Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-14
EXAMINATION ORDERED BY TIE COURT
Evidence Given by Officials Of De-
partment Of Agriculture.
LONG STANDING TROUBLE

out bail on a charge Of disorderly conduct.
Bail was refused because it was deemed
necessary to restrain Mr.. Kenyon of his
liberty until inquiry can be made by the
proper officials into his mental condition,
and he is held IN custody under order made
today by Judge Kimball, in order that ar
rangements may be made therefor.
Mr.. Kenyon is a native Of Connecticut,
about tnirty-one years old and unmarried.
of Agriculture for about two years, during
which tine, it is said, he has given many
evidences of eccentricity. Some months
ago his conduct in the department toward
his superiors and his fellow-clerks became
unbearable on account of his irritability,
and he was dismissed. He refused to stay
away from his desk, however, and, after the
lapse of three weeks, he was restored to
the rolls. There was no change in his con-
duct, and again it was determined to dis.
miss him. Upon learning this he was al
lowed to resign, upon his own request, to
take effect February 6, but still he refused
to leave the department, although drawing
no pay. In the last few days his associates
have become afraid of him, and yesterday,
as last resort, he was taken into custody
He was courteous and polite to the police
men when placed under arrest, and gave
no trouble. 1t was noticed, however, that
he seemed to be mentally troubled and
when questions were propOunded would an
swer item but partially, stopping short of
a complete sentence.
ArraiEned I'm Police Court.
Kenyon was today arraigned before
Judge Kimball in the Police Court on Il
charge of being a disorderly person. He
was held for an examination as to his
mental condition.
Mr.. Albert F. Woods of the division of
Pathology, at the Department of Agr;cul-
ture, testified that the troubles at the de-
partment with Kenyon began nearly a year
objectionable
ing regarded as domlneering and Unjust;
that the matter was called to the attention
department. The latter, after talking with
Kenyon about the matter and finding that
he could effect no improvement, informed
Secretary Wilson of the state of affairs.
Matters continued to grow worse said
the witness, and Kenyon was directed to
show cause why he should not be removed
from his position, which removal eventual
ly took place.
Col. Geddes told Judge Kimball that his
testimony would be the same as Mr..
Woods, so far the latter went, and,
continuing, said Kenyon began to make
trouble in the departemnt last August. AS
he was highly regarded by Secretary Will
son, Mr.. Woods and other officials, incIud-
ing the witness. efforts were made to keep
him in the service. He was taken from the
division in which he had been working
and assigned to that of MIR. Woods. After
remaining there for several months Ken
yon'S conduct again became unbearable,
and after many conversations between the
Secretary, the witness and Kenyon the lat
ter was December 10 furloughed indefinite
ly without pay. This course was taken be-
cause it was not desired to place the brand
of dismissal upon the young man. Ken
yon was also forbidden to enter any of the
buildings of the department except by
permission Of the chief clerk, whose Office
he was allowed to visit long enough to see
whether or not permission would be given
him. =,
Permitted to Resign.
After some months Kenyon was allowed
to resign and he did so. While on fur
Tough he drew up paper stating that he
Q<enyon) was appointed chief of the di-
vision of zoology at a salary of $1,000
year. Several times he presented vouchers
for salary which was not due him. And
when the money was refused he acted in
such threatening manner toward the dis
bursting officer. Mr.. Frank l.. Evans that
the latter secured policemans club,
which he took to his Office for protection
against Kenyon.
John A. Harvey, captain of the watch at
the Agricultural Department, told of ssv
ell al occasions on which he was summoned
to direct Kenyon to leave the department,
ard that Monday last he was called three
times for the purpose. On each occasion
Kenyon returned to the building shortly
after he was elected Yesterday morning
he got to the department before a police
man VINO had been told to keep Kenyon out
arrived, and Kenyon slipped into the de-
partment and took seat at his old desk.
The witness and a special officer, as soon
as the former learned what had been done
by Kenyon, took him into custody and sent
him to the fourth precinct station, where
he was locked up.
kenyOn's Statement.
Judge Kimbal called Kenyon to the
stand and asked him if there was anything
So rloI a.
him. Kenyon replied:
''Inasmuch as Col. Geddes and Mr.
Woods have gone back for year in their
same. 1 was very much surprised one day
last August to be told by DIR. Allen, in
whose division l then was, that was using
the once force in an ungentlemanly man
ner The next day l was called before the
Secretary of Agriculture, and We had a
long talk about my affairs
The Secretary did not seem to want me
to leave the department. and he asked me
l replied that 1 thought the suggestion
should come from him. l was then trans
ferred to Mr.. Woods department. where I
remained until December ID, when 1 was
Iurloughed. Meanwhile, charges which
however, were not true. were made against
me- When l was furloughed l was practi-
cally penniless.
While on furlough 1 drew up a paper to
be signed. by Secretary Wilson and counter
signed 'by the chief clerk appointing me
zooi6gfst sof the department, at $1,000 per
year did this because 1 supposed it was
IN line with what the Secretary meant
when he told me to see If could not sug-
gest a placefo which he could appoint me.
l asked Col. Geddes to take the paper to
the Secretary, which he did, and returned
to his own room. Presently the Secretary
came into Col Geddes' office. He looked
at Col. Geddes and Col. Geddes looked at
the Secretary. The latter left, and Col.
Geddes' actions toward me changed in
stantly. I was put back at work, and re-
NAMED until February O. when l resigned
and was given 500, the amount of monthly
salary / had bean receiving
Il have a sister in Galesburg Ill, and an
aunt in California, who wanted me to go
out there and live. l suppose the 500 was
given to me to pay my way out there and
support myself, and 1 refused to leave this
city. l have no recollection of having ever
been told to keep out of the department
buildings, and have no knowledge that such
an order as was testified to by Mr.. Harvey
was ever Issued.
Asserts His Right.
II had a perfect right to make out the
vouchers I did. And not only presented
one set at the disbursing officers window,
but sent another set from New York I