The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-06
RESTORED 70 ITS RANK
Colonel 0'RcilIy Highly Pleased
With His Findieation.
Dismissed From the Army in 1872
by II Court-MurtinI Decree-His
Long-FouGht-i'or Justice Obtained
ut Lnsf-The Omcer's Troubles
Laid AT the Door OF General Otis.

NEW YORK, Feb. Col Thomas P
O'ReiIly. of Newark, is happy at the sue
cessfuI elimination Of his long fight for
vindlcation from charges which caused his
dismissal from the United States Army in
1872 and at his restoration by an act of
Congress passed last week to the rank of
second lieutenant. which he held when
dismissed by a decree Of a court martial.
q am more than pleased at the result
of my own and my frienls' efforts to have
me restored to the army after all these
years" said Colonel O'ReHIy yesterday.
1t has been hard and long fight 7ro-
tested against the injustice of the court
martial when its judgment was made.
appealed to the proper authorities and
sought in every way for d reconsideration
OF my case For twelve years after 1872
1 made little or no progress, but I never
relaxed my efforts and at last have been
successful. It is a remarkable result in
one way. for l believe mine is the only
case in more than thirty years IN which
an army officer dismissed after conviction
by court-martial has been restored 10 his
rank. have not learned officially just in
what manner the restoration bill has
passed Congress
Colonel O'ReiIly served through the civil
war. entering the army as private in the
Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteers and
coming out at the close as major OF the
| 18th United States colored troops. with
TWO brevets as lieutenant colonel and col
oTei conferred for gallant and meritori-
Gus service during the war" He was com
missiOEed IN the regular army with the
/ rank Of second lieutenant
4 was stationed" said the colonel at
Fort Randall Dakota. in 1872 Col now
Major General E S. Otis was my sUpe-
rlor officer Il vas with him | had ny
trouble He charged me with insubofli-
nation and violation Of The articles Of war
One cause Of the trouble was my action
i'll escOrting The wife Of another officer to
! Colonel OTIS house and introducing her
I That led 10 a scene / was charged With
using strong language and with being 9th
er~ise insubordinate. I was court-mar-
tailed on the charges by Colonel Otis,
found guilty and dismissed from the serv-
ice. In 1882 the House passed a bill restor-
ing ne but the Senate did not
1t was shown that ! had reason to be-
lieFe the court was specially selected TO
convict me and also that the court erred
in falling to sustain my challenge 10 two
members Of the court who were my jun
iors in rank 1t was shown that the al
legged offence was a technical one Il was
a matter between Colonel OTIS and myself
as individuals, not tas officers of different
/ rank And II there was an offence it was
not Of such a character as 10 warrant dis
missal
''Since Representative Parker took up
my case it has progressed nicely. thanks
| TO his intelligent presentation Of it. At
first l claimed back pay. but when it was
evident that the demand for compensation
| was preventing the bills progress I with
drew that feature leaving it to the Court
OF Claims