The Washington times., 1901-11-20
COL. MEADE SAID
HE LOVED MARINES.
COURT MARTIAL BEGUN ATBROOKLYN
Civilian Asserts Accused oncer
Made speech Under Influence
of Liquor-CoIoneI Denny
Also Testifies.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1s.-CoI. Robert l..
Meade. of the United States Marine Corps.
at present commanding officer of marines
| at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. was placed
| on trial today before a general court
martial ordered by Secretary Long on
charges of drunkenness, false swearing
and making false accusations against GER
tain of his brother officers before court
of enquiry held last summer to inyesti-
gate the single charge of drunkenness
Rear Admiral George Sumner is presi-
dent of the court. and the other officers
: are Capt. G. F. Wilde Capt. Francis A.
Cook. Capt. Colby NJ. Chester, Capt. Ben
jamin P. Lamberton. Capt. French E.
Chadwick, Capt. Asa Walker. Capt George
W. Pigman all of the navy, and Col
James Forney, of the Marine Corps.
The judge advocate is Lieut.. A. p. Nib
lack, U. S. N. assisted by Capt. B. II.
Fuller, of the Marine Corps. Colonel
Meade is represented by Lorenzo Semple.
Paul Fuller. and A. D. Semple, all of
Coudert Bros.
Plea of Not Guilty.
Colonel Meade pleaded not guilty to all
the charges. Colonel Denny was then
called to testify on the first charge, the
charges being takenup separately. Colonel
Denny told OF his visit to Colonel
Meade's office on March IS, when he came
here on trip of inspection. He said he
had found Colonel Meade under the inilu-
ence of liquor.
MIR. Semple, for Colonel Meade. object
ed to this as being his opinion, but the OBJ
lection was not needed just then. Later.
when Colonel Denny described Colonel
Meade's manner as being very violent.
Mr.. Semple protested vigorously.
The court sustained his objection, and
after that the judge advocate had rather
hard time getting testimony as to the
condition of the accused officer.
Colonel Denny gave as the facts on
which he based his conclusions Colonel
Meade's manner, which ne said was abus-
i've. EE--
Colonel Meade was also very red in
the face, said the witness. His eyes
bulged out, and he swung his arms wild
ly. He was unfit for duty"
Going back to his visit on March IS,
Colonel Denny admitted that Colonel
Meade had gone all over the buildings
with him and the architect; had climbed
four flights of stairs, and he had not fall
en- uOWn- Ills WISH Oh ApTli oU, ne SdII,
was between 10 and II o'clock in the day.
When it was found that he had testified
before that it was at 2 o'clock, he said
such testimony was incorrect.
Then is all your testimony subject to
Correction" asked Colonel Meade's coun
sci. Colonel Denny replied that he dill
not think So
At the end Of the cross examination the
court asked the witness why he had not
reported Colonel Meade's condition to the
commandant of the yard Colonel Den
ny took some time TO answer this. He
said finally that it was because he did not
think it his business TO deal with the
morals of the corps.
Made Dramatic Speech.
William A. Boring the architect. testi-
fed that he believed Colonel Meade to
have been under the influence of liquor
on the dates mentioned. He said he had
not seen him staggcr, though lit was diff
hcult to get him to keep TO one subject
he said, "and one time he got up and
made a dramatic speech about how he
loved the marines, and sank down into his
chair after making it, in the same man
ner
There was nothing striking in his ap-
pearance but By turns he was pathetic
and then railing at the contractors. 1
considered him totally unfit to transact
business"