The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-28
COURT MARTIAL ORGANIZED.
BUT THE TRIAL OF CORFL. HARRIS
POSTPONED UNTIL FRIDAY.

Neither Lieut.. Barrow, the Judge Adj
vocate. Nor Capt. Cam. Counsel
for the AccuscG. was Ready TO
Proceed and United in Requesting
an AdiOurnment-Wha the Charg-
es Against Harris Recite Case
Likely TO BE n Long One-Three
other Cases. Against Members of n
CoIored ComPAAay, Await Trial.
Court Costs the state $3.50 Per Ses-
sion.
The first session of the general court
martial. ordered by the Governor and
commander-in-ohief to try the charges
preferred 10y Capt NJ Edward Wilson
of the Republican Blues. against Corpl.
r. s. Harris, held ids fast session at the
First Regiment of Infantry Armory last
might
Little other than the organization Of the
court was accomplished. Lieut.. Barrow
read the orders from the office of the adj
jutant general converting the court-mar-
tial and inquired of the accused, who WAS
present, whether he had any objections TO
the court as constituted. or 10 any indi-
vidual member of it, Harris answered
he had none. He then offered Capt J
Ferris Cam as his counsel ana the per-
mission of the court to Capt Cam serving
in this capacity was promptly granted
Then came the organization of the court
The judge advocate. Lieut.. d. c. Barrow,
first administered the oath to the mem
bers OF the court, Lieut.. Col. Thomas 5.
Wylly, Jr., Maj Thomas Screven. Capt.
Patrck F. Gleason, Capt Charles II
Richardson. ana Second Lieutenant
George H. Richter, and the president Of
the court, Col. WyIly In turn. admins
tered the oath of his office to the judge
advocate. Mr.. John Bell was sworn in as
official stenographer.
triangular colloquy between the pres
1dent of the court, the Judge advocate
and counsel for the accused then eusued.
as TO the expediency of an adjournment
the judge advocate and counsel uniting
in request that the case not proceed at
once. Both Capt. Cam and Lieut. Bar
row suggested Friday evening, as the earl
Jest time at which they could convenient
ly proceed. The copy Of the charges and
specifications had not been served upon
the accused until d few hours before the
court-martial assembled, and neither be
slor MS counsel had had opportunity since
they had first seen the charges to exam
one them carefully and arrange their evil
dence in rebutta.
The court retired TO consider this cues
alon and upon returning to the room in
which the session was held announced that
me recess until Friday evening would be
taken. Then the case against Harris will
oe taken up and pushed to as rapid a con-
cluS1on as the rather voluminous nature of
the evidence will permit. This case con-
cluded, the court win proceed with the
trial of three others. based upon charges
preferred by Capt. James II. Carter com
manding Company f, First Battalion of
Infantry, G. S. r., colored, against three
of his men
-Four charges are made by Capt Wilson
against Corpl. Harris. They are absence
without leave, cursing his superior Off
Ger, being drunk and disorderly and in
suoordinaion, 20 the prejudice of good or
der and military discipline All of the
charges and specifications are based upon
the alleged ill-conduct OF the accused dur
ing the trip made by the company to
LOUISVILLE on the occasion of the Confed-
crate reunion, in May and June of the
present year. Stripped of military YER
biaee, they allege that Corpl. Harris, aft
er being placed under arrest for being
drunk and disorderly, cursed and abused
y.
and then broke arrest. never rejoining his
company during the entire period of It's
absence from the state
The charges against the members of
Company F. of the First Battalion of In
fantry, colored, are to be taken up after
the Harris case has been concluded One
OF the defendants. James C. Walker, is
charged with threatening to strike his SUI
perior officer with his rifle, and, after that
was taken away from him. TO stab the
same officer with his bayonet. This is
alleged TO have occurred in the company
armory, on July q. Private Edward Brin-
son is charged with having aided and
abetted the INSTRUMENTATION of Walker
finally drawing a revolver in his defense
The third of these cases is that of
Corpl Edward D. Browne of the same
company On July q, while the company
was on parade, say the specifications,
Browne threw down his rifle in the street
refused 10 return TO the armory when or
-dered to do so and cursed and abused
the company in general"
A detail. consisting of Corpl Thomson
and Privates McCabe and Herman, has
been provided to act as bailiffs of the
court and 10 maintain order during It's
sessions.
A cou<-martial, even under the state
laws. is not a very inexpensive proceed
ing, ard il is likely that the state will
have to pay out a quite respectable sum
before il has been satisfied as to the guilt
or innocence of she several accused to be
tried by the court now assembled. Each
member of the court and the judge advo-
cate, under The military law, receive
per diem of s., the stenographer is EMIT
led to a per diem of 50 and the detail
acting as bailiffs to a per diem of 81 each.
The session of last night cost the state just
$36 and each additional session, whether it
last five minutes or five hours, will cost
a Ike amount.
Future sessions of the court will be held
in the company room of the Republican
Blues which is much cooler than the
officers room of the armory, where the
session of last night was held.