The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-10-05
CHOSTLY VISITORS.
Private Deprend the Victim of an
Overweight Imagination.
NO SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE FOUND.
Ofhcers and Men Believe the Private
Sincere In His Convictions, but
Mistaken-WiII Post N Double
Guard Hereafter.


-
Canton, o., Oct. 1.-The officers and
men of Company c, of the Fourteenth
CLitcd States infantrv, on duty at
Westlawn cemetery, guarding the rest
ing place of President Mckinley,
worked diligently yesterday investi-
eating the strange story in which
Private Deprend, who was on duty at
the top of the vault Sunday night,
figured so prominently. The military
regulations which prevented the OIL
GERS and men from making detailed
statements concerning the incidents
Sunday night were as rigidly observed
yesterday. The representative of the
press saw all Of the commissioned Of
fcers, several non-commissioned oili-
GERS and a number of privates and
CLEANED the following:
All of the commissioned officers and
the members of the company in gen
eral Sunday night accepted fully the
story related by Private Deprend, and
really believed that the providers were
about the vault with no good purpose.
Yesterday only one of the commits
stoned 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 people who thought to bring re-
proach upon the nation by doing dam
age TO the resting place of the dead
president"
All the men who were seen yester-
day expressed the belief hat Private
Deprend acted in good faith. and that
he related only what he believed TO
be the real circumstances. With the
captain and others he went over the
details of the whole affair at least a
dozen times, and, it is said, never
varied in a matter of Importance,
Particular inquiry was made as to his
sobriety at the time, and, it is said,
that it is established beyond all rea-
sonable doubt that he had not been
drinking and that he was in his
normal condition.
The most common belief is that the
sentinel was overweight by the lone
illness of his position; that his nerves
were overtaxed, and hat Imagination
contributed some of the details re-
lated in good faith. The post was re-
garded 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 thanked the reporters
for what he called the fair manner in
which the incident had been described
in the morning reports, saying they
gave a full and complete statement
of facts so far as revealed Sunday
night. He was at first fully con-
WINGED of the truth Of the story as re-
lated, but after investigation enter
tanned doubts, not of the sincerity Of
Private Deprend, but of the correct
ness of the conclusions.
Capt. Biddle authorized this state
ment:
Il think the sentinel deceived him
self on the occurrence. l do not think
en- actual attack as related by him oc-
CURED. When daylight came there
was no evidence found of a struggle
The matter has been reported in
full to Gen, Otis, at Chicago, com
manding the department to which the
guard is attached. Whether there will
be a formal inquiry into the matter
remains for Gen. Otis to determine,
Officers at the cemetery expressed the
hope that inasmuch as no actual harm
had been done, no formal action
would be taken.
Sergeant Cook, who was reported tc
have heard remarks Sunday afternoon
among visitors, further explained as
follows:
Il was On duty at the guard tent
near the vault Sunday afternoon
There were three funerals at the Gem.
etery, and many people passing al
the time. Three men, representative
looking men. such as come by the
scores every day. spoke to me. One
la said he did not see the use of al
this fuss; that no one would try to dc
any harm now. The third man sale
he was mistaken; that there were lot:
of people who would like TO see thu
whole thing blown up. No, l had moi
then, o have 1 now any suspicion
that any of these men would have
any interest in or would sympathizt
with any act of violence. l think the,
were speaking of the disposition o.
other classes who might be prompted
TO such acts"
The usual guard and patrol was OF
duty yesterday. Sunday night aftel
the story of Private Deprend tn,
-. .- -- -
of ten men. Lieut.. Ware arrived from
Fort Wayne, Mich, yesterday, and re
lieved Lieut.. Avery, who went bacl
to the fort.
Miss Laura Lemly Burned to Death
Charlotte. n. c., Oct. Miss Laur,