lascclles affair.""
well. may be kissed to DEATH" ex
claimed Capt. Lively, of the Foot, as III
burst into the messroom that evening
Just listen to this. will you'll Oh