Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16

CAMP ALGER. VA, August B.-CSpe-
taIl-The testimony adduced at to-day S
s.esion OF the Court of Inquiry, sitting at
camp AIger to investigate the conduct Of
tbe Third Regiment has materially
s,rengthened the situation in favor of the
accused. Many witnesses have been heard
.,r ,bc defence. and all have insisted that
There was no riot on Monday night and
,o iusubordination. Officers Of the regi-
rnent have told Of the tractability Of the
men. and the men have declared their
willingness and desire TO obey orders. All
have agreed that the camp was unusually
ouiet on the night in question, and that
the only extraordinary noise was the
cheering Of the First Connecticut Regi-
YDent. which had been ordered into the
virginia lines by General Butler. Ihe
federation Of these statements was almost
nonotonous. but the morning session was
highly spiced with another scene created
bv General Butler who tried 10 take
faU out Of Attorney-General Montague
and again came OFF second best, and there
was a very decided blue streak through
the evidence occasioned by the repetition
Of General Buffers profanity on the me-
morable Sth. Colonel Male. commanding
the regiment. and Captain Hutcheson,
who was officer OF the day. were both
upon the stand, and their evidence differ
I'd only as to the curse used by the Divi-
sion Commander. The examination Of
witnesses will be concluded tomorrow
morning. and counsel will then ask leave
10 argue the case. General Butler has an
uounced that he will not be present, anC
II seems doubtful If the court will permi
one side to be presented and not th'
other.
TEMPEST IN a TEAPOT.
Nothing has occurred to indicate what
the verdict will be, but a gentleman. whC
IS closely connected with the court, said
to-day that while the whole affair seem
ed TO be a tempest in a teapot, it was
always very hard TO get justice in such
cases. because sacrifices had to be made
for the sake of military discipline. Gene
ral Butler, too, it is said. has been pro-
missed the corps commanders support
and intimated to-day that he was deter
mined 10 fight the matter to the bitter
end. on the other hand, should the ver-
diet 20 against the regiment an appeal
viii be made TO higher authorities, so the
end Is not yet As indicated in these dis
patches yesterday. corps headquarters
viii be moved TO Middletown, Pa, to-
morrow, and General Buffers Division
viii follow the Second Division in about
two weeks time.
Congressman Jones, of Virginia, was
an interested auditor at to-day's sessions
Of the court.
DR. j.. c. Merriman was recalled by
the recorder, and testified that on Mon
day night he had been seized by the
knee by one of the Virginia men, who
tried to drag him from his horse. while
another shouted Shoot that - -.
Witness was vigorously examined
as 20 the reasons ne had for not making
these statements when he first appeared
upon the stand. He replied that no ques-
tion had led up TO such an answer. a
reference TO the stenographic reports
showed that he was mistaken, and led tc
his confusion, but he made no attempt
20 explain his position, and left bad
impression behind him when he retired
CAPTAIN HUTCHINS'S STORY.
CAPTAIN ]. r. Hutchins. of the Third
Regiment who was officer Of the day on
The Monday last. had a weird story to tell.
Corroboratlng former testimony as TO the
back when they stampeded the negro,
and the orderly conduct Of the men in
camp. witness related how he had gone
TO Colonel Male 10 report the incident,
and was present at the interview be-
tween General Butler and Colonel Male.
when the former said: 81 find your regi-
ment in a perfect state of confusion, and
perfect set of G-'d--- hoodluins. act
Ing like a band Of Comanche Indians"
General Butler then added: by the way,
Colonel there has been some trouble
about saluting negroes. Your men are
making themselves a c. d. set of
fools about the matter. ! salute a negro.
and so DO you, and there is no reason
why your men should not do the same
thing" Witness said the only noise he
heard in camp was the cheering of the
Connecticut Regiment, and in the crowd
which followed the negro TO the woods
there were men from the Hospital Corps
and from the Connecticut Regim mt.
Major Wright, who was very nervous
while on the stand, said he did not have
10 use force 10 make the crowd dsperse
and return 10 their camps. He did not
recognize any OF the Virginians. This
closed the case against the regiment.