The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-04
ATKINSON NOT TO BE PROSECUTED.
The Administration Believes He IL Inspired
by n Desire for Notoriety.

ny u DtNiT6 %
WASHINGTON. MAY ?.-The decision OF the
Department OF Justice not to prosecute Mr..
Edward :Atkinson.for sending reasonable lit
erature to the army In the Philippines is.due
In q measure to the knowledge by tho Ad-
ministration OF his previous IRRESPONSIBLE ae-
tons. evidently inspired by a desire for no.
toriety.
While the War Investigating Commission
was conducting its inquiry. Mr.. Atkinson
wrote to Chairman Dodge the most rancor-
Gus attacks upon the War Department and
the officers OF the army. He made charges OF
cruelty and mismanagement. but when the
commission visited Boston and called himsto
tho stand he failed to substantiate In any way
the allegations he had made. The record Of
tie commission shows that Atkinson appeared
before that body in Boston on Nov. 80. He
said he did not wish to be sworn. and when
asked to state what he knew about the alleged
misconduct OF the War Department. he said:
Il submit the statement OF one Of the most
able men that ever lived around here. who was
on the Yale. a very strong complaint against
the treatment OF the troops on thu Yale. He
is 9 < ,eeding loath-he Is unwilling 10 give his
name for this reason: He hopes to continue in
the service: he thinks II wroDg..for O soldier to
complain and ON reflection he says he has
come to the conclusion that what they suffered
was due to the incapacity OF their officers
rather than to the fault OF the officers Of the
ship. and therefore. that being the only cause.
I could submit 1t second hand from personal
knowledge OF the party. can only leave 1t TO
you. It does not amount to anything. l can
not give his name. He is on his back In the
Massachusetts, General Hospital. / think.h he
will 60 into higher service. think he IL not
going to get well. What he expresses 10 on
your file OF apparently gross mismaraReme nt
Of the whole concern. He is "a competent
A member Of the commission remarked
that Mr.. Atkinson's letter had been quoted to
and Mr.. Atkinson re oiled: HAVING. presented
the letter. I!was bound to come up" He con-
several Of The diseases and their preSalsneS
and their future prevalence In troops that may
be- stationed In the tropics.
deal" he said. as some. OF you are aware. and
l have the removal OF the cause in my mind.
subject lie investigated. having. reference to
troops that must be stationed Tor longer or
sheee, to ti% ci9c IN sa's sS tSGpi sspi SSu of a cir enG
whole, question. Bay before yestsrday / got
General In command, facts that are perfectly
appalling. irremediable and Inevitable the
NG NJ. !. StE E ! 's cont ins iHpi refused to name
any witness who might substantiate his
CHARGES ShnI5 ts., sTse IT.. to ,or rsmasrHk v that tn this his cashier cashier
were In canvas tents during a storm near Win
throp. References. to:the. published Testimony
given before the War Commission shows that
when Major Charles X. Darling Of the Sixth
previous to Mr.. Atkinson's examination. q
member OF the commission remarked:
1T has been stated TO us thai on board the
ment bound for Porto Rico literally starved
the men. while the officers were we'll fed any
Major Darling. replying to this. said: THAT
is a false statement"
This concluded Mr.. Atkinson's connection
with the Investigation OF the War Department
In its conduct of the war with Spain.