The times., 1897-04-26
The Scandal Which Is Agitating
Army Circles.
MRS. O'BRIEN RODE A WHEEL
Lieut.. Bnmford Had One and They
Took Rides Together-ThisS Started
the GosSips-Captafn Romeyn'S
Daughter Said to Have Been
Engaged TO the Lieutenant.

States Infantry, has been mace Dy SafH-
son gossip to figure in as sensational an
Army scandal as ever a couItmartial of
sober and severe old troopers was called
upon To investigate.
The court is directly concerned with
the specific charges made by Lieut.. o Brien
against Capt. Romeyn, who reflected, it
is said, upon Mrs. 0'Brien's good name,
with the result that sine was ostracised by
the wives of the officers at Fort McPher-
son. But the decision must concern the
young woman more than Capt. Romeyn.
Mrs. O'Brien was the life of society at
the fort until she learned 10 ride bicycle
few months ago. Her husband took lit
tie interest in the sport, but Lieut..
Bamfprd, who sat with them at mess,
frequently acted as her escort on exeur-
sions into the surrounding country. Their
trips became frequent and oftenumes they
were gone from dawn until dark. The
dull routine of barrack life, relieved only
by the monotonous drills and dress pa
rades, offered no end OF time for gossip
1t started with the men, who remarked
quietly that o'Brien should take to the
bike himself or restrict his wife to hiding
within the grounds of the fort
This small talk did not reach the ear OF
O'Brien, who manifested as keen an inter
est in her trips as she did herself. He in
variably saw her leave with Lieut.. Bam-
- ford and he waved his han DIS to them as
they sped out over the country roads. The
talk spa cad 10 the women folks OF the fort.
Il was a choice moTsel Of gossip.
Lieut. Bamford, toe, had become known
about the fort as the favorite suitor for
the hand Of Miss Romeyn, daughter of the
captain She didn tide a bike and, of
course, she didn't enjoy the daily spectacle
of Mrs. 0'Brien and Lieut.. BanfoId spin
ming out Of the fort on their wheels.
All this talk Of the women was over
knitting and dining fiji es, and did not get
to the hearing of the men. At the sane
time the zen Were discussing the matter
between puffs in the mess halls and on
post.
In February the O'Briens, ignorant OF
it ALL issued invitations for a german.
Several regrets were received from the
wives of Officers. This was enough TO
excite surprise. A garrison is like a big
family, where no scandal talk disturbs its
serenity, and regrets are unheard OF
except when Illness intervenes. The
O'Brieas soon discovered the reason.
Capt. Romeyn had dropped the spark
Into this magazine of scandalOus talk. 1t
has developed before the court that ie
had repeated to Stephen Bennett, of At
lanta, some OF the suspicious that had
been banded about; how Maj Taylor had
refused to permit his daughter to attend
the german, and how the soldiers were
all talking about Mrs. O 'Bricn's like rides
with Lieut. Bamford.
Mr.. Bennett, who had been Mrs 0 BTien's
partner at several OF the figures at the
german, dropped hints of Capt Romeyn's
innendoes to some lady friends at the gar
rison, and well everyone can imagine the
substance of the captains talk reached
O'Brien.
One afternoon late in February, after the
regiment had been put through the evolu-
tions ofdrcss parade, Lieut.. 'Brien stepped
up TO Capt. Romeyn on the field and de-
manded an explanation, SAYING plainly
that he had not acted the part OF gentle
man Capt Romeyn's reply was blow
across the lieutenant's face. Tie story
was then discussed publicly and the court
martial was ordered
Since the hearing began many sensa-
tiona! details have been developed. Sew
eraI ladies of the garrison have appeared
as witnesses. and Mrs. O'Brien herself
will be called early next week. Lieut.
o'Brien has testified that the bicycle
rides were all taken with his knowledge
and several at his suggestion, and that
Lieut. Bamford was gentleman in whom
he had the fullest confidence.
Major Taylor whose daughter did not
go 10 the dance, has explained that his
daughter made formal call after the
german so that the relations OF the family
would not be broken He said, though,
that because OF the gossip he preferred
not TO have his daughter become too
thick" with Mrs. o'Brien He desired,
however, to make no reflections upon
Mrs. 0'Brien.
Lieut.. Bamford has told of the innocent
character of the bicycle outings, and IN
his testimony gave garrison society an
other shock by saying that ne had never
been engaged to Miss Romeyn. Miss
Ronleyn has since declared that he was,
and there's more talk and more to come
when this caseis all over.
Stephen Bennett, TO whom Capt. Rop;eyn
confided the gossip, has told Of the cap
tain's conversation, and how surprised
he was ct the story.
Lieut.. Martin has repeated how the
bicycle rides excited adverse comment,
anu MIS-. Mallln mas dOueu now sue mas
avoided speaking to Mrs. Brien because
OF them Lieut.. Xelk has said that the
way in which Mrs. o Brien and Lieut..
Bamfor danced together was a "brassy
proceeding and Mrs. Xeik has supple
mented this with the remark that Mrs.
O'Briens conduct was shameful.
Capt Bowen came on the stand yesterday
and furnished another sensational chap
ter of the story. He said he hR d noticed
nothing that could be classed as criminal
in the relations of Mrs. 0'Bren to Lieut.
Bamford. but added: Il heard Mrs. Kel-
logg. the wife of the late commandant OF
the post, say TO my wife that she had
ceased TO go bicycle riding with Mrs
O'Brien rs she had become tired OF being
made convenience for the latter to
meet Lieut. Bamford in the woods
Capt Ronieyn called his daughter Nina
to the nd, but she was too much affected
by the surroundings TO testify. She will
tell OF Lieut.. Bamford's : engagement to her.
All the women at the garrison Will prob
ably be called as witnesses in the hearing
before it is closed.