The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-07
DEFENSE HAD ITS INNING.
SEVEN WITNESSES EXAMINED IN
HARRIS COURT-MARTIAL.

Cnse-Captg Cam Brought Out Evil
dence In Impeachment-fieari
Continued Tonight.
Another chapter IN the Harris court
martial was written last night The court
resumed the hearing IN the Republican
Blues room In the RegimentaI Armory at
: o'clock. and more witnesses for the de-
Tense were examined. Al II O'Clock IL was
decided to adjourn. Capt J. Ferris Cam
having stated that he had three more
important Witnesses to put on the stand
for Corpl. Harris.
The audience was OF about the proper
tons observed at former sessions. and
most OF those present were those VINO
have been regular attendants upon the
proceedings. The larger part Of the crowd
Is content 20 stand al the rear OF the room
for two or three hours while the testl-
mony Is given. the interest in the pro
ceedings being sufficient to Offset person
al inconvenience and discomfort. That
was the conclusion reached last night. nj
all events. as the evidence has a flavor
that seemed rather 10 appeal 20 the audi
ence Much OF 81 was OF a character that
would not Look well in print and pleased
the ear Of many but little more than IL
might the eye
/ Corpl. Robert A. Cox Of the oglethorpe
hight Infantry was the first witness call
ed His testimony was that II was just
about a minute before ? O'Clock that
Corpl. Harris had reported FOR guard duty.
instead OF 1--WE minutes after. as the prose
cution alleged. As to Harris having been
drunk Corpl Cox testified that he was
sober. so far as he was able to Judge.
Pay Member J. 4. Campos. Jr.. OF the
Blues, was the next witness. and his story
/ OF the trip Of the company to Louisville
/ was followed with interest. Beginning
with the start from Savannah. SIR. Cam
pos said that the captain OF the company
\ had given strict orders that no liquors
were 20 be allowed ia the cars. yet the
train had not gone 100 miles before hot
tie was ope ned by lieutenant Of the com
mand. Arrived in Lougviile and while IN
the quarters. the witness said he heard
/ Harris. who was then under arrest, say
I 20 Capt. Wilson" Captain. YOU are
treating me like - - niger" Capt.
Wilson then. according TO the witness,
walked over to the latter and said did
YOU hear how that fellow was talking 20
| me-"
The witness said he then tried to tell
hCapt Wilson that he was probably a lit
tie too severe on Harris, that the men,
bers Of the company were noticing it. and
that the commanding officer was not con-
ducing 10 his popularity with them. To
/ this the captains reply was. We'll, II he
does not shut up. III punch him. He does
not know what authority a captain has,
but IN show him b efore am through
with him" The witness continued BY say
Ing that he had tried to act as a peace
maker, going 20 Harris and reasoning
with him. saving that he would employ
his influence with the captain 10 see II
ne could not have him released.
Mr. Canpos intimated rather strongly
that Harris wasstreated with greater Sc
verify than others who deserved evsn
more One man. he said. had come In
heastly drunk, was arrested. but was
turned loose the next morning. lie said
he had not stem Harrif drunk az any time
The witness spoke Of his long connection
with the company. and said ne had not
been on unfriendly terms with the cap
! tain He said the company had been given
| 70 understand that they might return
| from Louisville after the reunion as they
pleased that their tickets would be
turned over to them individually. He had
remained over. In fact had quit the COM
I nANN NAhtt US tNFtNta 1T AEaNiFNhff W.
| cause OF the failure OF the captain and
| officers TO appear at a stated assembly
| OF the command. 20 which he had been
| ordered and. upon his return 90 Sayan-
| nah. had been requested by Capt Wilson
to make good a sum that was considered
| by the officer as due because OF his not
having done duty as an enlisted man
while on the trip. The witness said Lieut.
| Rarthelness OF the Blues had told him
that he would be a qualified fool to pay
the money, and that he hardly thought
| NJ would do 20.
Private w. w. Jernlgan OF the Blues
| testified that he and Private Broom had
gone out TO arrest Harris after his 80
cape from confinement. They found their
man IN a dry goods store. and he said
| that ne had escaped because he was hun
CRY and thirsty. as ne could not get any
thing 90 eat or drink in his quarters
Capt. Cam asked the witness II he had
known OF a set OF men In the Blues on
the Louisville trip who were known as
tho big Four" The reply OF the wit
ness was In the Affirmative. and he nam
ed himself and others as having enjoyed
that distinction. Lieut.. Barthelmess be-
ing In the number Lieut.. Barthelmess
had stated when on the stand that he
was not a member OF that interesting or
ganizatiou. but Private. Jernigan pointed
to o picture commemorative OF the Blues
trip that adorned the wall and directed
/ the courts attention 20 the fact that a.
contained photograph OF the big -Four. %
Lieut.. Barthelmess being In the group
The officer. the witness said. had been
with the massive quartette q couple Of
| nights. succeeding some other member
who had dropped out THis talk about
the evidently select few seemed to amuse
those present who had been on the Louis
| vile trip.
Private Jernigan said Capt Wilson
| had told the company that any man
might stay over IN Louisville, though he
had understood that special arrangement
and understanding 20 that effect would
have Ia exist with the Captain. Harris.
he said. he had considered sober. nor was
he disorderly az any time he had seen
him In the quarters.
Ex-Sergt. James Furlong. Jr was put
on. the stand and his evidence and man
ner OF giving u created a ripple OF amuse-
ment now and then thas the men on duty
had TO suppress. He remarked thar Har-
ris had been one Of the worst treated
men he had ever seen. but che Judge ad-
voca,e told him he would prefer facts
rather than the witness opinion. ''I'u
/ give you plenty OF facts" said the wit
ness. and he went on 20 tell that Prl-
vate Hanley OF che Blues had cursed
/ Lieut. Barrow. had been put under ar
rest, but was released and nothing fur
| Their was done. He said he was acting AZ
first sergeant OF the company much OF
! the time In Louisville. and that ~ vraa