The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-15

An important Statement.
| Gov. Lind yesterday denied the appli-
! cation filed by former members of Bat
| terry A for a court-martial of Mai. Lib
| hey, OF the artillery, based upon charges
of drunkenness and brutality filed with
the governor a short time ago. The ac-
ton was taken by Gov. Lind, upon the
recommendation Of Brig. Gen. W. B..
Bend, concurred in by Adjt. Gen. Lam
bert, who reported an extended inquiry
into the affair Of the last night In
camp and transmitted a large number
of letters and statements to substantiate
their suggestions.
The original charges filed with Gov.
Lind were in the form of affldavits
claiming that Maj. Libbey kicked one
private. Wurzinger and manned him,
while sleeping; that Maj Libbey was In
state Of intoxication, and that he or
dered Capt. Larson, of the battery, I'M
der arrest without just cause
Gov Lind referred the charges to Adjt
Gen. Lambert, who in turn transmitted
the charges to Gen. Bend Mai. Lib
bey's statement was received by Gen.
Bend. which branded the charges as
false and malicious, and stated that the
truth could best be secured through COM
munication with the officers of the bat
terry and those Of the Fourth regiment,
which was in camp at Lake City at the
same time
Gen. Bend then secured a statement
from Private Wurzinger, which in sub
stance Is as follows:
'RnfprrjOor fO tkoa oIoo
last encampment of artillery that Mai.
E. D. Libbey did brutally kick and MAIN
me while L was asleep on the ground I
desire to state that the recent charge
was the first intimation 1 had Of the mat
ter. If / was kicked at all, I was not
sufficiently disturbed to wake up and
witness the accident 1 therefore have
no knowledge of it. I was certainly not
MANNED or brutally treated, for 1 would
have been aware of it. I have no
grievance against Maj Libbey and there
fore no charge to Offer
Gen. Bend communicated with Capt.
Larson, Of Battery A, and in letter to
the general he states that his name
has been wrongfully connected with the
affair, and that he has no grievance or
complaint to enter concerning the cause
or manner Of his arrest at the camp
on the last night of the encampment.
petition is also presented, followed
by resolution passed by Battery B, Of
Minneapolis, and signed by Capt Ben
nett disputing the charges Of drunken
ness filed against Maj. Libbey and ex-
pressing a very emphatic belief that the
matter was merely brought to vent the
spite of certain members of the artillery
and of an entirely malicious character.
The resolution closes with the follow
ing:
While our action is possibly identifying
the charge can only meet with the con-
tempt of those who know Mai. Ltbbey,
or who have served with him, yet we
deem it our duty to refute this base
SANDER which, If disregarded, as it de-
serves to be, might fnjure our faithful
commander in the eyes Of others and
thus accomplish the only object of its
authors. A letter from Col. G. H. March,
Of the Fourth regiment, states that he
met Maj Libbey frequently while at
camp and had not seen him in the least
under the influence of intoxicants. SINH
lar statements are attached from w. J.
Murphy, adjutant, and First Lieutenant
F. P. Bruce, of Battery B, of Minneapo-
lis
Gen. Bends statement is as follows:
my conclusion Is that the last night
VI the eHcampmenl many OIL Battery A
men had been drinking, and they did
not go to their quarters when ordered
to do SO. Maj. Libbey placed some Of
these under arrest, and when Capt
Larson interfered he was placed under
arrest also. Wurzinger was found on the
ground drunk and was kicked, or more
exactly. spurned by Maj. Libbey This
caused Ill feeling on the part of some Of
the men who were among the worst of
charges cd
1t is evident that at the time there was
a great deal of bad blood, which has
now quieted down, but that feeling re-
mains which causes reticence on the
part of the officers of Battery A The
best men Of the battery realize that
Maj. Libbey was right in suppressing
the disorder. but they do not want to
take sides too strongly against their
comrades