The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-01
list OFFICERS GUILTY.
PUBLIC REPRINAND F0R CAPTS.
BLEECKER AND MEEKS.
Gov. Roosevelt Approves the Finding OF tho
C~ourt-Martial, but RENTS tho Fines of
800 Each-Ths Truth or FnIsity Of the
Captainh' Charges Not Investigated.

Gov. Roosevelt Approves the Finding of the
Court-Martial, but RENTS tho Fines of
800 ERch-Ths Truth or Fnlsity of the
CRptainh' Charges Not Investigated.
ALBANY, N. Y. Jan. 31.--As n result OF the
court-martial In the cases OF Capt. Anthony j.
Blocker OF the Seventy-lrst Regiment,
charged with a violation OF the regulations in
discussing publicly the action Of other officers
and OF conduct prejudicial TO good order and
military discipline. and OF Capt. William +.
Meeks OF the same regiment on the same
charges. the court-martial finds the men guilty
and sentences each of them TO be reprimanded
in general orders and fined 500 each. The
following extract from the proceedings OF the
court Ia published for the information OF all
concerned:
The court has not considered whether
the newspaper publications contained in the
specifications are true or false. IL considers
that the truth or falsity OF the newspaper pub
locations was not submitted to II by the form
Of charges nor was any evidence on the subject
submitted to 1t. In any event the court deems
IL wholly immaterial. Resort by military off,
GERS to newspaper attacks and controversies is
in all cases reprehensible. for full opportunity
Is afforded Ivy military regulations and Gus
toms for the fair and orderly trial OF any proper
ground Of complaint or dispute between off,
GERS. We're IL not for tho excellent military
record o; the accused in this State and Cuba,
the court would have sentenced them TO be
dismissed from the service for the grave Of
fence to military discipline OF which it has
found them guilty"
In approving the findings Of the court-mar-
tial Gov. Roosevelt says: The proceedings
and findings. except as hereafter noted. and
the sentence of the court in each of the fore
going cases are approved. The finding on each
specification is technically correct. The proper
form is guilty. except the words = - y and
Of the excepted words. not guilty" Murray's
official manual for courts-martial, page Us.
and o. D.. 412, at page 14S:
Upon the recommendation of the Major
General commanding the National Guard, that
portion OF the sentence imposing n fine OF 500
concnrs in the opinion of the court rs to the
gravity Of the offence and the conduct OF the
accused. BY abandoning the prescribed mill
tary methods OF procedure and resorting to the
these officers. cast an additional and wholly
unnecessary burden upon the record OF the
Seventy-nrst Regiment, and this at a time
when the condition Of the regimen: was such
and dignifed conduct upon the part of every
loyal officer and. enlisted man. .Unseemly
and insubordinate discussion of the in
S aerpN a tendency aHHsns to adopt the Nsf methods S OF The
town meeting rather than those OF the military
service are wholly detrimental to the best in
tarests Of the guard and will not he tolerated.
tlciency of the guard than riotous behavior by
the ~privates. or failure to enforce discipline or
to perform every soldierly duty by the officers.
The publication OF this order is deemed sufh-
"Capts. Blocker and lIeeks are relieved
from arrest and will report for duty to the COM
manding officer Of the seventy-hrst Regiment