Evening star., 1898-06-28
Inquiry as to It's Use as a Means of
Punishment.
FACTS REPORTED OSECRETARY ALGER
Soldier Attempts to Kill Himself
With a Knife.
Totes OF THE MP
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
CAMP AIGER Va Tune % 1SslS

1
| Certain developments in the saw horse"
| investigation which have come to light
| within the past twenty-four hours are
! looked upon here as portending a rather un-
| pleasant outcome for Col John T. Barnett.
The saw horse, 1t will be remembered. was
| an institution intended as an instrument OF
punishment. 1t was erected in the camp OF
| the 159th Indiana. Col. Barnett with whose
sanction it was Installed, had one of his
men, Private E. F. Cooper of Company A,
! fastened upon the ridgepole and kept there
| for four hours. When relieved Cooper was
unable to stand. His offense was absence
| from camp for three days without leave.
| This occurred last Friday.
No one thought it likely that anything
would be known of Col. Barnett's reply to
| the request from the War Department for
information before it was given out at the
department. Its substance has. however
leaked out. Col. Barnett admits both the
existence of the horse and the punishment
of one of his men by having him kept upon
it for four hours.
He makes no attempt to justify himself ex-
cept as far as simple recital of facts will
serve as justification. Cooper's character
is given as not very good, and his past rec
ord as very bad indeed. This communica-
ton was at once transmitted to the de-
partment through Gen. Graham'S office.
Meanwhile. Gen. Graham, exercising
Enquestionable right commander-in-chief
of the corps, ordered the saw horse torn
uOWn dllu tdheIl away. he consented To
speak on the subject to The Star reporter
this morning saying:
ANY means Of punishment that inflicts
permanent injury on the man punished or
which does not Yield immediate return
of practical value Is discountenanced in
the army. In time Of peace each offense in
wolves a certain specified sentence, fixed by
order of the President. Special provision is
n ade, however, for the punishment of men
who disobey orders in time of war. While,
as in the time when hostilities not act
i've, certain puniShments enum Grated
for time of war, commanding officers are
free to exercise much discretion. 1t would
seem, therefore, as though Colonel Barnett
had committed no positive cffense against
army regulations. Whether Secretary AL
ger will regard the establishment of a saw
horse as beyond the limit of common sense
and good judgment Is quite another mat
ter, and the outcome of the whole affair
depends upon the stand taken by the Secre-
tary.
Il do not anticipate the summoning of
court-martfal to try Colonel Barnett I
hardly expect the War Department to look
en- the matter so unfavorably, but 1 do ex-
pect them TO adopt such measures as Will
effectively put stop to the infiiction of
runishments more severe than those in use
in the regular service
General Graham was then asked point
blank whether or not he expected to remain
at Camp Alger any great length of time.
You may say for me-" said General Gra-
ham. with smile, that 1 once requested
| with General Duffield's brigade. 1 desired
particularly to get into active service. The
department, however, seemed to think it
best that 1 should stay where L am. So
here stay, as ignorant of the department. 8
plans concerning me as you are, or any one
else is
Corporal J. T. Collins and Privates J. s.
pPulter s. H. Sutphn and M F. PrenJer-
gast, all of Company L, 9Th Pennsylvania,
are now under guard at headquarters. They
are charged with having conducted them
| selves improperly before several ladies who
were driving from camp to Falls Church.
The corps commander said there had been
| too much of that sort of thing recently.
He meant to put stop to it. he added, and
would do so by making an example of the
four men now under arrest
Lieut.. Ames' Trial.
Notwithstanding the strenuous effort
| made by the court-martial convened yes
| terday to keep its deliberations secret, the
following particulars of the trial of Lieut..
| c. c. Ames. ordnance officer of the 9TH Illi-
nois, have leaked out
The proceedings did not consume more
than fifteen minutes. There was but one
charge, that Of being absent without leave
| for three days. Lieut. Ames plead gully
and asked permission to present certificates
| of character from four superior officers.
This being granted, he submitted letters
from Gems. Miles, Corbin and Carr and
| many personal letters from his former su-
periors in the regular army, certifying to
his good character and personal merit. In
tir,ations were made to Lieut.. Ames'
friends that the sentence would not be more
than reprimand. Lieut.. Ames is the Off
Ger who left camp without leave to go to
Columbus, Ohio, to be married.
Private Arthur Elston. Company K 7th
Illinois, attempted suicide yesterday after
| noon at o'clock. Private Elston received
permission to visit the city about two
weeks ago and took with him $50 belong
ing to the company. He was to make pur-
chases for the company mess, but did not
turn ur until Sunday. Report has it that
nc was on spree, and was turned over to
the city authorities and by them brought
to camp. Sunday night ne attempted to
escape from the guard house and was cap
| tured by the guard. At the time his ac-
tions were rather peculiar, and last even
ing while at mess he took his table knife
and tried to cut his throat. His injuries,
though serious, are not necessarily fatal
He is in the I'd Division hospital under
guard. As soon as his condition will per-
NIT he will be tried for desertion.
Representative Belknap left an order
with Sergt McGilen of the 7th Illinois for
twenty-four musical instruments for the
band. The instruments are to be chosen
by Bandn.aster Miller, and the choice is
not limited either as to kind Or urIalitv