The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-25
RoMEYNS FATE A REPRIMAND.
STRONG PULL AT WASHINGTON ALI
THAT SAVED HIM.


Counts For the Leniency on the
Ground of the Captains Honorable
Record on the Field of War and
the Proximity of His Retirement.
Mrs. O'Brien Says She Would Have
Liked 10 See Him Working in the
Ditch and That She Is Not the First
Woman He Has SIandered
Washington, May 4.-The President has
remItted the sentence Of dismissal imposed
by court martial on Capt, Romeyn, Fifth
Infantry who. after a sensational trial,
was convicted recently of assault on Lieut..
O'Brlen OF the same regiment at Fort Nc
pherson, Georgia. In view of the fact that
Capt Romeyn will retire by operation OF
the law on June /, the President believes
that the ends of justice will be served by
his severe reprimand.
The Endorsement of President Mckinley
Is as follows;
Executive Mansion, Washington, May
4-The proceedings findings and sentence
in the case of Capt Henry Romeyn, Fifth
Infantry, are approved; but upon the rec
ommendation of a majority of the mem-
bers of the court martial and in consider
alton of his long and honorable SERVICE
of his wound received in battle, OF ths
medal OF honor held by him for most dis
tnguished gallantry in action of the fact
that he will by operation of law, be re-
tired for age (64 years. on the first day OF
June, next, and OF his appeal to the ex-
ecutiVe for clemency, the sentence award
ed by the court is remtted In doing so,
however, / cannot fail to express my con-
demnation of the conduct of which Capt.
Romeyu has been found guilty and regret
| that he failed upon the occasion to control
his temper In manner becoming his SER
vice and his age. William Mckinley.
The Presidents action in the Romeyn
case was no surprise to people who have
watched the case here. IL has never been
thought in army circles that Capt Ro-
meyn would suffer the extreme penalty
| of dismissal, for he has an excellent rec
| ord, and has strong and influential
| friends Secretary Alger has been his
| friend and advocate, and the Presidents
order was drawn by the secretary in ac-
cordance with his own ideas as to what
| should be done. Mrs. Romeyn has. been
here for several days in her husbands =
| behalf.
Atlanta. Ca, May 24.-Capt. Henry Ro-
meyn learned to-day of President McKin-
| leys action approving the finding OF the
recent court-martial but remltting ths
sentence of the court-martial owing to a,
1 recommendation OF a majority Oi Auo
/ members of the court-martial. He was
| both pleased and displeased. Among other
/ things, he said: The fact that l am not
4 to be dismissed does not surprise me, for
| / have been confident OF that for the pasr
/ ten days. | offered TO bet an officer just
| the other day l would live to wear a
uniform over the official graves of soma
men who are now in the army. Capt.
| Romeyn will be GA years old on June /, and
| win retire by operation OF the law.
IL expect to turn over the companys .
effects to the new commander next Mon
day" he said.
II shall finish packing my household
| furniture on Tuesday and be prepared to-
| leave the post as soon as the order comes
relieving me from duty. 1 shall probably
| leave on Wednesday or Thursday of nexa
week, going straight from here 10 Nash-
vile to take charge of the Chilian exhibits
| / do not know what / shall do after tha
close OF the exposition, not having decided
| just where l shall locate.
"In regard to the Presidents decision,
| it would not be proper for me to talk. Z
1 think there must be some mistake about
| the portion of the dispatch which refers
/ to the reprimand. A friend of mine In
| the city had a letter from Washington
| yesterday and brought IL out 20 me yes
| terday afternoon. That letter stated that
| ! would not be dismissed. and some otheR
things. which / am not at liberty to tell.''
While the decision of the President waa
| not altogether agreeable to Capt. RO-
/ meyn, 1t was equally unsatisfactory to
1 the other faction at the post. Lieut.
| Bamford when shown the dispatch saids
II am glad the proceedings and findings
| Of the court have been approved but dd
not think any clemency ought to have BEEN
shown. Capt. Romeyn ought to have been
dismissed.
"The finding of the court is approved,'s
said Lieut.. OBrlen, land that Is as much
as we could hope for"
/ Mrs. OBrien said: Il am satisfied with
| the verdict of dismissal that was found
| by the court, but am not satisfied at his
| escaping with a reprimand. I'd like To-
see him digging I'm ditch for the balances
| Of his days. am not the first, but the
| fourth, woman whom Capt Romeyn has
| traduced and IL Is time a stop was puu
to this sort Of thing. The idea of Capt.
Romeyn posing as a churchman and an
upholder Of morals Is simply ridiculous''
/ said Mrs. O'Brien. 'He has not always
been a member OF the church. My father
! knew him years ago. and he did not pass
| for a moralist I'm those days He has
worked the~Grand Army Of the Republio
and the churches In his behalf, but there
Is an order that did not do anything for
| him, and that was the Loyal Legion Nv
| father belongs TO the Loyal Legion. ana
| they would not think OF doing what the
Grand Army Of the Republic did"
Capt. Henry Romeyn was tried befora
a courtmartial at Fort Mcpherson during
the latter part OF April and first OF Nav
| He was charged with striking Lieut.
| O'Brien on the parade ground and with
| slanderng the fair name or Mrs. O'Brlen-
The trial was one OF the most Sensational
| that has ever taken place In this country.
The accused officer pleaded not guilty
| but In reality set up the defense Of iustl-
hcatlon. He attempted 10 show that the
remarks he had made about Mrs. O'Brfen
were justified by the attentions that lady
had received from Lieut. Bamford. He
claimed that Lieut.. Bamford had been en-
gagged TO his daughter, Miss Nina Romeyn.
and that this fact gave him the priviieea
Of commenting on Mrs. OBrien's conduct
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