New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-19
SCANDAL IN THE ARMY
LIEUTENANT OBRlENS OriAi'O'i1'
AGAINST CAPTAIN ROMEYN.
"A coURT-MART1AL TO BE HELD-MRs' oBRlEN
1Nvo1NED-CoUNTER-CH PROBABLE

u GOVERNMENTAL, TO BE HEID-MRs. oBRIEN
yED-coUNTER-CHARGE PROBABLE
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIsuNE]
1,-oeb,nr,on Aprr ls-About two weeks ago Cap
a., Romeyn. United States Army knocked down
Lieutenant O'Brien on the parade eFounu % TT.
Mcpherson. near Atlanta. Ga. Inc war oepdi 'iie.i'
promptly ordered investigation winch was c0
a,,,od by Colonel Thomas w. Barr. who was sent
~ Atlanta for that purpose by General Merritt. Inc
resu.t OF the investigation is that captain hoIie9"
will have to appear before cour'-ihai'i ia. vi
charges preferred by Lieutenant OBrlen Ever!
rossble influence, 1t IS said. was brought 10 De"i
,,pon Lieutenant OBrien 10 induce him 10 ao""uV'i
%is charges but without avail. The evidence to be
presented not only concerns scandal III ne d. "'
o-rnv most but reaches back 10 the oolnss OF Lieu
.cuant O'Brlen IN Japan. where he was sent cE inc
Government 10 observe the progress Of the war be-
-ueen that country and China on MS return ne
brought 10 Fort Mcpherson his Wife VINO Is sa'o u
be A very pretty young woman
The first Of last month wealthy young Atah'a
man. Bennett by name. who Is engaged 20 ne mar
rled to the daughter Of another ocer al 'he pos''
whose father IS an old and close friend OF captain
Ron,evn met tho captain and told him tha' MIS-
Cr2ren vas going TO visit Washington 10 attend the
.nauguraton ceremonies and that he was 70 accom-
many her Captain Romeyn urged MN not - ~ 80
and said that would result In scan1al' because
of the opinion regarding Mrs. OBrlen entertainer
bv me other women of the fort. Young Bennett toid
his N his sweetheart az the post. and she told Mrs
O'Brje1 Lieutenant OBrien thereupon wrote a
sham note to Captain Romeyn. demanding that he
make public retraction of the remarks attributed TO
him Romeyn replied with equal sharpness tnat ne
would retract nothing The next day on parade
O'Rrion began in very dramatic way TO denounce
Romsyn as q liar and a slanderer He had hardly
said ten words when Romeyns fist struck him IN
the Jaw and he retired from active participation IN
the argument. Romeyn arrested by Major Por-
ter but after twenty minutes confinement IN MS
own house was released. Fearing another physical
encounter the friends Of both men kept them apart
and O'Brien filed at Governors Island the charges
which took Colonel Barr Immediately 10 Atlanta
These charges alleged conduct unbecoinlne IN
officer and a gentleman. and the three counts IN
yoved WERE first, that Romeyn warned young Zen, zen.
nett not 10 be seen in company with MIS-. ~ Brleh:
second that he asserted that the officers or the pot
1yould no. permit their families 10 associate win
-r-~-s he knocked down a fellow-oficer. ,
Captain Romeyns defence Will be the suostantla-
lion az the position he has already assumed ana the
assertion thai he acted throughout the part OF
gentleman and officer. That TINS Involves me pI0N-
ing If The reflections he has cast on Mrs. - lTleil
makes The case the only Of the sort, II Is sad
that Army officials in this country nave ever pen
called uD5n 10 try That Captain Romeyn. VIII MAKE
cofinter-charges OF some sort against lIeutehaht
OPrien il positively asserted by his friends, but
their nature Is not known. except that ney concern
his general conduct officer ana reacn nart
his visit 70 Japan when he figured consplcuonsIy
isfare the public as the alleged inVentor OF the f0rt
Arthur massacre and the especial op1ccu or IN
M!ksdos dislike. Mrs. Ot}rlen IS very W. NJ I"o
T. Wasbinsfon where she has snent most OF her ne
Her father Is Captain Kendall one OF me pes
known and most influential offcers OF We Army
row with the 6th Infantry