The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-23
SENTENCE WAS UNJUST
Treatment of Ed Moran by His
Officers.
FORMS A DARK CHAPTER
1t IL Said That He Was Kept in Solitary
Confinement and Was Not Per-
,mitted to See Copy of the
Court Proceedings.

Court Proceedings.
| The detailed account of the court
martial of Ed L. Moran of Butte at
Honolulu and the causes leading up to
the trouble reads like some of the
chapters of the history of the dark
ages. Mr. Moran is a member of q
I Butte company in Manila On the voy-
age from San Francisco Moran was.
it Is said, subjected to indignities witch
the young man felt he should resent
The story goes that on the morning
the Pennsylvania arrived at Honolulu
Moran was ordered by the first SER
geant to scrub and mop up company
I quarters. He objected, saying that he
1 did not consider it fair proposition
Tor aim to be the first to be called up
on to do such duty, as he had up to that
time taken no meals from the com
pany or slept in company quarters, hav-
ing shared mess and quarters with the
| ships butcher. The sergeant said that
ne must do as ordered Or go- to the
guard house. Moran asked to see Lieu
tenat Colonel Wallace, and instead Of
| pslng given this privilege he was ush-
| ered into the presence of Lieutenant
Mercer, who, it is said, was intoxicated
IN the ships saloon. Mercer ordered
| Moran at once to the guard house, and
right here is where all the trouble be-
gan There were several officers in the
saloon, among them Colonel Wal
lace. Again Moran pleaded to
speak to Colonel Wallace, and as
he stepped past Mercer to sneak
to Wallace, Mercer and the first
sergeant grabbed him. Captain Keown
also jumped in and grabbed Moran
and punched his face repeatedly. Lieu
tenant ]. M. Kennedy jumped to his
feet and cried: Shame! Be men, and
don't take advantage of a defenselass
mani! Then, it is declared, Keown
said that he would kill Moran, supple
menting his declaration with a success
SION Of hideous oaths and epithets.
keown went to his state room, it is
told, procured his revolver and was
about to return to put his threat into
execution, when Lieutenant Kennedy
dared him to advance another step,
nnally compelling the would be shoot
er to surrender his gun. This ended
the saloon incident and Moran was
! conducted to the guard house. where
further testimony gives it that he was
subjected to almost inhuman treatment
at the hands of Lieutenant Mercer.
mercer forced his way past the sentry
and entered Moran's CELL armed with a
revolver and pair OF handouts, He
is quoted as calling the prisoner vile
names, and ordering the sentry to re-
tire after taking his gun from him lie
pointed the weapon at another prisoner
Later Moran was tried and convicted
by court martial. and after long con-
sultatlon, the sentence was reduced
from rs to two years. 1t is alleged that
the prisoner was denied the privilege eff
testifying in his own behalf and his re-
quest for copy of the proceedings and
sentence was also denied. He demand.
ed his rights conferred upon prisoners
by article Id Of the rules of war, which
is as follows:
Every party tried by a general court
martial shall, upon demand thereof
made by himself or by any person in
his behalf be entitled to copy of the
proceedings and sentence of such
court"
A petition signed by nearly 600 men
was seized by superior officers. Ii was
to Senators Carter and Mantle, and
was as follows:
we, the undersigned members Of LIST
Montana volunteer infantry, respectful
~ and urgently request our represent
atlves at Washington to use every
possible means to secure the release
and restoration to duty of Private Ed
Moran, recently tried by court martial
and sentenced to two years imprison-
ment with dishonorable discharge.
While fully cognizant of the fact that
discipline is essential for the govern
ment of armies, we still believe the
findings in this case to be contrary TO
the evidence produced at the trial and
the sentence to be unjust, harsh and
contrary to all laws of equity. Again
requesting our representatives to bring
the case to the notice of the honorable
secretary of war, we are" etc
Moran, If the story recently received
from CaVite is true, was subjected to
added insults while confined in the pris-
on. 1t is said he was sick and asked
for a doctor His request was ignored
by one officer, but later another grant
ed his request. He told the doctor that
he was kept in solitary confinement
and not allowed to wash or leave tie
cell. The result was that after two
days his dungeon was reeking in filth
The doctor ordered the cell opened and
cleaned and the officer ordered ii kept
closed. These are only 4 few of The
more important details connected with
Moran's experience. They are giver
by persons who have written 70 friends
in this city. Some very harsh things
are said about some of the superior
officers of the LIST Montana
1t is understood that through the eff
forts of friends at Washington, Nc
rams sentence was reduced to six
months. Therefore, his time in ;aii is
now about concluded