The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
Captain Romeyn'S Cas-
tigation of Lieuten-
ant O'Brien.
The Latter Resented Reflec-
ton Upon His Wife'S
Character.
Romeyn Refused to Retract and
Vigorously Replied to an
Insult.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 19.-On
the heels of the Commander Mullan naval
episode comes sensation from Atlanta,
. Ga, which is exciting army circles. 1t
involves Lieutenant o. Brien, well known
at the Preside of San Francisco.
Several weeks ago Captain Romeyn
knocked the lieutenant down on the pa
background at Fort Mcpherson, Ga.
O'Brien then preferred charges against
Romeyn, and this caused such stir in
army circles that the department sen,
Colonel Thomas W. Barr from Governors
Island, n. Y, to the seat OF war to inves-
tigate the cause of the trouble.
Colonel Barr found so much more III IN
he expected that on his return to Cover
nors Island court was promptly ap-
pointed to try the accused man. Every
possible influence was brought to bear
upon Lie utenant 'Brien to induce him
&c abandon his charges, but they availed
nothing. The evidence to be presented
not only concerns scandal in official
life here. but actually reaches back 10 the
doings of Lieutenant O'Brien in Japan,
where he was sent by this Government to
observe the progress of the war between
that country and China.
1t appears that upon Lieutenant
O. Brien's return from Japan he brought
to Fort Mcpherson his young and very
pretty wife. On March l last wealthy
young Atlanta man named Bennett told
Captain Romeyn that he was going to
Washington to the inauguration and that
Mrs O'Brien was going to accompany
him. Captain Romeyn urged him not to
do so. He said that it would result IN
scandal, for the ladies at the fort were
already suspicious of Mrs. o Brien's con-
duct.
Now it happened that the wealthy
young Bennett had another sweetheart at
Fort Mcpherson and this story reached
her ears. In jealous mood she told
other ladies at the fort. Lieutenant
0'Bren then felt called upon to resent
the statement attributed TO Captain Ro-
meyn, namely, that Mrs. O'Brien's repu-
tatlon was not above reproach.
Lieutenant O'Brien wrote sharp note
to Captain Romeyn demanding that he
make public retraction of the remarks at
tributed to him, and Romeyn replied
with equal sharpness that he would re-
tract nothing. The next day on parade
O'Brler began in a very dramatic way to
denounce Romeyn as a liar and a SLAM
derer. He had hardly said len words
when Romeyn's fist struck him in the
jaw and he retired from active participa-
ton in tue argument.
Romeyn was arrested by Major Porter,
but after twenty minutes' confinement in
his own house was released. Fearing
another physical encounter the friends OF
both men kept them apart, and o. Brien
filed OF C,nuarpnrc TSla he 49,
which brought Colonel Barr Immediately
10 Atlanta. These charges alleged con-
duct un becoming an officer and a gentle
man on the part of Captain Romeyn, and
three counts involved were specific:
First, that he warned young Bennett not
to be seen in company with Mrs. o Brien ;
second, that he asserted that the officers
OF the post would not permit their fam
lies to associate with Mrs. OBrien, and
third, that in the presence of the troops
he Knocked down fellow-officer.
Captain Romeyn's defense will be the
substantiation of the position he has al
ready assumed and the assertion that he
acted throughout the part of gentleman
and an officer. That this involves the
proving Of the reflection he has cast on
Mrs. O'Brien makes the case the only one
of the sort. 1t is said, that the army
officials in this country have ever been
called upon to try.
That Captain Romeyn win make coun-
ter-charges OF some sort against Lieuten-
ant O'Brien is positively asserted by his
friends, bnt their nature is not known, ex.
cept that they concern his general con-
duct as an officer and reach back to his
visit TO japan, when he figured con-
spicuously before the public as the alleged
inventor of the Port Arthur massacre and
the especial object of dislike of the MI
kado.
Mrs. O'Brien is very we'll known in
Washington, where she has spent most of
her life. Her father is Captain Kendall,
one of the best-known and Influential Off
GERS of the army. now with the Sixth In
fantry. 1t Is said he had great deal to
do with getting young 'Brien's appoint
ment as this country's war representative
in the Far East.