Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-14
CHISHOLM COURT MARTIAL
Proceedings Last Evening in the Trial of a
National Guardsman.
Testimony of Officers Respecting an
Order From HendIuarters-Ad-
jOurnment Until Thursday.

The trial by court-martial of Capt. D. V.
Chisholm. Company b. I'd Battalion, Dis
trict OF Columbia National Guard was re-
sumed last evening at militia headquar-
tiers. The court convened at o'clock, and
was in session until a few minutes before
IL o'clock. During that time only three
witnesses were exa mined. The greater por-
ton of the evening was taken up with ar
gument. and the court was cleared many
times. Owing to criticism and comments
regarding his work by counsel for the ac-
cused officer, the official stenographer an
nounced that he would sever his connec-
ton with the proceedings.
Lieut.. Col. F. H. Harrington, United
States Marine Corps. was introduced to the
court by the defense. He is to be asso-
ciate1 with counsel for Capt Chisholm.
The attendance OF spectators last evening
was such as to crowd all available space
in the court room. BY reason of the army
and navy reception this evening at the Ex-
ecutiVe Mansion the court will not meet.
The next session is to be held tomorrow
evening at Oclock.
Lieut.. Reichelderfer's Testimony.
The first witness called last evening was
First Lieut.. l.. II. Reichelderfer, inspector
of rife practice Of the I'd Battalion. In
substance Lieut.. Rechelderfer testified
that prior to the evening set for the pre-
sentation Of rife practice prizes he, as in
spector of rifle practice OF the battalion,
forwarded a communication to Capt. CHS
holm, urging full attendance of the men,
bers of Company b. The evening Of the
assembly the witness met Capt. Chisholm
about 73O o'clock. and the captain said it
would be Impossible for him to order out
his team for the reason that he did not re-
ceiye the order until 6 o'clock that evening.
A long discussion on the part of counsel
followed.
The next witness, Mr.. Frank Sigourney
clerk in the office of the adjutant general
District of Columbia militia, explained the
method followed in sending out general Or
ders from that office. Vie received spe-
| cifc instructions from the ad)utant gener-
al he said, to exercise care In issuing the
orders for the assembly for distribution of
| rifle practice prizes. Although he did not
remember addressing an envelope to Capt.
Chisholm. Mr.. Sigourney was positive that
an order has been sent him.
Identified Inducements.
First Lieut. Leroy W. Heron, Company
r ID Battalion, who is acting adjutant of
| tha battalion, was then called. He proved
| To he an important witness, identifying in
| dorsements made by him on the letter from
| militia Headquarters demanding an explana-
| ZION from the I'd Battalion of it's non-at-
| tendance at the ceremony. This letter,
showing the causes which led to the court
| marital, was read by the judge advocate
| nv direction of the president of the court.
| The court excused Capt. Marion, one of
| the members. who had private business TO
| attend TO- The defense remarking that it
| would rot make any statement as to its po-
| sitiofi as regards the excusing of Capt.
Marion. that officer was recalled and oc:
| cupied his seat throughout the remainder
| of the session.
Continuing, Lieut.. Heron said that the
2Sth of November he personally notified
| Can't Chisholm of the existence and con-
| tents of the order directing the assembly.
The evening of the assembly Lieut.. Heron
| accompanied Capt. Chisholm and a drill
| team from Company b. I'd Battalion. to
Typographical Temple. In the presence of
| Major Anderson, after the latter had in
/ ouired of Capt. Chisholm why his com
| pany had not reported for the ceremony.
the witness said to the captain: Don't you
remember, l told you of that order the
| other night?" ---.s
This closed the direct examination OF
Lieut. Heron. The hour being late the
court then adjourned until Thursday even
Ing.