Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-21
SHOOTS UNARMED PRISONER
Lieutenant Hall of Lawrence. Kan,
Makes Serious Charge Against
Colonel Mctcnlf.

TOPEKA, Kan, Nov. 20.-Lieutenant Hal
of Lawrence, formerly of the Twentieth
Kansas regiment, in letter to the Topeka
Journal, makes the charge that Colonel Met
cali, recently brevetted brigadier general
for gallantry in the Philippines, shot an un-
armed and suppicating Filipino prisoner
and in support of it furnishes the following
affdavits of Private Husky of the Twen-
tieth Kansas and First Lieutenant Ferguson
of the Thrtysixth infantry:
Philippine Islands, Manila IS: Person
ally appeared before me this oath day of
July, 1899, Private Harris o. Husky, Com
pany X, Twentieth Kansas infantry, u. S.
", who, being duly sworn, deposes and
says: That at the battle Of Caloocan he
was orderly for Major w. S. Metcalf,
Twentieth Kansas infantry, L. S "; that
at point where the insurgent trenches
cross the travelled road near and to the
right of the tramway he saw a prisoner
brought out of the trenches and to Major
Metcalf: The deponent further says that
Major w. S. Metcalf, Twentieth Kansas
his revolver and at the time of the shooting
the prisoner was unarmed and on his knees.
HARRIS O. HUSKY,
Private Company X, Twentieth Kansas In
sworn and subscribed to before me this
oath day of July, 1899 F, H. LAYTON,
First Lieutenant Twenty-tirst Infantry, j.
a. G.. c. NJ.
Affidavit of Lieutenant Ferguson:
SAN ANTONIO, p. l., Aug. "a, 1S99.-On
the 10th day of February, 1899, l en-
gagged in the taking of Caloocan by United
States troops, being "a corporal in Company
e, Twentieth Kansas infantry. Imme1i-
ately after the crossing of the first line of
insurgent trenches, about 800 yards south
of the Caloocan church, l heard a shot fired
to my left and rear, and looking that way
saw a native falling apparently lifeless to
the ground. Major Metcalf was standing
about six or eight feet in front of the ma
wit crnnlxinp ntStn1 "a imnrpg-
sion / received was that the major had
shot the native, But other matters called
ARTHUR NJ. FERGUSON,
First Lieutenant Thtrty-sixth Infantry, U.
WASHINGTON, Nov 2O.-The officials OF
the War department are surprised to hear
of the charges made against Colonel Met
calf, for whom a very high opinion is en-
tcrtained 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
the explicit account regarding the alleged
crime contained in the afiidayits accom-
panying the charge it is expected that Off
cials will take formal action with view to
ascertaining the accuracy of the published
statements.
ELYRIA, o., Nov. 20.-Colonel Wilder
Metcalf, accused by Lieutenant Hall of hav-
ing shot Filipino prisoner, was in the city
tonight, visiting old friends. The Associated
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 such a statement, unless 1t was due
to the fact that the lieutenant was not rea-
commended for promotion. He declared the
charge false. II don't understand what Hall
means by his story" declared the colonel.
"You may say for me that enter a general
denial"