Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-13
THE CASE OF SARG
Imprisoned at Leavenworth, Kan
sas, For Desertion.
A History OF Hts TroubIcs-A Swect-
hears Tn Part Responsible For His
Present Plight Governor Tyler
Will MIKE investigation.

The Richmond correspondent OF the
Virginian Pilot yesterday told of the
efforts being made by Otto l.. Sarg.
former soldier of the Fourth Virginia
Regiment, who enlisted in Norfolk, to
secure the help Of the Governor in
bringing about his pardon from the
military prison at Fort Leavenworth.
Kan. Sarg belonged to Company G,
from Suffolk, and was sentenced by
general court-martial TO serve one year
in prison at hard labor for desertion.
SWEETHEART IN NORFOLK.
From inquiry yesterday it was learn
ed that n sweetheart OF Sarg's, who
lives in Norfolk. was responsible for
his desertion from the army and his
consequent dishonorable discharge and
sentence to prison. Sarg is well known
here. he and his father having former
~ kept Il milk depot on CRANKY street,
which was supplied from the elder
Sarg's dairy near Kempsvllle. When
the war fever was sweeping the coun-
try from Canada to the Gulf and from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, Otto Sarg,
though German by birth. was caught
up III that tidal wave of fever. and he
enlisted in the Suffolk company.
HIS RECORD AS A SOLDIER.
All the officers of the regiment tcsti
~ as to Sarg's good behavior as SOL
,dier previous to his desertion. He was
quiet, Soberly inclined and did his duty
in the ranks. But the regiment was
sent to Jacksonville in the heat of the
summer; the camp life on the barren
sand was almost unbearable, and be-
sides the sweetheart left at home kept
writing and wishing her lover were
back. 1t was useless to try to get n
Through. except for some urgent cause.
and Private Sarg became noticeably
downcast and dlshcartened.
RECEIVED a TELEGRAM.
One day he presented himself to the
captain of his company and showed him
IL telegram. 1t said: Come home
quick; L am very ill.," The signature
was that OF Sarg's father. 1t was a
genuine telegram; there was no doubt
about that. and such messages gene
rally secured Il furlouEh for the reel
pient. The telegram, with an appli-
cation for furlough. was sent to
Colonel Taylor endorsed by him and
forwarded to the brigadier general. who
issued the furlouEh. No one suspected
at the time that the telegram was
written and sent by the soldiers sweet
heart. and that the whole thing was
is said that this was afterwards found
to be the case. His father had moved
to Germany. it is said.
Sarg came home and overstayed the
furlough. He went back to Jacksonville
with excuses that would probably have
kept him from being punished.
HE LEAVES CAMP.
But his taste OF liberty and his love
for the girl had proven fatal to his
peace OF mind. 1t was plain that he
would never be the same quiet. dutiful
soldier that he had been. His love for
his Virginia sweetheart was intensified
because OF the seeming utter hopeless
ness OF his seeing her again before
going to Il foreign country, from
whence he knew not when he would
return.
1t seems that he did not remain in
camp long after returning before he
left again, this time without n furlough
Within ten days. according to army
regulations. he was reported as a de-
scrter. His description was sent to the
sheriffs OF Norfolk city and of Prln-
cess Anne county. with instructions to
arrest him. This was about last Sep
TENDER.
ARRESTED.
a little later First Lieutenant Causev
of Sargs company. came home on a
iurlough. and on the h'ain between
Gordonsvillc and Richmond he found
the deserter. He was quietly arrested
talfeHEta Richmond and la-the iaiI
there. afterwards being sent as a pris-
oner to Jacksonville
AND CONVICTED.
The general court-martial summoned
to try him promptly found him guilty
of deSertiOn and sentenced him 10 d;c
honorable discharge. forfeit of all nav
and allowances and one year at hard
labor in the military prison at Fort
Lcavcnworth.
1t is announced that Governor TYLER
Will make thorough investigation. and
IL he thinks there are any mitigating
circumstances connected with Sarg's
case he Will interccdc in his behalf and
recommend a pardon.