The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-28
Says He Slapped His Face TO Stop
His Mouth.
BAMFORD CLASSED AS BAD.
The Captain Tells How He Ordered
Him From His House.

He CIafms He Never Liked the LIeu-
tennnt From the First Time He Met
Him-When the Latter Asked for
His Daughters Hand the Captain
Tola Him Certain matters Would
Have TO he ExpIained-The Cap-
tain Very CauStIc in his Account
of the Lieufenant's Attentions to-
Mrs. O'Briem-Lieut. Shaw's Testi-
mOny spicy.
Atlanta. Ga, April 27.--capt Henry Ro-
meyn made his statement to the court
martial at Fort Mcpherson to-day. II was
a dramatic and sensa tional period OF the
trial. The captain did not mlnce words.
but said some things which may call for
blood before the end of the trouble is
reached.
Tomorrow morning the prosecution win
call witnesses In rebuttal, and the day
may see the conclusion OF the testimony.
probably be put upon the stand.
The trial has been the sensation OF the
city since its commencement. II has been
discussed everywhere. and all the time.
After reiteraung the truth Of his stats-
ments In respect TO what DIR. Taylor had
said about Mrs. oBriens dinner party.
as embodied in the official charges, Capt.
Romeyn acknowledged that he warned Mr..
Bennett not to go to Washington with
Mrs. O'Brien. "As to the statement that
my words were false and slanderous In re-
gard to Mrs. o'Brien, deny It. / have
seen Mrs. O'Brien cut by officers and la
dies In this room and outside. / have
heard a man say in this room that Mrs.
OBrien's conduct toward Lieut.. Bamford
was a 'brassy thing
II have seen Lieut. Bamford meet Mrs.
O'Brien at the street cars and greet her
with all the ardor of a lover. a thing
have never seen her husband do. In re-
gard to the difficulty on the parade ground
was disgusted with the conduct Of Lieut..
Bamford, who had not called at my house
once during the ten days my daughter was
ill. He did not even call 10 ask how she
was, an engagement at that time exist
O'Br1en, go bicycle riding with her and
meet her at the cars. IL was one day
when no met her al the car with lover
like air that | saw them. That capped
the climax of my anger and resolved to
break off the engagement. short time
afterwards heard him in the parlor talk
Ing to my daughter. His tone seemed 70
be very heartless I went 20 the room
where they were and said. Lieut.. Bam-
ford, there Is the door TO my house. Get
out OF here as quick as God will let you
and he got. He has not been back to my
house since.
"On the parade ground. when the diff
fculty occurred, noticed Lieut.. o'Brien
standing apart from the other officers.
His face was pale, thought from drink.
Then / heard him say something
about me. ! thought It was his intention
20 vlllify me before the officers OF my reg
lment and the assembled citizens. he
had not finished speaking when slapped
his face. 1 thought that was the only way
to stop his mouth"
In regard to the engagement Maj
Romeyn said that Lieut.. Bamford came TO
him and asked permission TO be engaged 70
his daughter. II told him that there were
some things which would have to be ex-
planned, things which had taken place
both IN the garrison and In the city.
These actions were such that they could
not be referred to In a mixed assemblage.
He assured me that he was free OF all
entan elements with women. ] hesitated
10 give my consent. because did not like
the man. but my daughter loved him, and
/ supposed he loved her. Subsequent
events have proved that my first estimate
was correct"
"Lieut. OBrien," said the major bitter
ly, has been posing as n domestic mar
tyr, when, In truth, he Is a cuckold. lie
has shamefully neglected his wife and has
allowed another man 20 take his place"
The witness must be Informed as TO the
character Of his testimony" said a MEM
ber OF the court
II have nothing more 10 say" respond
cd Capt. Romeyn, and the court adjourn
cd.
Capt. Romeyn r. a gallant vetcr m Of tho
civil war and an Indian fighter OF intrepid
record. lie IL one OF the few men who
wear medals for gailantry voted them BY
The wifo OF Lieut.. Kimball, who left
the garrison last Saturday 90 escape tes-
tifying. has not yet been located, although
efforts 10 learn her address hnve been
made. Another order % have her before
the court Was issued to-day.
Lieut.. shaw, who wns roommate with
Lieut.. bamford. was on the stand to-day
ana told some spicy things about that
)ifeer and hin Irritation wlfh Mff O'nrlen.
and nINo u HIn enHaunmnnl a nfla4 Itn~