The San Francisco call., 1901-10-01
ANARCHIST TALE
PROVES UNTRUE
Sentinel Deprend Allows
His Nerves to Play
Him False.
Nothing Found to Corrobrate
Story Of Attack on Nc
Kinley Vault.

CANTON. Ohio. Sept. 30.-The officers
and men Of Company c, of the Fourteenth
United States Infantry, on duty at West
Z lawn Cemetery. guarding the resting place
. cf President Mckinley, worked diligently
today investigating the strange story in
which Private Deprend, who was on duty
at the top of the vault Sunday night fig
ured so prominently. The military regula-
lions which prevented the officers and
men from making detailed statements
. concerning the incidents last night were
as rigfdly observed to-day.
All of the commissioned officers and
members Of the company in general last
night accepted fully the story related by
Private Deprend and really believed that
prowlers were about the vault with no
good purpose. To-day only one of the
Commissioned officers adhered to the be-
lief that an assault had been made upon
the sentinel by ghouls- He said:
1t was the real thing; it was prompted by the
nure cussedness OF some people who thought to
bring reproach upon the nation by doing dam
dent
All the men who were seen to-day ex-
pressed the belief that Private Deprend
acted in good faith and that he related
only what he believed to be the real facts
With the captain and others he went over
the details Of the whole affair at least a
dozen times and il 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
il is estab blished beyond all reasona bic
doubt that he had not been drinking and
that he was in his normal condition. The
most common belief is that the sentinel
was OVerWrOught by the loneliness of his
position, that his nerves were oVertaxed
and that ina agfnatiOn contributed some of
the details related in good faith. The
post was regarded by all as particularly
isolated and depressing to the man guard
ing Il at night and ii is said more senti-
nels viii be stationed at the point in the
future.
Captain Biddle thanked the reporters for
what he called the fair manner in which
the incident had been described in the
morning papers. saying they gave a full
and complete statement of facts so far
as revealed last night. He was fully con-
WINGED last night Of the truth of the story
as related, but after investigation enter
talned doubts, not of the sincerity of
Private Deprend, but of the correctness
of the conclusions.
Captain Biddle authorized this state
menu:
I think the sentinel deceived himself on the
occurrence. 90 not think an actual attack
as relateo by him occurred When daylight
gle.
The matter had been reported in full
TO General Otis at Chicago. comma ndins
the department. to which the guard is at
lacleo- Whether there will be a formal
inquiry into the matter remains for Gen
eraI Otis to determine. officers at the
cemetery express the hope that inasmuct
as no actual harm had been done nc
formal action would be taken.
Sergeant Cook who was reported r.
nave heard remarks Sunday afternoon
5nong visitors, further explained as fol
lows.
vas on duty at the guard tent near the
vault Sunday afternoon. There were three
funerals at the cemetery and many people
looking mn, such as come by scores every day.
sI-9ke' 10 me. One man said he did not see the
use OF all this fuss; that no one would TRY
10 DO any harm The third said be
was mistaken that there lots of people
who would like 70 see the whole thing blown
up NO, / had not then nor have / now any
suspicion that any of these men would have
any interest in or would sympathize with any
act of violence I think they were speaking
OF the disposition of other classes who might
be prompted TO such acts