New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-17
FOR SLEEPING on POST.
SENTENCE IN THE CASE OF SERGEANT
u-rcr-N,N or THE THIRD >FW-JFRSEY

SENTENCE IN THE CASE OF SERGEANT
WIsEMAN. OF THE THIRD NEw-JERSEY.
Tho findings Of the volunteer court-martial which
sat az Fort Hancock. Sandy Hook. on June g. and
considered the cases OF two members OF the 80
New-Jerscy Infantry. stationed there as garrison
guard who charged with sleeping al their
posts ~ duty were promulgated yesterday by
Brleadier-Gen Frank commanding the Depart
men; OF tho East. There much public Interest
in .hc cases from the fact that they were the first
serious offences among the volunteers in the Span
ish-Amcrican war.
In the OF Sergeant w. G. Wiseman. company
A. who pleaded guilty 10 sleeping In a tent "neh
sergeant OF the guard at the big gun-ft. on the
morning OF May 80 he Court found that ne was
guilty NJ ncgec, OF duty in violation OF the sixty
second Article ~ War and he was sentenced 70 he
reduced &C. the ranks and be confined at hard
labor Tor three months under charge OF the pos
guard General Frank approved Of this finding and
sentence and directed that 81 DC executed az FOR
Hancock Wiscman is jeweller In Asbury Park
about thirty years old He has family. lie had
been a member OF tho National Guard Of New
Jersey f9r some time before the war broke out
IN ne case Of Corporal Rober, G. Bede. Com
pany G. who vas charged with sleeping IN the tent
when corporal u The guard at the rapd-hre guns
a. For, Hancock on the same morning. tho Court
found that be no; guilty. and acquitted him
This verdict and finding were d!sapproved by Cen
leased from arres; and returned 10 duty lie Is a
printer IN Keyport He Is no; more than twenty
one years old The evidence against him was pro
scented hy Lieutenant Mcclellan OF the Regular
Army who swOre that ne found Bedie lying on the
ground asleep and ripped his zee, to awaken him.
IN his own beha,; Bedle said that he was lying on
the ground looking a ;he telephone. and when
he saw Mcclellan he roee m hts foe; and saluted
him
Tn speaking 81 no matter Army orrcer said:
The six;y-seoond Article ~ War IL called tho
DEVILS Article by The soldiers f. contains all
offences not enumerated elsewhere II provides FOR
UuU!f mont OF al neglect OF duty 20 the DT"Ju-
dec o. good order and military discipline.
fo.~e AZ possible In Wiseman's case for in the
Regular Army soldier who sleeps post IN time
OF poo. - gets SIX months and fine OF SO a month.
1908 o. must Do" remembered that reduction 70 the
ranks IS q severe penalty The fact that the ind
g. was sent hack Dos the commanding general and
that O., not amended 10 his liking In this case
inht or experience Tor years IN military arm ana
discipline against that Of a raw youth who had
been III one r""H. oiy shor tiine ana cornora a.
volunteer were fsr more serious than sleeping on
,te sen'inels reported. and the entire defence OF
N~w-York Clty by means OF the costly Qualifications
o. SANDY Hook was practically In their hands II
enemy had sought entrance 20 the hRrbOr and
3D." sontines had reported her these men we're the
men go ace that The electric currents 10 fire the
submarine mines turned on that the rapid fire
guns were manned and that the big cannon In tho
gur-lfte were trained on tho foe Their negligence
lmpcrled vast interests and FOR f. there should
Doe adequate punishment as warning against like
offences ny any else
In the orders yesterday issued by General Frank
there WIS The sentence OF John W Daily, the
Regular Army recruits AZ Fort SOcum. 10 be dis
honOra5ly discharged. TO forfeit an allowances and
tion and fraudulent enlistment His sentence will
be served az Fort Columbus on Governors Island