The Washington times., 1901-09-12
SENSATIONAL CHARGES MADE.
Court-NnrtinI May BE Ordered for
Col. Robert l.. Meade.

The report of the court of enquiry ap-
pointed to investigate charges of drunk
enness while on duty against Col. Robert
L. Meade, commander of the marine bar
racks at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. and
counter charges filed by Colonel Meade
against his accusers. Col Frank L. Dem
ny, general quartermaster. and Major
Charles H Lauchheimer, assistant adju-
tant and inspector of the Marine Corps.
is sensational in its opinions and ind
ings.
Colonel Denny and Major Lauchheimer
are exonerated by the court, but the nnu-
ings and opinion indict Colonel Meade Tor
the specific charge made and TWO audi-
tional charges. false swearing on the VIII
ness stand and violation of the naval reg
ulations in making counter accusations IN
stead of answering to those of Colonel
Denny and Major Lauchheimer. On ac-
count of the Importance of the case the
report will not be passed on by Acting
Secretary Hackett, but will be held until
Secretary Long returns to Washington
| for his personal review.
The court recommends that Colonel
| Meade be tried by court-n,artiai on the
| three charges mentioned
| The court met at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard July %. Its members were capt
Philip H Cooper. of the navy; Col fer-
civaIe C. Pope. of the Marine Corps, and
| Commander Clifford II. West, of the
navy with Capt Benjamin III. Fuller, OF
the Marine Corps, as judge advocate.
| The sessions were held behind closed
doors and none of the proceedings or
testimony became public
One of the most interesting features OF
the enquiry. disclosed by the official rec
Of d fFgarftrr y n No
West from membership. on the fifteenth
dav of the investigation Colonel Denny
and Major Lauchheimer challenged him
on the ground that he was unduly inti-
mate with Colonel Meade and permitted
his friendship for that officer TO bias ms
Judgment of the case. After consultation
the two other members. Captain Cooper
and Colonel Pope. sustained the opJec-
tion and Commander West was eAcluusu
| from serving f,-t.,,o,
Meade with having been intoxicated on
one occasion during an Inspection OF me
marine barracks at Brooklyn py ALaJof
Lauchheimer. on June Is, ~ anu ~. Noi1 i.,-
mel Denny charged Colonel Meade with
having been drunk on an occasion seNerii
months previous to the inspection IN ms
counter charges Colonel Meade alleged
that his accusers had malictously con,
spIred to injure him and also charged
Colonel Denny with irregularities in con
nection with payments for WORK on inc
marine barracks at Brooklyn.
The charge OF false swearing or perjury
made by the court of enquiry against ooi, ,i,
| onel Meade is the most serious ne WI,
have to confront should "A court MAJ sa tisai
be ordered. The penalty for that oIehce
is dismissal The charge of drunkenness
on duty is also serious the extreme pen
| atty being dismissal Colonel Mesue "a
one of the oldest officers of the Marine
Corps lie is nearly sixty years old. Sery'
ed in the civil war and commanded lne .
United States marine forces IN emma ID.
year during the march to Pekin ana ioi
a time after Colonel Liscum was M Mkilieu
commanded all the American forces IN @ siis
Pekin relief expedition He Is a protnei
of the late Major General Meade, 7te Wy
/ tor of Gettysburg and the late Fear Az
miral Meade.