The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-21
SERIOUS CHARGE
AGAINST METCALF
Lieut.. Hall Says He Shot Filipino
Prisoner.
THE REBEL WAS UNARMED
Plead for Mercy, But His Supplication
Did No Good and He Was Killed.
The Accused Officer Enters
a General Denial.
THE REBEL WAS UNARMED

Topeka, November 2O.-Lieutenant Hall,
of Lawrance, formerly of the Twentieth
Kansas regiment, in a letter to the Topeka
Journal today, makes the charge That Colo
mel Metcalf, recently brevetted brigadder-
general for gallaDtry in tlhe Philippines,
shot an unarmed and suppdcating Filipino
prisoner, and in support of it furnishes the
following afidavits of Private Husky of the
Twentieth Kansas and First Lieutenant
Ferguson of the TGirty-sixth Infantry:
philippine Islands, Csy of Manila.
PERSONALLY appeared before me this, the
9th day of July, 1899, Private Harris o.
Husky, Company X, Twentieth Kansas in
fantry, U. S. v, who, being duly sworn,
deposes and says:
That at the battle of Caloocan, ne
as orderly for Major w. S. Metealf, Twen-
teth Kansas infantry, U. S. "; that at a
point where Jle insurgent trenches cross
,Lie Travelled road near and TO the right of
the tIamway, he saw a prisoner brought
out of tie trendles and to Major Metcah.
The deponent further says that Major w.
S. Metcalf Twentieth Kansas infantry, U.
S V, s.ot the prisoner with his revolver
and at the time OF tie shooting the prisoner
was uHdTIfeu ana Oh MS kHtSS.
"'(SigneO HARRY o. HUSKY.
" Pri,a,e, Company X, Twentieth Kansas
infantry
'tSworn to and subscribed before me this
the 2ith day of July, 1899.
"(Signed) F. II. LAWTON, r.
First LIEUTENANT Twenty-irst infantry"
Affidavit of Lieutenant Ferguson follows:
San Antonio Pi, August "a 1899.
ron the 10th day of February, 1899, | was
engaged in the taking of Caloocan by
United States troops, being a corporal in
Company e, Twentieth Kansas infantry.
Immediately after the crossing of the first
line of insurgent trenches about 800 yards
south of the Caloocan church, heard a
shot fired to my left and rear and looking
that way saw a native fall apparently life
less to the ground. Major Metcalf was
standing six or eight feet in front of the
native, with smoking pistol, and the i'm
preston received was that the major had
shot the native, but other matters called
me and went on with the line.
(Sgned) ARTHUR NJ. FERGUSON,
First Lieutenant, Thirty-sixth Infantry,
U. S. ""
Elyria, o., November 2O-Colonel Wilder
Metcalf accused by Lieutenant Hall of
having shot Filipino prisoner, was in this
city tonight visiting friends. The fAsso-
ciated Press correspondent found him at
the opera house and informed him of the
nature of the accusation. He said he did
not know what Lieutenant Hall referred
to and that he could not comprehend how
he came to make any such statement unless
it was due to the fact that the lieutenant
was not recommended for promotion. He
declared that the charge was false.
Il don't understand what Hall means by
his story declared the colonel. "You may
say for me that enter a general denial"
Washington, November 0.-The officials
of the war department are surprised to
hear of the charges made against Colonel
Metcalf for whom very high opinion is
entertained in army circles. Secretary Root
expressed the belief that the charges were
not true, but said he had no information
regarding the matter, of which he had not
heard anything until given the press report.
In view of the high rank of the officer and
of the explicit account regarding the al
legged crime contained in the affidavts ac-
companying the charge, it is expected the
officials will take formal action with a view
to ascertaining the accuracy of the state
ments.