Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-06
SHUFELDTS COURT-MARTIAL
A Retired Medical Officer Arraigned at the
Washington Barracks Today
Grounds on Which the Charge Il
BrouGht-A Lively Legal Con-
trONersy Expected.

Robert Wilson Shufeldt, retired, captain
of the medical department of the United
States army, was placed trial before
| a general court-martial at Washington
barracks this morning, on a charge Of con-
duct unbecoming an officer and a gentle
man. After the members of the court had
been sworn and the two specifications of
the charge against the accused read. coun-
sci for captain Shufcldt asked continu-
ance until Monday morning that he might
have sufficient time to prepare a plea in
abatement The request was granted and
an adjournment ordered
The trial grows out of divorce suit
between Captain Shufeldt and his wife,
Mrs. Florence Audubon Shufeldt, the lat
ter having been granted decree and al
lowed $3.50 per year alimony, which Il is
alleged, the accused has refused to pay. The
case is a peculiar one in that it involves
the right Of the military authorities to
compel a retired officer to submit himself
TO the orders and jurisdiction of a civil
court of d state for the satisfaction Of a
personal and private obligation
John T. Devices. counsel for Capt. Shu-
feldt, stated to the court this morning that
he would enter Il plea Monday in bar of
trial before the military tribunal upon the
ground Of lack OF jurisdiction. and upon
the further ground that civil suit, now
pending in the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. involving the issues of
the trial, might be prejudiced by the pro-
ceedings of the court-martial.
Composition of the Court.
The court was assembled under orders
issued by Maj Gen. Wesley Merritt. COM
handing the department Of the east, and
its detail is as follows:
Col. Francis l.. Guenther, 4th Artillery.
president; Col. John l. Rogers. 18th Artil-
lery: Col Henry c. Hasbrouck, 9TH Ar
tillery: Maj. James NJ. ingalls,, 9th Artil-
lery: Mai. Henry Jackson I'd Cavalry: Ma j.
George G. Greenough, 9TH Artillery; Mai
Frederick Fuger, 4th Artillery; Capt. Mont
gemery M. Macomb, 18th Artillery, ami
Capt. John r. Williams, 18th ARTILLERY
members. Capt. Daniel H. Boughton OF III.
sd Cavalry. is judge advocate.
The court met shortly after 10 oclock in
the ordnance office of the administration
building at the barracks. The members Of
the court were seated about a long table,
with Col. Guenther at the head. All were
attired in dress uniform with the exception
of the judge advocate, this being the regu-
lar custom Of the army. Side arms were
worm When the court opened Capt. Shu-
feldt was seated at a small table near the
chairs occupied by the court. and beside
him was his counsel, Mr.. Devices. MeSsrs.
Webb & Webb, attorneys of this city, who
have represented Mrs. Shufeldt in her pro-
ceedings against the accused, were present
to assist the Judge advocate, without ap-
pearing officially in the present proceed
ings.
Standing. and with right hands ungloved
and uplifted, the members of the court
were sworn to truthfully perform the duties
thrust upon them as judges Of the military
tribunal, the judge advocate administering
the oath. Capt. Boughton next read the
two specifications of the charge of conduct
unbecoming an officer and gentleman.
The Specifications.
The specifications recite that the accused,
an officer In the military service of the
United States, was ordered February 70,
1895. by Judge James B. Henderson Of the
circuit court of Montgomery county, Md,
in decree of divorce granted his wife.
Mrs. Florence Audubon Shufeldt, to pay her
aliInony in the sum of 5000 annually. In
contempt of the orders of said court" con-
tinues the charge. and to the disgrace and
scandal Of the said service, the accused
willfully failed and refused to pay the sums
ordered or any part thereof" notwithstand-
ing the fast that he has been receiving
monthly from the government the sum OF
S175 the pay allowed him a retired cap
tain of the staff.
In the second specification Of -
it is alleged that July last Capt. :'l;ir!dt
appeared in the Montgomery county court
and promised that he would at any aud all
times subject himself to the orders or the
tribunal, the promise being verified by an
oath administered to and taken by MIN.
The promise was made in answer to COM
plant, it is set forth, that the accused had
once left the jurisdiction OF the court and