The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-19
DISCHARGED IN DISHONOR.
ment For Asking to Be Examined
For Military Promotion.

COlum bus, o., Sept Ex-Governor
Bushnell has been appealed to in a case
of military persecution that for cruelty
is akin to the fate of the martyred
Dreyfus.
The victim is a mere boy, who left
home and loved ones to defend the
country's flag in foreign cline. He
now languishes, dishonored and dis
graced, in the gloom of a prison of war,
because fOrsOOth, he CHANGED to techni-
cally and unintentiOnally offended Gen.
Otis.
The letter that follows from son to
father explains the case:
Manila, p. L, Aug. z, 1899.
To Mr.. Lloyd G. HOon, Belle Center,
Ohio-AGy Dear Father: It is a painful
task I am now endeavcring to perform,
not for myself. but the thought of caus-
ing you pain. In your condition it is
madness, but / cannot for the world
refrain from telling you the crisis of
my life and the death of fond hopes. I
came here as patriotic soldier as ever
dOnned the blue. ambitious and en-
thusiastic- An order came for the pro-
motion of one from each regiment. 1,
like the moth, longed for the star that
was my doom, and forwarded a letter
to Gen. Otis asking to be granted an
examination. His secrtary returned it
and was arrested, the first time Of
my life, as you know, charged with adj
dressing a superior officer without con-
sent of intermediate officers.
I did not know it was a crime, and
not so of my regiment knew it. Ny
captain told me would be fined SO or
$50. But I was one whom they made a
warning of to others. By a court of six
officers I was dishonorably discharged
and sentenced to one year in Bilibid
military prison One year for an act
knew not was wrong. No one had a bet
ter record than 1 for faithfulness. New
er tasted wine or missed a call. And,
oh, that discharge! I left a good home,
God bless it. Good prospects for fu-
ture. You, an invalid needing my help.
70
country in burning sun and binding
rain, and, God, to what an end! But
in the eyes of my angel mother, whose
love we cherish, know am as guilt
less of criminal intention as I was at
birth.
1t is a good thing I saved my money.
it will come handy now, and they
wouldn't let me have my soldiers pay at
all Just for the draughting or mop
making. 1 have taken a cold bath ev
cry morning since I have been here, the
result is 1 am feeling much better.
don't like to associate continually with
horse thieves and murderers. But there
are some good ones. Our sergeant gave
six onions to a hungry native-one
year; another on a march took a chick
en- from a native-one year. It's an out
rage. Post sleeper-hve years, 81 alto
gether.
I faced the bullets, and even felt the
sting of a. Mauser without a murmur;
and, worse, my health has been sacri-
fined three months without trial; sem
fenced to one long, dreary year, then
thrown upon a scornful world in dis
grace, a physical wreck and dishOnOr
to the flag I fought to shield. They
even retained five months of my hard
earned pittance, SIS. I am confined
with all classes, to the coarsest brutes.
1 never was used to it, and it gals me
sorely. My lesson is very severe, and
Is months of my life a blank. A starved
intellect. You on your deathbed; 1
scourged by the lash of an instant's
folly.
I am unable to be with you. I would
ten thousand times rather serve my
time in innocence than to have my lib
erty and a guilty soul. When the wheel
of fortune is lowest it then slowly be-
gins to rise. This is my only hope.
Were I a criminal I would never face
you again. I cannot for my life tell of
what avail it is to keep me here. I
can no longer be a soldier, but their
will is law, and I hope God will spare
US till We meet again. God keep and
bless you, my loving father. From
your only son,
LAWRENCE F. HOON,
Company K, Fourth United States Vol
unteeF Infantry.