The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-15
Police Court on an Army transport.

Manila Letter in Leslie's Weekly.
on the Sherman Maj. Brinkerofe holds
summary court The court room, for
want of a place of more judicial surround
ings is In the office occupied by the
quartermasters clerks. AZ a high desk
OF the counting room type, and perched
on high stool to match, sits the major
while at hand before him are the papers
In the cases he is to judge and a copy OF
the army regulations. An orderly who
stands at the door Ans somewhat the func-
tons of a court officer, and the prisoners
are brought. as sent for by the sergeants
of their companies
Private Dash, who was caught in the
act of eating piece of bareback on the
berthdeck, Is brought in His ofense
seems very trivial one but in reality Is
rather serious. for the health of all the
soldiers depends upon a strict observance
OF the rule forbidding the presence OF food
on the berth-deck. Decaying food 1t a
quick, sure dlsease-hreeder. The officer
ordering the arrest and the witnesses TO
the unlawful eating are not present II
the prisoner pleads guilty" they are not
needed. If he pleads not guilty" they
will be sent for. But Private Dash adj
mits the corn as soon as questioned.
do you realize, Dash" says the major,
speaking very quietly. gently and slowly.
'how greatly you are helping to endan-
ger the health of the other menu
II hadn't thought much about AZ, sir"
replies Dash, hesitatingly.
HAD you heard of the order?"
Dash hesitates, but finally admits that
he has. He goes on to explain that he
had been helping the sailors hoist things
i'm and out of one OF the holds. The exer-
else had made him so hungry that, OBJ
tanning a bareback, he sat down TO eat IL.
(Which would have been very proper"
mods the major. softly, had you eaten II
on the mess deck where such refreshment
is supposed TO be taken. But If you men
continue this sort of thing when we get
in tropical waters, only heaven can save
US from a disastrous epidemic. That is
all. tell your sergeant that you are re-
leased from arrest. Next time IL will be
necessary to make your punishment more
severe" And on the papers his military
honor writes, Fined one dollar
Private Blank was found by one of the
officers of the guard smoking on a berth
deck He explains that he was only
lighting his pipe there, and meant to go
up above with 1t. The major mods thought
fully, and the rocky imagines he Is to
get off this time. In another instant his
hopes are shattered by this reply:
Blank, your offense is a very serious
one. and you knew better than to commit
it, You are permitted TO smoke on the
mess deck and spar deck. BY smoking
down in quarters, where there are canvas
berths and piles OF clothing all around
you, you were taking great chances OF set
ting fire. In those crowded quarters a
fire, even If not serious one, would be
sure TO cause a panic. / viii fine you,
and you may tell your sergeant that you
are out OF arrest That is all" Against
"rooky's" name is inscribed, Fined ten
dollars" Six whiffs i'm a forbidden part
OF the ship have cost this man the better
part of a months pay, but be sure that he
will not again disobey the regulation