The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-23
OFFICERS DRINK
AND PLAY POKER
Interesting Facts Brought Out In
COurtmartial.
TRIAL OF COLONEL MEADE
HIS ACCUSER is CHARGED WITH
BEING DRUNK.

New York, Nov. 22.-When the Off
GERS who comprise the court which is
trying Colonel Meade resumed their
Investigations today, Captain Benja-
min A. Fuller, assistant judge advO-
cate. who was judge advocate at the
court OF inquiry held IN the navy yard
last July, testified to what had taken
place there. On cross examination the
witness stated that once when he was
on duty at the Boston navy yard, Ma
jOr Lauchheimer came to his Captain
Fuller's) room and said he had just
come from the Puritan club after clos
ing it up.
What was his condition? Was he
sober or tight?" asked Lawyer SempIe.
He was under the influence OF
liquor" replied the witness.
The witness then went on to state
that he had induced Major LAUGH
heimer to go to his room, but the ma
jor returned later, having removed his
outer garments, and Captain Fuller
had to draw a curtain over the window
in order to screen his visitor.
Said Meade Was Drunk.
Colonel George S. Reed, L. s. NJ. c.,
testified that after Major Lauchheimer
had returned to Washington from his
inspection of the marine barracks at
Brooklyn, the major told him that he
was embarrassed during his inspection
and drill on account of the inebriated
condition of Colonel Meade, and the
witness said he told the major that the
only thing for an inspection officer to
do was to state the truth in his report.
The witness said he never heard of any
effort of any officer to prevent Colonel
Meade succeeding to the bTigadier gen
eralship Of the marine corps. He told
Of Colonel Meade being advanced two
numbers because Of his courage and
efficiency at the battle of Tien Tsin.
Lieutenant Harold c. Snyder of Col
onel HayWOOd's staff testified that he
had never heard of any effort to dis
credit Colonel Meade or prevent his
candidacy for succeeding Brigadier
General Haywood, whose time for re-
tirement viii be in October 1905.
Lauchheimer Makes Denial.
Major Charles H. Lauchheimer was
recalled and in answer to the judge adj
vOcate, said that he had not solicited
the orders which directed him to in
spect the marine barracks in Brooklyn
in June last. He emphatically denied
that he had in any way tried to injure
| Colonel Meade, and said that he had
never entered into any conspiracy or
league with any person in order to in
jure or retard Colonel Meade in his
succession to the position of brigadier
general Of the marine corps.
In reply to the judge advocate in di-
rect examination the major said in
September, 1897, he had been ordered
~ L.
ton with the district attorney for sew
eral days regarding a legal matter in
connection with the department He
was a guest of Captain Kane at the
navy yard, and had dined at Captain
Kane's house prior to going to the pro-
gressive party at Colonel Meade's.
What He Drank.
He had a cocktail before dinner and
probably some claret during the dinner
that evening, and went to Colonel
Meade's house in company with Cap
tain and Mrs. Kane. He said he was
/ absolutely sober on that occasion and
did not arrive late. He never appeared
at any gentleman's house in a maudIin
condition, and he denied that his con
duct on that evening was anything
other than that of a gentleman.
He told of his being the guest Of the
Puritan club in Boston, and said that
on one occasion he had given a dinner
to five or six gentlemen whom he had
met there, in recognition of their being
D extremely courteous to him during his
visits to the club.
On cross examination by Lawyer
Semple, the major admitted that the
/ party had cocktails before dinner.
champagne during dinner and cOrdials
Of tor nd oI, tx
/ to Captain FUller's quarters. the wit
ness said he was invited there to
/ poker game after he had given the din
ner at the club. He denied that his
/ conduct at the club had been criticised.
| but acknowledged when he reached
[ Captain Fuller's quarters he was not
sober.