The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-21
SYLVESTER sCOvEL's CASE.
The Corresponding, Under the Rules
of War, Might BE Shot.

The COrrespGndent, Under the Rules
of War, Might BE Shot.
NEW YORK, July 2O.-According to
advices received here from Santiago,
Sylvester Scovel, the newspaper corre-
spondent, is still under arrest for strik-
ing Maj. Gen. Shafter.
Accounts disagree regarding the in
cident. One says Scovel returned q
blow struck by Gen. Shafter, and an
other that, angered by an order of Gen.
Shafter, Scovel sought the general and
slapped him.
The latter version says Scovel had
asked permission of Gen. Shafter to
ascend to the roof of the governors
palace with the American officers who
hoisted the first American flag in San
tiago. Gen. Shafter refused the re-
quest. Scovel thereupon renewed the
request and was again peremptorily re-
fused.
Not satisfied, Scovel, so the report
says, attempted to go up on the build
Ing, but was promptly seized by or
the assault, and his arrest was ordered
by Gen. Shafter. He was placed in
Ccrcel Real and today was removed to
the tug Colon under close guard to ST.
boney. 1t is not known how his case
will be disposed of, as it is possible to
try him at the front or bring him
to the United States.
This is not ScovePs first offense
against the army regulations. He
slowed away on the government vessel
UncaS at Key West when it went to
Havana to arrange for the exchange
of Correspondent Charles H. Thrall
and Artist Jones. Scovel had been re-
fused permission to go on the Uncas,
but slowed away and was not discov-
cred no rrnf
this disobedience he was forbidden to
appear at any naval station of the
United States.
No case like that Of ScovePs in the
present instance is known to the of
ficials at Washington, it is said, so
there is no precedent for dealing with
1t. 1t appears, however, that ScovePs
case may come under the general ar
ticles of war, and he may be sentenced
to death by court martial
The particular sections of the articles
of war apparently governing the case
seem to cover the matter fully They
read thus:
article SO. All retainers to the camp and
al persons serving. with the armies of the
United States in the field though not en-
listed soldiers are to be subject to orders
according to the rules and discipline of war.
Article 2l. Any officer or solder who on
any pretense whatever strikes his superior
of1cer, or draws or lifts any weapon, or Of
Acis oily NioieHce against nlm, DelnR IN the
execution Of his office, or disobeys any law
ful command of his superior officer shall
suffer death or such other punishment as a
court-martial shall direct.
Article 62. All crimes not capita, and all
disorders and neg!ects which officers and
soldiers may be guilty of to the prejudice of
good order and military discipline though
not mentioned in the foregoing articles of
war, are to be taken cognizance of by
general OR regimentai garrison or fed
officer court-martial according TO the ma
ture and degree of the offense, and punished
at the discretion of such court"
Article 72 of the Articles Of War DO
vides that, when the commanding gen
eral of a separate army is the accuser.
the president shall appoint the officers
of the court.
Under such conditions 1t is further
provided the findings of the court
would be referred directly to the secre-
tary of war, and by him forwarded
to the president for the latter's ap-
proval.
1t is declared to be improbable that
any immediate consideration of the
case will he had, though it is thought
Scovel will probably at once be ex-
PEELED from the lines.