The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-09-22
THE HOON EPISODE!
Like JOnah'S GOurd 1t Was
a Two Days Wonder.
The Young Man Was Sentenced
for Forgery!
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
STORY!

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
STORY!
In Tuesdays issue we published the
story about the sentence of Lawrence
Hoon in the Philippines, by Gen. Otis,
las taken from the Cincinnati Enquirer, J
to one years Imprisonment for asking
to be examined for promotion to a
Lieutenantcy.
We condemned such a sentence for
such an act as an outrage, but asked
our readers to wait for Gen. Otis side of
the story, as we felt that it would sure
| ly put another face upon the matter.
Governor Bushnell, to whom Hoon's
father made request for assistance,
telegraphed the Secretary of War
about the matter, and he, in turn tele-
graphed Gen. Otis. The next day,
Gen Otis dispatch in reply was publish
ed in all the dailies of our country, and
the military authorities in the Philip
pines, including Gen. Otis stand
| fully indicated.
The young man was not sentenced
because he asked an examination for
promotion, but because he forged the
name of six members of his company to
recommendation, and endeavored to
secure promotion by deceiving the
Commanding General!
Gen. Otis, when the paper was sent
to him, simply returned it to the young
mans captain. The Court Martial was
ordered, and it's verdict approved by
Gen. Lawton.
The sentence of one year in prison is
the lowest that can be given in Ohio for
forgery.
The dispatch of Gen. Lawton's is as
| follows:
MANILA, September 10.
Adjutant General, Washington
Private Hoon, Co. K, Fourth Infantry,
sentenced by court-martial sitting at
linus to dishonorable discharge and con-
fnement in Manila prison one year
sentence approved by Gen. Lawton and
being executed. April II Hoon sent
direct to me paper purporting to be petit
ton asking for commission. Paper re-
ferred to commanding officer Fourth In.
fantry without remark. Result: Trial
on charge of violation Sixty-second
article of war, under which speciica
ton laid as follows:
"In that Private Lawrence F. Hoon
Co. K, Fourth U. 8. Infantry, did write
and send to Maj Gen. E. 8. Otis, U. s
v. Military Governor Philippine Islands
a paper purporting to be petition il
words and figures, as follows:
| "'OAMP LA Iona, April II, 1899.
Gen. Otis:
do hereby, in behalf of the company
present to you for promotion unde
Presidential appointment Private Law
renee f. Hoon, Co. K, Fourth U. S. In
fantry, for integrity and bravery ant
good moral character. He is unsur
passed in the Fourth Regiment. H
has college education and Senatoria
ancestors, his grandfather is Judge Viii
liam Lawrence, ex-Comptroller of tn
United States Treasury. Privat
Hoon left his regiment in the trenche
and joined the Twenty second regiment
F Company, because they were to tn
, front. He left without gun or belt an
, stood in the lines until man fell. H
took his outfit and fought with them
Malolos. He turned IN outfit to Serg
, Trooper, Co. F, of the Twenty-secont
, and returned to his company. He ha
been to the front in all the skirmishe
, of K Company and has seen three time
, more service in the Philippines tina
any man in the regiment. Hoping 20
will allow him an examination, we thu
submit the petition. Yours,
'SERGT. j. MOORE.
CORP. MARK BALDWIN,
"'CoRP. BANNoN,
CORP. CHANDLER,
PRIVATE H. Gosh,
PRIVATE O. BEAL.
"'We could secure the signatures
the entire company but consider tn
l sufficient and thus avoid publicit!
Yours truly, SERGT. MOORE,
Company K, Fourth Infantry.
"Knowing that he, the said Lawrenc
f. Hoon, Company K, Fourth Infantr!
. had feloniously and maliciously write
the names of Sergt. Moore, Corp. Ma,
Baldwin, Corp. Bannon, Corp. Chandle
Privates H. Gosh and O. Beal to the p
tition, with the intention of deceivin
. the said Gen. Otis and thereby tryiu
, to secure his (Otis) aid in obtaining
. commission as Second Lieutenant
the United States Army. This, in cam
> at La Iona church, near Manila, on I'll
18th day of April, 1899, proceedings
,, trial forwarded to Washington Augu
u