The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-23
SHOWING HIS HAND
COL. DU VAIL BEGINS TosPRoDUCE
HIS WITNESSES IN THE
INQUIRY
THREE PRIvATEs TESTIFIED
Private stevens, of Company G, Is
the Star Witness for Gen. Young
His Story Wouldn't Hold To-
gether Under the CrOss-Examina-
tion-Col. Leonhauser Subjected
to Further Questioning.

The court Of inquiry appointed to in
vestigate the conduct of Col. Leonhauser
held two sessions yesterday, and mag
nif1cent effort was made by Col Du Vail
to stem the tide that had set IN against
his principal. Gen. Young, beginning with
leutenants, working up through compa-
ny, regimental and brigade formation,
and ending with a. major general. every
word Of whose testimony. whether on di-
rect or cross-examination, went to make
a splendid monument to the ability and
eInclency OF Col. Leonhauser. AS an Off
set to this mass of convincing testimony
was opposed yesterday the evidence Of
three privates, two OF whom knew little
OF nothing, and the third-well, he did
tell a different story and his testimony
was so punctured with holes 1t might do
for sieve, but not for foundation upon
which to base suspicion, to say nothing
OF a conviction.
Inc most damaging evidence of the
trial so far was that of Col. Leonhauser
himself, under cross-examination at the
hands of Col. Du Vail, and even that
could scarcely be tortured into adverse
criticism.
On the opening of court Col Leonhaus-
er was recalled and asked If he had ever
had any prior experience in matters Of
mutiny. He answered that he had un-
der almost similar conditions while he
was stationed at Fort Meade and as sec
ond lieutenant was In command of a
company ordered out to suppress the dis
turDance, and he had done so. The knowl-
Crnf %1,oe
extent governed him in this difficulty.
Col Du Vail then went iii for a. few
hypothetical questions. apparently not SO
much for the purpose of cutting Leon
hauser, as rejecting on some of the other
officers of the regiment. Suppose" ask
ed Col. Du Vail, lit had come to your
knowledge that an officer had abandoned
his company, would you have preferred
charges against him?''
Il would said Col. Leonhauser,
Suppose it had come to your knowl-
edge that an officer had distributed car
tr1dges among his men during a mutiny,
would you have preferred charges against
him?'
Il certainly would, after consultation
with commanding officer"
Did the knowledge of any such trans
action ever come to your ears, and did
you act upon it?''
on investigation, found it wholly with
out foundation"
In reference to the statement Of Maj.
Hand that when ordered by Col Leon
hauser to take command of two COM
panies and to find and bring back the
mutineers the colonel had told him not to
shoot anyone unless he had to, Col. Leon
hauser was asked If he had any COM
Functions about shooting He said he
n W Hhoy vu0S II ha1
made the statement to Maj. Hand as a
precautton not to shoot volunteers, unless
1t was absolutely necessary.
PRIVATE STEVENS CALLED.
The cross-examination Of Col Leon
hauSer consumed the entire morning
Private Stevens, of Company G, was
sworn on behalf Of Gen. Young. His di-
rect story. in brief was to the effect that
he was in camp on the night Of Feb 4,
and that a state of mutiny did exist that
night in camp. crowd Of between 300
and 400 had gathered as soon as the news
was brought in that O'Connell had been
shot, and went to Col. Leonhauser and
told him they wanted leave to go up town
and hang O'Connell's murderer Col.
Leonhauser had said to them:
Il am with you, boys, but this is not
the way to go at It,.
The men then went back to their COM
pany street, and shortly after started to
leave camp, but were stopped by the
guard. Turning, they tried another way
and were again stopped by the guard.
Then they tried third way, and were
halted by Capt. Crossfeld, who made q
speech. and Capt. Gibson, who endeav-
ored to enforce order. Capt Gibson
pulled a. revolver and said he would
shoot any man who crossed the guard
line, but the crowd jeered at them, called
them all manner of vile names, and one
man yelled: Never mind them Go on"
line anyhow. Capt. Gibsons bluff didn't
work.
When cross-examined by Capt. Cross
field, Stevens said he was sure there were
fifty who broke over the guard line
Didn't know where they went. He him
self was on the outside of the crowd,
and heard all that was said The man
who said. never mind them, go on
stood beside him, but he didn't know
who 1T was, and didn't any one in the
crowd. He then went back to his quar-
ters The camp was quiet all the rest of
the night. and until after $3.50 in the
morning.
Col. Leonhauser came up from division
headquarters after the commissary had
been broken into. He talked to the men,
a few returned, but the most went on.
When the COlOneI was taking to the men
he was between them and the camp, and
when the men started the command was
given by their leader, ''fours right"
These last two statements will play an
important part on the impeachment of
Stevens testimony, as 1t was remarked
by one who is In position to know that
the witness either wasn't there or he
didn't know what he was talking about.
PRIVATE SEABURT TEsTIFEs.
Private Seaburt, of Company L, was the
next witness. He testified that he was
in camp on the night Of Feb. 4. He didn't
leave his company street. but heard that
the men were going down town to catch
O'Connelps murderer, and hang him or
burn him.
Private Amul, of Company L, was
next sworn. He was not outside his
company street during the excitement on
the night of Feb. 4. but heard squads of
men gather and talk of hanging. On
cross-examination he said that everyone
turned in at taps, and everything was
perfectly quiet until the next morning.
The court then adjourned until tomor-
row morning, when the examination of
Gen. Youngs witnesses will be continued
JORDAN DOESN'T DENY 1T.