The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-04
COURTMARTIAL CASE CLOSED.
THE VERDICT MADE UP But STILL
4 SECRET.

II Has Been Forwarded 20 the East
crn Headquarters of the Army at
Governors Island and VIII BE
Promulgated From There - The
Judge Advocate Contends That
Capt Romcyn Has violated Two
of the Articles OF war-CRpt.
BOmeyn Makes the Closing Argu-
mcnt for the Defense.
Atlanta, Ga, May S.-The Romeyn court
martial was finished this afternoon. The
verdict has been made up and forwarded
to the eastern headquarters at Governors
Island from whence It will be promulgat-
ed. Until il is so made public. the result
will not be known, as the members of the
court are all under oath TO preserve their
finding inviolate until it is released by
the department. The members of the
court will leave for their different COM
mands tomorrow
The proceedings OF the court to-day con-
sisted in the statement or argument Of the
accused and of the judge advocate.
The judge advocate simply contended
that Capt Romeyn had violated the 61st
and cd articles OF war in circulating a
scandalous report upon a brother officer.
and in assaulting an officer while upon
duty. lie declared that Capt Romeyns
conduct was due to personal spite, and
throughout the trial his attitude had been
malignant and hideous TO witness. IL
Capt. Romeyn Is held to be guilty OF the
charge involving conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman. he will be dis
missed from the service.
Capt. Romeyn's speech to the court to-
10 I,.,.., Il N.r.
probably been the most sensational court
martial OF the army in recent years.
Great things" he said. often proceed
from little causes. From the giving away
of a confidential correspondence between
two friends came this trial, which has as
sumed national Importance A dispute
about a water bucket In Europe produced
one Of the greatest of continental wars.
The dropping OF a match on the prairie
caused one of the greatest of forest fires.
The kicking over Of a lamp in Chicago
caused the destruction OF that city. A
crawfish boring a hole in the levees Of the
Mississippi causes the floods to sweep
over the valleys. So Mr.. Bennett, iu re-
peating what l told him, caused all this
trouble. / yield to no man In my respect
for womanhood and motherhood. The
dearest, sweetest memories of my boy
hood days cluster around an old farm
house IN which / was born, and where 1
was taught to respect true women. But
believe IN woman keeping her place. and
not disregarding the laws of God and man.
! am charged with speaking to MIR.
Bennett in public place
sation was not in a public place. and It
has not been proved that It was over
heard. / have always had the repufa-
ton of being true to friends. ! have al
ready stated what reason / had TO con-
slider Mr.. Bennett my friend
In regard TO the drill ground episode,
Capt. Romeyn said there was no doubt
that Lieut.. O'Brlen desired TO provoke a
difficulty. IF the rule. false In one thing,
false in everything, be applied to his tes-
timony, Lieut. O'Briens evidence Is not
worth anything. Why were not Lieut..
Bamford and Mrs. O. Brien produced
witnesses In this case? The question OF
sex could not have prevented the APP
pearance OF Mr.. Bamford. He was
afraid to face a cross examination. BY
Mrs. Kimbal the lleutenants wife wao
left the garrison to escape being called
on as a witness} / wanted to show that
she had made severe comments on tho
conduct OF Mrs. OBrien, and had sug-
gested that a petition be gotten up cali
ing on Lieut.. O'Brien to resign from the
regiment.
II wanted to show by Mrs. Allen that
she mistook Mr.. Bamford and Mrs.
o. rien at a garrison hop for afhanced
lovers and was surprised to learn they
were not. / was carrying a musket before
the prosecutor was born. / was In COM
mand of men before he was out OF his
swaddllng clothes. / have never been
abroad, and hence could not have return
ed under a cloud There Is nothing In my
record that l am ashamed OF. In my
former trial / was made the victim OF
woman's anger, as would have been
shown, but for my desire to spare the
gray hairs OF a man who had once been
my friend"
In conclusion Capt. Romeyn referred TO
the satisfaction Il gave him to receive let
ters from people whom he had never seen,
assuring him OF their appreciation OF his
conduct In regard to the gossip at tho
garrison, Lieut.. Carbaugh, the judge adj
vocate, said innocent acts could never
become a scandal, but to talk about these
acts was scandalous conduct or the pa
rade ground incident, he said that what
ever the language of Lieut.. OBrien might
have been Capt. Romeyn was not Justifa-
bic IN committing a breach OF discipline,
though the language of Lieut.. OBrien
might have been a mitigating circum-
stance.
HIGH HONORS PAID HAY.