The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-07
HE'S A DESERTER.
A Worcester Recruit
Caught By Militia.
ny Officers.
ARMY BUSINESS ACTIVE.
Lieut.. Morris Accepts -Four
Men-Illness Of Sergt.
Chamberlain.
ARMY BUSINESS ACTIVE.

"A worcester BOY VINO enlisted at the
regular army recruiting station, in the
Walker building, but who later desert
ed from the army, will soon get his
just deserts when he will be tried by a
general court martial at Fort Adams,
Newport. Yesterday Sergt. Paul Gerb-
er, in charge at the recruiting Office
received telegram from the assistant
adjutant general of the war depart
ment, Col Ward, directing him with
his recruiting party to appear in Bos-
ton and report to the Judge advocate
as witnesses against Frank Williston
of this city, who was mustered into the
service of the United States at the local
Office
The telegram which summons both
Sergt. Paul Gerber and Sergt. Jas. E.
Chamberlain to Boston, reads as fol-
lows: Recruiting office, Worcester
Mass: Assistant secretary of war di-
reefs Sergt. Gerber and your recruiting
party sent to Fort Adams to report to
judge advocate as witnesses in the case
Of Frank Winston, N, Fifth artil-
lery. (Signed) Ward, assistant adju-
tant general"
Immediately upon receipt of the tele-
gram Sergt. Gerber sent copy to
Capt. John c. Gresham at Providence,
asking for instructions.
The telegram does not state what
time Williston is to be tried by the
court martial but it will be undoubted-
ly held in the near future. Sergt
Gerber will not go until he receives
further instructions from Capt. Gresh-
am on what to do in the matter, but
should he receive positive orders from
the judge advocate, notifying him to
appear before the court martial con-
vened at Fort Adams, Newport, he will
at once go and will have Sergt.
Chamberlain accompany him.
Williston enlisted at the local office
May 2, this year, and was sent to Fort
Slocum, N. Y, where he was assigned
to the Fifth artillery, and was a private
in Battery N. The life of soldier was
too monotonous to him, and he desert
ed after being at the fort but a short
time. When he enlisted from this city
he was living at IL King street, and the
authorities were notified to keep a
sharp lookout for him in this city, es-
pecially at his old home. Williston did
return to this city, and was about town
some little time before the notification
of his desertion was received here. Both
Sergts Gerber and Chamberlain saw
Williston on the street and thought it
funny that he should be about here
sometimes man is rejected on account
of physical disabilities after he has
reached the post assigned to him. In
that case the office where he was re-
cruited will be notified, but the local
office heard nothing in regard to re-
lection of Williston, and suspected that
he deserted from his command The
Of h
presence in this city. and Sergt. Gerb-
err asked for instructions as to what to
do with Williston if he should prove to
be a deserter
Immediately upon receipt of Sergt
Gerber's letter, the war department in
vestigated and found that he was a
deserter, and notified the local men at
the office to place him under arrest,
and if he could not be located to invoke
the aid of the civil authorities The
sergeant thought it would be good
plan to do both, so he called on the
police station and an officer was sent
with Sergt. Chamberlain over to Will
tstons house. He was not to be found
however, and when his favorite haunts
were visited he was found to have dis
appeared. Later he was placed under.
arrest by Police Officer Newton, he
being found working in shop on Park
II
Boston, Later he was taken to Fort
Adams, Newport, where he will be
tried by a general court martial for
desertion from the army. What the
penalty will be is hard to state, 1t be-
ing usually left with the judge advo-
cate. The penalty, in time of war. is.
of course, more severe than in time of
peace.
Sergt. Chamberlain was very i'll at
the City hotel last evening, and it was
feared that he had an attack of appen-
dicitis DIR. O'Meara was called. but was
out of town and DIR. J. H. Sullivan was
summoned. He made three calls on the
patient during the evening and made
him as comfortable as possible. Sergt.
Chamberlain felt very much relieved
today and was able to report at the
office late in the afternoon
Business was extremely light at the
regular army station yesterday: not one
applicant was accepted, though three
were rejected.
Lieut.. NJ. E. Morris at the volunteer
recruiting station on Front street did
good days business and accepted four
out of seven applicants, with others
waitingfto be examined by DIR. James r..
McGourty when the work for the day
was dropped The men mustered into
the service yesterday were Edward J.
Fitzgerald. of 10 Gold street court, Jas
Creighton of Blackstone Mass. Martin
]. Tierney of Providence George M
Gordon of Fitchburg. with three rejec-
tons These men will be sent to Fort
Ethan Allen tomorrow evening, where
they will be assigned to the Forty third
regiment of volunteers. Lieut. Morris Is
preparing to close UP his accounts at
the Office preparatory to leaving for