The times., 1899-07-15
THE Suspended OFFICER
Colonel o. Brien Delays Asking for
a Court Of Enquiry.
Mach Speculation ns TO the Cause Of
His Refusal to Act-sOme Think He
Is Afraid OF Harrics-IndiGnntic
Among Members of the District
National Guard-i Month of Delay.


National Guard-a Month of Delay.
Although a whole month has passed
since the now famous Harries-o' 'Brien in
cident at Camp ordway, which resulted
in the suspension Of the latter officer, no
move has yet been made by either side
for the reinstatement of Colonel o,Brien
as an officer of the District National Guard
and he is still under suspension, pending
the pleasure of the general in command.
There are those in the Guard who lay
the blame OF inaction upon Colonel
OBrien. while others hold that General
Harries has openly acted the tyrant and
has no right TO keep an officer under sus-
picion for a whole month without making
any effort to bring the matter to a head.
II will be remembered that Colonel
O'Brien was suspended from duty and
placed under arrest by General Harries on
June Is last, while the Guard was in camp
at Camp ordway. The action resulted
from the refusal of Colonel o'Brien to go
out TO the roadside and receive a message
from one ,of General HaFries' aides, it be-
to deliver messages directly into the hands
OF the officers. The aide refused to deliver
the message and Colonel o'Brien later en-
dorsed the document with the statement
that the procedure of the general in COM
mand was both unmilitary and ludicrous.
Colonel o'Brien was ordered to leave the
camp at once, and has since been suspend
ed.
As the case now stands. Colonel o'Brien
has been suspended for endorsing in an
unmilitary and improper manner an order
sent to him by the general commanding the
Guard. Aside from the legal status of the
suspension, the members of the local mill
tia have raised the question as to what
right General Harries had to suspend an
officer for an indefinite period without pre-
ferring charges. Many of the officers of
the Guard have grown tired of hearing
about the case, and hold that the blame
for the long delay lies entirely with Col
onel o'Brien. who should have demanded
a court Of enquiry in the case and have
the matter settled fairly.
A prominent officer OF the Guard, who
was also a member of the First Regiment.
District of Columbia Volunteers stated
yesterday that while his whole sympathy
was with Colonel o'Brien in the present
matter he thought that the latter would
boldly and made a fight for justice
Il have heard Il stated by a member Of
General Harries' staff" said he, that
Colonel O'Brien can have court OF en-
quiry appointed as soon as he cares to de-
rnand one / do net know why he has not
done so He is now suspended and under
suspicion and l should imagine that he
would prefer to come out like a man and
clear himself He has right to select
nd will he n hearing
by an impartial court. Surely this would
be better than to remain in hole as at
present and allow his friends to believe
that he feared General Harries.
He knows as well as l do that General
Harries is not going 10 call court of en-
uuiry TO consider the matter, and from
what ! can learn he t1arries) will keep
him suspended until October next, when
the punishment will be declared adequate
and Colonel O'Brien will be reinstated.
This is no way TO do, as such course
would be paramount TO pleading guilty and
accepting the sentence of the judge. 1t is
a well known fact that If Dick O'Brien
would come out like a man and show his
backbone. demand court of enquiry, and
assert his rights, force General Harries TO
place charges against him and have the
court consider the matter, nearly every
man in the Guard would stand by him and
back him up. And it is more than likely
that he would be cleared by the court and
reinstated as lieutenant colonel of his reg
iment.
This is the way we feel about it. The
reign of Gar Harries has lasted its length
and such precedents as the O'Brien Incl
dent are being established every time the
Guard gets together. 1t is now up to COL
onel O'Brien and if he does not demand
court of equiry there are people who
viii be only too quick to class him in the
same category as his commanding general.
The fact that Colonel oBrien has meekly
accepted whole month of suspension and
is even now undecided as to whether or
not he will ask for a court of enquiry,
shows that he is either afraid of Harries
OF is afraid the court would decide ad-
versely. Even If this were the case, we
would think more of Colonel o'Brien for
having secured his rights than We would
were he to wait and be reinstated in the
course of events. II is now Colonel
O'Brien's next move and We are waiting
Tor him TO act"
Many officers of the Guard yesterday ex-
pressed themselves as being puzzled ovel
the silence and inaction of Colonel 0'Brien
They claimed that nothing could be ex-
pected from General Harries, since the
latter was awaiting action on the part OF
the officer under suspension, and was moi
likely to place charges until court OF
enquiry had been demanded. Unless sUcf
action is taken IL is claimed that Genera
Harries viii keep Colonel O'Brien under
suspension until October, when he will
be reinstated as having expiated his crime
against the dignity of the power that is.
There seems TO be no question as tc
the call being issued for the conyening of {
court of enquiry. Those who are in toucf
with National Guard headquarters claim
that General Harries viii be only too glaC
to issue the call and to place the necessary
charges in the hands OF the judge advo
cate general of the District Guard fo
prosecution.
The friends of Colonel O'Brien arr
awaiting action on his part and hope tha
he will take prompt measures to righ
himself.