The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-05
Civil Authorities Think Of Pros
eclting Army Officers.
WHEELOCK RELIEVED OF DUTY
Disposition to Hold Merriam Blame
less - No Court Martial. Says
Gen. king-Ouiet Night.

Lieut.. Merriam and Lieut. Wheel
ock, the United States Army officers re-
sponsible for the affair of Monday
night, may be prosecuted by the Ha-
waiian Government in the civil courts
for disturbing the peace. The matter
will be decided this morning. If the
prosecution does so take place and the
officers are convicted they will be i'm
prisoned as part punishment.
Gen. King investigated the case of
Lieut.. Wheelock yesterday morning
and suspended that officer The find
ings will be sent to Washington for
further action. Lieut.. Wheelock is
brought in for much of the blame. by
Gen. King, for the reason that he was
provost marshal. Lieut. Merriam was
off duty. 1t is held that Wheelock
should have arrested Merriam for dis
orderly conduct, if such was shown. In
place of that, Wheelock loaned himself
and the men under him to the riot
started by Merriam.
Indications point to an attempt TO
shield Merriam. Merriam was the man
who established and maintained mar
tial law in the streets for over two
hours. He came in conflict with many
people and caused nearly all the
trouble. He was in uniform; citizen
respected it. The patrol was under his
control and obeyed his orders.
Marshal Brown was an early caller
on Gen. King yesterday morning He
stated the facts of the disturbance as
on t-11 from tr
know what would be done in the way
of Furnishing the offenders and prevent
ing repetition of such an affair The
department commander assured the
Marshal that the officers would be
properly handled. 1t was understood.
however, that they would not be court
martialed.
Gen. King deeply regrets the affair.
All of yesterday was spent in making
Investigations. Several persons were
questioned closely concerning the ac-
tlon of the officers. Late in the after
noon Gen. King was so fatigued that
he retired. a guard was posted at the
door to prevent interruption. and. from
his couch, the department commander
continued the discussion for two hours
with Capt. SaXton, his chief of staff
When the conference was finished
Capt. Saxton announced that there
would be no courts martial, for the
reason that no definite complaints
against the officers had been preferred.
and it was deemed that the action TAX
en- in the forenoon covered the breach
of military discipline on the part OF
WheelOck.
First Lieut.. A. w. Mather. of the
New York regiment. was yesterday
morning appointed provost marshal to
succeed Wheelock. He did excellent
work last night, although not a large
number of soldiers were down town.
These patrols from the camp, it may
be explained, were established to look
out for soldiers. They were sent out
as an assistance TO and were so accept
ed on the streets by the police depart
ment. Instructions were, then issued
to the police not to interfere with SOL
der disturbances unless requested to
assist the camp patrol. This was the
reason the police did not interfere
Monday night. Instructions were
modified by Marshal Brown yesterday
morning. however. and other street
disturbances of soldiers will be handled
in the usual way.