The San Francisco call., 1899-12-08
SAW SHIELDS ON
THE WHARF AMI
Ill w iEkltft nttC
He WAS Drunk
Evidence Given at the
COurt-Ma artial.
THAT UELUGKY NOVEMBER y

The trial Of Chaplain Shields has come
TO halt to allow the defense to secure
some evidence from officers in the East
and in the Middle West regarding the
state OF health of the accused. BY the
interrogatorles submitted II is also evil
dent that there will be gathered evidence
TO the effect that the accused was threat
ened with nervous collapse. and that
stimulants were prescribed for him by
army surgeons. The court has adjourned
10 the call OF the president. 1t will be
fully two weeks before any answer has
been received TO the interrogatories, and
the court Will certainly not meet for that
time at least.
The testimony given for the prosecu-
ton yesterday all tended TO show the con-
ditlon or the accused when he arrived
at Alcatraz on November % last, and the
day before. when he came down to the
Clay street wharf and had 10 be escorted
back TO hotel again. The evidence was
also made 10 show that both on the Clay
street wharf. where the boat for the is
land leaves this side of the bay, and at
the wharf at the island numbers OF SOL
diers and civilians saw the accused in
the condition which all the witnesses
have described as intoXication
Lieutenant Cut I. Scott of the Third
artillery. stationed at Alcatraz, was the
x.
lie testified TO having seen the accused
landing from the steamer and TO his con-
ultlon His testimony was 10 the same
erect as that of the others who had pre-
ceded him on the stand-that was that
the man was drunk. He said, too, that
he assumed the chaplain's condition was
caused by too much whisky. He added
tnat at the time the boat landed the
wharr was crowded with soldiers. and
that soldiers were looking down from the
porch or the quarters just above the
Wnart upon the people landing.
The second witness was Frank Watson.
clerk OF the steamer Mcdowell. He said he
saw the accused on November q. Shields
came down TO the boat escorted by two
friends, whose assistance, according 20
the witness, he very much needed. Wat
son says the wharf was then crowded
with people, among them being several
OF the members Of officers families and
soldlers waiting to so over on the boat
10 the island post. Watson says he told
the two men with the chaplain that their
charBe was IN no conuition to go over TO
the island, and he advised them TO take
MN back To his hotel. They evidently
agreed with Watson, for they took Shields
away, and he did not go over TO the is
land until next day.
Watson wound up his testimony by say
ing he believed Shields was drunk when
ne saw him on the wharf.
This ended the testimony of the dcy
ana also the morning session. The after
noon was occupied with the reading OF
the interrogatories to .se sent East and
the Observation-Disclosures to be sent with
them. one set of questions will be sent
10 Dr. Charles @. Plummer at Salt Lake,
another TO DR.. Fockt. late major and sur
geon OF volunteers, who AZ now at Lewis
berg, Pa, and third set TO Major Pol
hemus, surgeon of the United States
army, who is supposed to be in st. Aug
Justine, Ella. Each OF the three physicians
Is asked what the state of health of the
chaplain was when he was under their
observation, and II they ever prescribed
stmulants for his peculiar condition.
With the allowing of these interrogatories
the session OF the court closed.
John Moore, formerly of Company -
sixth infantry, was released from custody
yesterday and was dismissed from the
army with a deserter's release. He de-
serted IN 1856 and a month ago returned
TO the Presidio and gave himself up To
been absent from the country during that
time, and so under army regulations ne
was entitled TO the deserter's release.
Lieutenant Andrew c. Wright, Twelfth
Infantry; Lieutenant Robert Whitfield.
Twenty-second Infantry; Lieutenant Al
len j. Greer, Fourth Infantry. and Lieu
Infantry, reported for duty at the Pre-
sidio yesterday.
The following named female nurses
have been ordered to report by letter TO
the surgeon general for the annument OF
their contracts: Paula Bonmins hausen. 20
Detroit, Mich; Jennie NJ. Clark. TO New
YORK city, n. y; Minnie X. Johnson 10
Bethlehem, Pa; Ida ID. Lippert, to Ctr
cinnati, Ohio; Mary Mccormick, to Camp
beliford, Ontario; Catherine Magee, 10
Philadelphia, Pa; Louise G. Knigh. %
Cazadero, Cal. Stella Smith, 10 Spokane.
Wash; Lizzie l.. Hudson, TO L ort Worth
Texas. The quartermaster's department
VIII furnish the necessary transportation
to their homes.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard l. Eskridge.
Twenty-third Infantry, has been assigned
70 such hight duty in this department as
he can perform.
Captain John II. Duval. con'missary OF
subsistence, has been assigned to tenn
porary duty at department hes dquar,ers
Acting Assistant Surgeon William Hem
~ oates mas been assigned TO duty on the
transport Sherman He will remain in
Manila.
Second Lieutenant Harold ID. Coburr,
Iwenty-hfth Infantry, has been assigned
10 duty with the recruits at the Presi 3io.
paymaster. has been granted a leave OF
absence for ten days.