The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-03-13
CASE OF CAPTAIN BRADLEY
G0YERNOR LOUNSBURY MAKES A
STATEN ENT.
Promised That Captain Bradley should
Have Ample Opportunity 10 Present
HIS Defcnsc-What tho Adjutunt-
General Said Question of Stability of

Charges.
| Hartford, March Ex-Governor Louns-
bury was at the capitol to-day and in
an interview with Hartford Times re-
porter in relation to the Meriden mill
tary muddle, said: MY first knowl-
edge of the matter came to me in an in
terview which five or six Merlden gen
tlemen sought and obtained. These
men told me of some of the charges
against Captain Bradley and of their
reasons for doubling the truth of those
charges All that they asked was this,
that Captain Bradley should not be
condemned unheard. I promised that
the captain should have ample oppor-
tunity for presenting his defense. 1t
was the only promise asked or made
1.-The next important information
which I had in regard to the matter
was in q conversation with the adju-
tant general not more than three or
four days before the withdrawal Of the
charges. In that conversation the adj
jutant general told me that in his be-
lief the charges were largely the result
of personal quarrels inside or outside of
Captain Bradley's company; that he
had grave doubts whether the evidence
was sufficient to sustain the charges in
a court; that a court martial would be
expensive and would spread a scandal
which might be a detriment to the Ma
tional guard, and that in his opinion
the best possible result would be OBJ
tanned by a withdrawal of the charges
and by the resignationrof Captain Brad
ley The adjutant general thought that
Colonel Callahan would gladly with
draw the charges for reasons which he
gave me- and that Captain Bradley
would be willing to resign, as the cap
tain few months before had asked to
be placed on the retired list, the date of
the retirement to be not many months
in the future. Accepting these state
ments as true, approved the proposed
settlement of the matter.
I'm regard to the statement made by
Colonel Callahan that he withdrew the
charges because he thought 1t was the
wish and the request of the governor, !
can add little to the statement which
/ made last Wednesday,"
The governor declined to enter into
any discussion of the apparent discrep-
ancy between the statement Of the adj
jutant general and that of Colonel CAL
lahan, but he said:
1T is a well known rule Of evidence
that when two reputable gentlemen
whose integrity is undoubted, differ in |
their statements, the discrepancies are
to be explained on the ground of mis-
apprehension, misunderstanding or i'm
perfections of memory, rather than on
the ground of lack Of veracity."
The governor was asked whether he |
considered the Bradley matter as set
tied He replied: II shall not consid- |
er the matter as settled until all rea-
SON for this controversy has passed |
away. An attempt to secure a settle
ment was made, and had it been quiet
" effected would have brought dishonor
10 no one and would have saved the
National guard from a scandal. For
some cause, this attempt has been
allure, and nothing remains for the flu
ure but a settlement based solely and
on right and justice and
ruth"
The governor was asked whether there
vas any truth In the inSinuation made
~ certain newspaper that the adju
ant general had deceived him in the
natter Of Captain Bradley's resignation,
he governor replying: There Is no
,round for any such insinuatlon. While
he adjutant general in his statement
o me of the proposed settlement used
he word resignation and while / ac-
epted it in it's usual meaning, he UNI
youbtedly meant the retirement of Cap
ain Bradley from active service in the
National guard"
Colonel Callahan was seen yesterday
nd he said that a renewal of the
harges against Captain Bradley were
lade Saturday. Further than that he
afused to talk on the subject.
In the natural order Of military pro-
edure the renewal of charges passed