The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
ROMEYN AGAINST O'BRIEN.
AN ARMY POST SCANDAL AND IT'S


Iieut. Bamrord's Attentions to Mira. O'Brien
and His Reported Detrothal TO Miss Nina
Romeyn. ana the Rumpus They Raised Mt
Fort Mcpherson Court-dartial Scenes.
Gen. Wesley Merritt, commanding the De-
partment Of the East of the regular army, will
have to pass soon upon the findings of the
Romeyn court-martial, which practically finished
its work yesterday at Fort Mcpherson ut At
lanta, Ga. After he disposes of the findings Of
this court-martial he will probably have to pass
upon the decisions of several moro court
martials at the same place. for it became known
on Friday that the War Department had or.
oered the MEMBERS Of the court at Fort McPher-
son to continue their work in other cases until
further orders.
Capt. Henry Romeyn OF the Fifth Infantry has
been on trial, charged with conduct unbecoming
an officer. Cap. Romeyn knocked Lieut.. NJ. J.
O'Brien down on the parade ground Of the post
after dress parade of the garrison on last Feb.
II. That is one Of the charges against him.
There are two other charges, both accusing him
Of circulating unjust and scandalous charges
against Lieut.. O'Brien's wife. The court-martial
began its sessions on April 90. 1t speedily be-
came apparent that it was Mrs. OBrien who
was on trial as to her moral character. The trial
involved the question whether an army officers
wife may take bicycle rides and long walks and
dance repeatedly with an officer OF the post not
her husband. but with her husbands approval,
the other officer having broken off an engage
ment OF marriage with the daughter OF a third
officer. The officer of tho post who played the
gallant to Mrs. o'Brien is Lieut.. Bamford of the
Fifth Infantry, and the young woman whose
marriage engagement was broken is Miss
Nina Romeyn. whose father knocked Lieut..
oBrien down. AS the trial proceeded 1t de-
veloped that the question at issue had not only
IN Ia rHtIh NJ, nj I,A .I,~
was complicated with the further question
whether Lieut.. Bamford had q right to break
his engagement with Miss Romeyn and show
persistent public attention 10 Mrs. O'Brien.
The c"ourt-martial thus found itself confronted
with a typical army-post row, In which women
ana their iealousies played a conspicuous part.
The result OF the inquiry will practically deter
mine whether Mrs. O'Brien will be run out Of
Fort Mcpherson and possibly out of the army
circle Itself. Some of the friends of Lieut..
oBrien say that certain women of the post are
determined to blast Mrs. O'Brien forever. and
that Capt. Romeyn and his daughter are simply
bent upon securing revenge upon Lieut.. Bamford
for breaking his marriage engagement. Capt.
homeyns friends say that Mrs. O'Brien should
DO banished from good society. and hence it Is
around this woman that this army row, with its
many-sidedc complications. RACES.
80 much for the row and its causes. Tho per-
cons involved are Of moro than ordinary impor-
lance. Capt. Romeyn has a reputation for
bravery as a fighter. He has served c%ontinu-
ously In the army since 1862. entering 1t as an
enlisted man. and is within a few months of re-
urement for age. He has been brevetted five
times, and has a medal for bravery won In light
Ing Indians In Montana In 1877. He bears the
scars OF wounds received In battle. He Is a high
onicer In the Loyal Legion, and has been pointed
mn NJ m fuNA . Al
His daughter has been known as the "belle of
the post at Fort MCPHERSON. Liout. OBrien
mas also had distinction. He was selected by the
War Department to witness the war between
Ihina and Japan. and TO report as to Its conduct
INC department. There Is said to have been
some friction over his stay In the Orient. Mrs.
obrien Is army bred and born. Her father Is
Capt. Kendall of the Sixth Cavalry, one of the
best.known and mos. influential men In tho
army, Mrs. O'Brien is vivacious. comedy, and,
until this scandal arose, was one OF the most
popular women in army circles. Lieut.. Bam-
iord Is one OF the younger officers in the army.
lie is good-looking and has been popular.
Affairs were peaceful at Fort Mcpherson when
the briens Joined the regiment at the close o:
The China-Japan war. Lieut.. Bamford had paid
attention to Miss Romeyn for some time. and
had permitted himself to DO congratulated on
his engagement to her. He has since declared
mat he was not engaged to her. and soon after
ne had received tho congratulations 1t is known
That he went to her and asked her TO deny pub
ic!y That there was any engagement between
them. This was despite tho fact that he had
asked her father to be allowed to wed her. She
declined 10 make any such announcement, and a
question OF veracity has arisen between Capt.
lomeyn and his daughter on one side and Lieut..
bamford on the other as to whether the mar
III ma M -. H. IL Th- a. -
evidence on this point Is in favor of the Ro,
meyns.
Soon after Mrs. O'Brien arrived at the post
the began TO attract attention by her graceful
bicycle riding. Several OF the women Of the
post counted 1t a pleasure to be seen with her
on spins about the fort and the surrounding
country. Lieut.. o'Brien did not ride a bicycle
but Lieut.. Banford did. Lieut.. Bamford fro
quently Joined Mira. O'Brien and other women
In bicycle trips. but soon II was noticed that the
other women dropped out Of these parties, and
Lieut.. BamioEd and Mrs. 0,BTisn began 10 taxi