The San Francisco call., 1899-04-21
Examined Then for
His Promotion.
TESTIMONY OF DR.. WARE
ACCUSED SEEMED WE'LL THE
DAY HE DISAPPEARED.
Facts and Figures Are Shown From
the Books of the Troop, the Club
and the Post Ex-
change.

There was little else than a column of
figures in the court-martial of Lieutenant
Near yesterday They were taken from
the books of the Preside Club, the books
of the troop to which Neall was at
tached, from bills and statements from
merchants and from the books Of the
post exchange. Receipts, disbursements
and balances filled the days evidence TO
the exclusion of everything else except
few words about the condition in which
Neall seemed to be in at the TIME he
disappeared from the post.
l. P. Ware, captain and assistant sur
geon, was called during the afternoon to
tell the result of the examination TO
which Neall submitted at the time he
was before the examining board for pro-
motion to a captaincy. A physical ex-
animation is an important part OF the
examination for promotion, and Ware
was one of the surgeons on the medical
board. The examination took place about
the beginning of January. Neall seemed
to be in good health and the surgeons
considered him well fitted to perform the
duties of the rank to which he aspired.
DR.. Ware noticed a slight weakness and
irregularity Of Nealps heart. but he at
tributed 1t to an attack of grip, from
which he was told Neall was just recov-
ering. He did not consider the weakness
to smoke less. but that was all. SO far
as the certificate signed by Neall declar-
ing that he was in good health was con-
cerned Ware said the board seldom con-
sidered such documents An eXamina-
tion is made of the applicant for promo
tion whether he certifies he is in good
health or not. The certificate is presumed
to be merely the statement of the indi-
vidual and he is not considered an eX-
pert even on himself.
Under cross-examination Ware admit
+ad hot In oh a q a a
riety of ways and might seriously inca
pacitate him, but it would be more like
iy to make him inefficient in his clerical
duties than in his military duties.
This piece of information was brought
out by the testimony of First Sergeant
James c. Robertson Of Nealps old troop
B. He was called to tell everything about
the books of the troop and the troop
fund. but after he was through he was
asked about the inspection TO which In
spector General Field subjected the troop
and of the maneuvers which they were
ordered to go through as part of the
inspection. Neall was in command dur
ing the maneuvers and the sergeant tes-
titled that there was nothing wrong with
the way he handled the troop; there were
no wrong orders given and the maneu-
vers went off without hitch or mistake.
He thought at the time that Lieutenant
Neall was well able to handle the troop
and that he knew his business. He had
noticed that Neall had had a bad cough
for some time before, but he knew the
lieutenant was not on the sick list The
inspection was held on the morning Of
February 10, the date of the disappear
ance of Lieutenant Neall. The desire of
the prosecution to show that on the morn
ing of that day he was apparently in eX-
cellent health is evident.
Referring to the books, the sergeant
said the inspector had found everything
in good shape except the troop fund book
The inspector had not inspected the troop
fund book but If he had done 50 he would
have found 1t sadly lacking in many items
| that should have appeared upon its pages.
The troop fund book, the witness said.
was kept by the commanding officer of
the troop.
Lieutenant McNair, quartermaster of
the Third Artillery, and one of the mem
bers of the court, was called to testify to
the condition of the books of the Preside
Club, of which organization he is secre-
a ar{ b9se and dee The Hea e6f
mittee had reported to him that the club
was about $1,000 in debt, and he wrote
to the various creditors for statements of
their accounts. He had settled all the
outstanding bills He said the creditors
dsclaimed all intention to dun the club,
but they submitted their bills as a memo
randum of account to be paid at convent
ence. The books, the witness said seem
ed not to have been kept up from May
of 1895
McNair was questioned closely by Mr..
Thornton as to the financial standing of
the club, the object being to show that
when most of the officers have been or
dered away the club is not self-sustaining
and under the circumstances the treas
urer has to wait until the receipts in
crease by the arrival of more officers be.
fore he can pay all outstanding bills, but
this line of inquiry was not followed far,
as it will be made matter of defense and
not of cross-examination;
The other witness of the day was Pri-
vate Arthur NJ Graham, Troop b. clerk
of the post exchange. His testimony re-
lated to the receipts of the post exchange
and how they had been receipted for every
day by Lieutenant Neall. He, too was
asked about Nealls health during, Janu-
airy and February of this year, but he
said he had noticed nothing serious the