The sun., 1901-11-20
COURT.uARTIAL or COL. MEADE.
Col. Denny Testinrs That lie Was Violently
Drunk.


Col. Robert l.. Meade OF the United States
Marine Corps, at present commanding
officer Of marines at the Brooklyn navy
ward, was placed on trial yesterday be-
fore a general court -martlall ordered by
Secretary Long, on charges OF drunken
ness, false swearing and making raise
eccusations against certain OF his brother
officers before court Of inquiry held last
summer TO investigate the single charge
of drunkenness Col. Meade is an aspirant
for the place Of Commandant OF the Marine
Corps which win soon become vacant by
the retirement OF rrig Gen. Heyward and
he accused the officers making the charge
of drunkenness against him Of being in
conspiracy TO keep him out Of that place
Col. Meade is a tall, spare man Of about
rs and has a distinguished record. His
uncle was Gen. George r. Meade Of Gettys-
burg fame and other members OF his family
have been in the navy. Col. Meade him
self has been twice brevetted for bravery,
the first time for the night attack on Fort
Sumter, when he was captured and i'm
prisoned in Libby prison for several months,
the other when he commanded the marines
in the attack on Pesin. The last time he
received the brevet rank OF Brigadier-
General His trial in consequence has
been a matter of nearly as great interest
In the Marine Corps as the Schley inquiry
has been to the whole naval service. Rear
Admiral George Sumner is President OF
the court and the other officers are Capt.
q. +. Wilde. Capt. Francis A. Cook, capt.
Colby NJ Chester, Capt. Benjamin y. Lam
bcrto1 Capt French csorSs e. SsadTcf Pgman mani
all Of the navy. and Col James Forney OF
the Marine Corps, The Judge Advocate
is Lieut. A. p. Siblack. l.. =. n, assisted
by Capt. B. II, Fuller Of the Marine Corps.
Col Meade is represented by Lo renIo
Sempe. Paul Fuller and A. ID. Seinple,
all of Coudert Bros.
The court convened yesterday morning
at 10 o'clock. After the usual preliminaries
Lieut. Niblack read the charges, lnder
the first charge. drunkenness is specified
on March is and April 30. 1901. Under
the second charge, -scandalous conduct
tending to the destruction OF good morals,
there are five specifications: That Col.
Meade returned report to Washington
charging Col. Frank Denny, Quartermaster
of the corps, with conspiracy; that Col.
Meade before the court Of inquiry denied
the charge OF drunkenness: that he charged
on the stand at that time that Col. Denny
and Major Charles Lauchheimer were en-
gagged in a conspiracy to prevent him from
succeeding TO the command OF the corps:
that he charged Col. Denny with defraIid-
ing the Government; and that he charged
tndt NHlOT 1AllCITtltntT was ufullh dl MS
house last July.
Col MEADE pleaded not guilty TO all Of tho
charges. Col. Dcnny was then called TO
the stand "a testify on the first charge,
the charges being taken up sepai atcly.
Col Denny told Of his visit 10 Col. Meade's
Office on March IS, when he came here on a
trip OF inspection. lie said he had found
Col. Meade under the influence OF liquor.
On his visit on April 80 the witness said
that Col. Meade could not walk steadily
and described his condition then as being
unfit for duty either in the office or the
field Mr.. Semple began cross examina-
! tion by asking Col. Denny how long he
had known Major Iauchheimer, and he
got from him the fact that he had known
him n long time and that they saw con-
siderable of one another in Washington.
Lieut. Niblack objected To this line Of Ques-
tioning and after the witness nad heen
excluded Mr. Semple addressed the court.
He said his object was TO show the motive
Col, Denny had IN making such report
Il wish further to show that -four months
elapsed before he did make such a report
and that he did not make il until he heard
that Major Iauchheimer had made some
report and he wanted to back IL up. Mr.
Semple pleaded TO have the right TO e1-
anime the witness in the broadcast possible
sense and the court finally allowed him 90
go on. Col Denny said the first time he
had spoken Of Col. Meade's conduct was
on july s.
at that time wasn't a controversy pend
ing between you and Col. Meade?' asked
Mr. Semple.
Il don't have controversies with any
officer II was an official correspondence,
replied the witness stiffiy
Was there no feeling between you.
Colonel'- Mr. Semple asked.
There was an official feeling, but no
personal feeling" replied the Colonel.
who was very nervous
The court martial will continue to-day