The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-16
FOR THE DEFENSE
THE COURT MARTIAL TRYING
LIEUT.. MORFORD LISTENS
TO EVIDENCE.
ATTORNEY MAKES OBJECTION
TO QUESTION OF THE JUDGE AD-
VOCATE ABOUT MORFORD'S
PRIVATE LIFE.
ARE ONLY TWO MORE WITNESSES.
Then the Case Will BE Closed and
the Arguments Made-Large At
tendance Present.

What is Lieut.. Morford's reput a.
ton among the officers at the garri-
son?"
Il object to that question: interpos-
ed Attorney PEBBLES for the defense
The court room was cleared of the
spectators, and when the doors Were
again thrown open the court made the
announcement that the objection was
sustained.
On the resumption of the court mar
tial proceedings against Lieut. William
III. Morford yesterday morning, the de-
Tense commenced introducing it's evil
dence, which consisted largely of the
testimony of officers at the post rela-
tive to his character as an officer, the
question being asked each of Them
How has Lieut. Morford performed
his duties?" 1t was on the cross-ex-
animation that Col Hunter, the judge
advocate, asked the question alluded
to above, which was objected to by the
defense on the ground that the direct
examination was merely in reference
to the official character of the accus-
ed and the prosecution had no right to
go into his private life on the cross
examination. The judge advocate
maintained that official character is
not confined to the fact that the de-
PENDANT attended drills regularly and
obeyed the orders of his superior Of
ficers, but it also means his conduct
in private life and his honor as a gen.
tleman-but the court took an opposite
view of the question.
Capt. F. w. Roe testified that Lieut..
Morford had been in his company for
the past five years, his service had
been very good. faithful and con-
scientious, and he had shown great
loyalty to his company.
Capt John W. Hanney said that so
far as he knew, Lieut.. Morford's man
ner has been good.
Capt. William Gerlach added tha
weight of his observations that Lieut..
Morford had always performed his
duties well.
Capt. L. W. Cook testified that An
ton Miesen, the local manager Of the
Pabst Brewing company, had spoken
to him about Lieut.. Morford; that he
said the latter had borrowed $500 from
him, giving his note. and Mr.. Miesen
had requested the captain to see the
dilatory defendant about the pay
ment of the same, saying that ne
would be satified with payments CT
$40 or SIS a month. Several days later
the captain again met Mr.. Miesen,
who said he had seen Morford and the
thing was all right. On cross exam
nation the witness testified that he
saw Miesen at Still later period and
he had said that Morford had called
at his office and left SIS to apply On
the note, with letter that he would
be in again in few days and pay $40
more, and after that he would pay
SIS month, but neither the $40 or any
subsequent payment had been made
up to that time.
Edgar NJ. Watkins, manager of the
A. H Wilder estate, said that he had
known the Morford family for thirty
years. About two years ago the lieu
tenant applied to him for loan to
liquidate all his other indebtedness,
saying that he preferred to owe one
man all the amount than to have it
distributed among number OF cred
itors. Tile sum wanted was $500,
and he offered to pay it back in
monthly installments, giving life in
surance policy as security. He was
perfectly willing to make the loan
but told the lieutenant that the funds
in his care were in SUCH shape that he
could not on that kind of security.
The witness had never heard any
thing derogatory to the character of
the defendant until he read in .hc
newspapers of his court martial
An interesting point was brought
out in the Testimony of Glenn Cess
Ter, clerk in Browns jewelry store
On East Seventh street, and not 100
feet away from the Office Ok the
Pabst Brewing company. He said he
was quite intimate With the defcnd-
ant, who frequently called in the
ant in uniform Gown town except on