The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-27
FINISHED IN A DAY
COURT OF INQUIRY ALLOWED NO
DELAY IN ITS WORK.
EXAMINED rs WITNESSES.
FINDING OF THE COURT GOES To
THE GOVERNOR TO-DAY.

istcred by the Governor to Capt.
Wilson and Lieut.. Barth eImess of
the Republican Blues VIII Not Be
Sustained by the Finding-That,
However, Is Speculative, as the
Officers of the Court Would Give
No IntimatiOn as to the Character
of the Finding-Orders Will BE
Awaited with Interest.
Only one day was required by the Mill
tary Court of Inquiry to finish its work.
The officers of the court devoted the
whole OF yesterday to their task and con-
cluded it. hearing all the testimony that
was to be introduced for and against
Capt. NJ Ed. Wilson and Second Lieuten-
ant George J. Barthelmess of the Repub-
lican Blues.
Col. George NJ. Napier of Forsyth, Judge
advocate general, Georgia State Troops;
Maj. J. S. Dozier. of Atlanta, First Cav
airy, and Lieut.. w. w. Gordon, Jr., Geor-
gia Hussars, constituted the court. Col.
Napier and Maj Dozier will leave this
morning for their homes, and the findings
of the court will be submitted at once to
the Governor. 1t is believed it will be an
eXoneration OF the off1cerS.
The story of the appointment of the
Court Of Inquiry and the events leading
up to it, is we'll known. In May of last
year the Republican Blues left on a trip
to Louisville as an escort to the Confed-
crate Veterans, who went to attend the
reunion of their association. Some of the
members of the Blues proved unruly at
one time or another on the trip and it
became necessary for the officers to re-
sort to severe measures to maintain dis
cipline and keep the men within the
bounds of good behavior.
Corpl. r.. s. Harris became involved in
the deepest trouble. He failed to return
to Savannah with the company, after hav-
ing been kept under arrest for two days.
When he showed up In this city some
days later he was arrested under a civil
process, instituted by Capt. Wilson, who
sought to recover missing property. This
was followed by charges against Harris
as soldier Capt Wilson having been
advised not TO pass over the offences.
Upon the charges reaching the Governor,
a general court-martial of five officers
was appointed.
The sittings of the court-martial were
long and frequent, meaning considera BILE
expense to the state and WEAKNESS to all
concerned. Capt. ]. Ferris Cam repre-
scented Harris. while Capt. David C. Bar
row represented the state as judge advo-
cate. The attorneys brought out a great
mass of testimony that appeared to have
little bearing upon the charges, consum-
ing the time of the court. Finally, how
ever, the findings were made up and sent
20 the Governor, when another wait of
weeks ensued. The Governor at length
reviewed the finding of the court and
found occasion to administer a severe rep
rimand to Capt. Wilson and to Lieut..
Barthemess.
Capt. Wilson and Lieut.. Barthemess
smarted under the reprimand. They
| thought 1t undeserved Seeking to get
! exoneration, they had recourse to the
privilege that was theirs, and requested
the Governor to appoint court of in
quiry. The Governor, after another long
wait, made the appointment, and the ex-
animation Of witnesses yesterday. was
| the result.
Three. sessions of the court were held
| morning, afternoon and night 1t was
| nearly u o'clock when its work was
finally completed. Col. Napier then said
that the finding will be delivered to the
| Governor in Atlanta to-day, and it is ex-
pected that the Governor will publish it
in general orders, such being the request
| of Capt. Wilson and Lieut. Barthelmess
whose reprimand from the Governor was
| so published. Col. Napier said he could
not divulge the result of the examination,
! that being a matter for the Governor to
| pass upon.
The sessions of the court were secret
| Besides the officers comprising it, there
were present but the witness in the chair
and the two officers accused Neither
side had attorneys, and the examination
| progressed all the more rapidly on that
account. Capt. Wilson and Lieut.. Barth-
! elmess were allowed to address any cues
lions they saw fit to the witnesses, and
the members of the court exercised the
| same privilege. The evidence adduced
| was of widely different character from
that brought out at the court-martial of
Harris, the witnesses being confined to
| matters more directly relevant
| EX-Corp. Harris was the star witness,
| as in the court-martial. He was taken
| to the armory from the county Jail
where he is under sentence for larceny
from the house, under guard. His evil
dence was lengthy. and the court did not
conclude with 1t until 1890 o'clock. After
that the examinations went on more rap
idly. In all, there were twenty-six wit
nesses examined, nearly all of them
witnesses in the Harris court-martial
Among the witnesses were Capt. Wilson,
Capt Barrow. Lieut. j. M Dreyer Lieut..
Barthelmess, Harriss Sergt S. J. WiIkin-
son, Sergt. j. F. Furlong, Jr., Sergt. C.
| II. p Murphy Corpl. H. A. Jeffries.
sergt. r. A. Cox. Private R. s. Morris.
d. p. Walker, D. w. Jernigan, j. b.
Smith, James NJ. Ivey, w p Walls. w.
W. Thompson, w. H. Smith. W. H.
Smith. Jr., and Corpl Maggioni
The orders issued by the Governor will
be awaited with interest. The friends
Of the officers reprimanded will be anx-
ious to know how they came out before
the court. They hope the orders will be
issued speedily. Far less time than was
expected was consumed in hearing the
case. and it is hoped there may be no
delay on Atlanta.
ThundcrbOIt Lots to he Sold To-day
At 4:SO this afternoon the Merchants