Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-03
STORY DISCREDlTED.
The Account Of the Sentinel At Nc.
Kinley's Tomb Investigated.
IS all Laid TO HIS IMAGINATION.
Privats Deprsud Believed to Have Bssa
Overwrought BY the Loneliness Of His
Position and That There Were No
GhOuls Present

Canton, o., Oct. 1.-The officers and
men of company c, Of the Fourteenth
United States infantry, on duty at
Westlawn cemetery, guarding the
resting place Of President McKin-
ley, worked diligently yesterday in
vestigating the strange story in which
Private Deprend, who was on duty
at the top of the vault Sunday night,
figured SO prominently. The repre-
sentative of the Associated press
saw all Of the commissioned officers,
several non-commissioned officers and
a number of privates and CLEANED the
following: All of the commissioned
officers and the members of the COM
pany in general Sunday night &C.
cepted fully the story related by Pri-
vate Deprend and really believed that
the providers were about the vault
with no good purpose. Yesterday
only one of the commissioned officers
adhered to the belief that an attempt
had been made upon the sentinel for
ghoulish purposes. He said: 1T
was the real thing; it was prompted
by the pure cussedness of some peo-
pie who thought to bring reproach
upon the nation by doing damage to
the resting place of the dead presi-
dent"
All the men who were seen yester-
day expressed the belief that Private
Deprend acted in good faith and that
he related only what he believed to
be the real circumstances. The most
common belief is that the sentinel
was overweight by the loneliness of
his position, that his nerves were
overtaxed and that imagination con.
trlbuted some of the details related
y good faith. The post was regarded
by all as particularly isolated and
depressing to the man guarding it at
night and it is understood that more
sentinels will be stationed at the
point in the future
Capt. Biddle authorized this state
ment: II think the sentinel deceived
himself on the occurrence. | do not
think an actual attack as related by
him occurred. When daylight came
there was no evidence found of
struggle"
The matter has been reported in
full to Gen. Otis at Chicago COM
handing the department to which
the guard is attached. Whether there
will be formal inquiry into the mat
ter remains for Gen. Otis to deter
mine. Officers at the cemetery ex-
pressed the hope that inasmuch as |
no actual harm had been done no
formal action would be taken.
Sergt. Cook, who was reported to
have heard remarks Sunday afternoon
among visitors, further explained as
follows; 81 was on duty at the guard
tent near the vault Sunday afternoon.
There were three funerals at the
cemetery and many people passing all
the time. Three men, representative
looking men, such as come by the
scores every day, spoke to me. One
man said he did not see the use of
all this FUSS that no one would try
to do any harm now. The third man
said he was mistaken; that there was
lots Of people who would like to see
the whole thing blown up. No, | had
not then nor have l any suspicion
that any of these men would have
any interest in or would sympathize
with any act of violence. | think they
we're speaking of the disposition of
,ther classes who might De prompted
10 such acts"