The Iola register., 1902-01-24
.AFF|DAV|TS FOR NETCALF
Two lola Soldiers Send Aflidavits to
Colonel Metcalt for use at the
Senate's Inquiry.

The appointment of Wilder Metcalf
as new pension agent to succeed Cyrus
Leland seems destined now to he held
up until the committee of the Senate
thoroughly investigates for itself the
charge brought by Capt. Boltwood, of
Ottawa, thai Metcalf shot Filipino
prisoner. An official investigation of
the same charge was held in Manila
and Metcalf cleared but Botwood de-
clares it was farce.
The Lawrence Journal gives this ac-
count of the affair:
"It is matter OF regret, but one of small
Importance, that the old exploded charge
against General Metcalf should be brought up
again before the senate committee. 1t can
have no possible effect save to further dis
credit the men who have SO long been lighting
| Metcalf. The diniculty first arose because of
the appointment OF Metcalf over the head of
Little in Manila. Then Boltwood pushed
himself into the fight because he could not
get the appointment of major of the regl-
ment being regarded by his superior officers
as wholly unfit for such place. Then the
late Puppy Hall, rs he was called here in
Lawrence; claimed that he, too, had been kept
down by Metcalf and Funston, which, If true,
was greatly to the credit of these two officers
These were hethree men who put their heads
together to drag Metculf down. Not one of
the three had any friends in the regiment and
not one was able to accomplish his ends.
The first trouble they started was to pre-
fer charges against Metcalf for shooting Il
Filipino prisoner An affidavit upholding this
charge was made by Private lluskey and upon
the strength OF this an investigation was held
while the regiment was in the Philippines.
| The board wholly cxuncruted Metcalf, and
this is why it did So At the Investigation
Private Huskey testified that he had never
seen Metcalf shoot prisoner; that when he
made the affidavit saying that he did, he was
drunk, ana that Captain Boltwood wrote the
affidavit, and forced him to sign 1t. Upon
this showing, Metcalf was promptly cleared of
the charge. That is all there is to IL. That is
the same charge that Is made against him
now again"
! Some of the lola members Of the
regiment assert that after the .investi-
CATION Boltwood and his crowd inn
mediately began preparing themselves
for just such anemergency as has now
arisen. They secured atiidavits from
different parties that Metcalf did kill
prisoner. These we're held in re-
serve until the expected entrance of
Metcalf into politics.
When Metcalf was summoned to
Washington Lewis Cofield wrote him
letter stating that If he could do any
swearing that could help he had
pretty good story TO tell, himself.
Saturday afternoon a telegram came
from Metcalf to Coflield asking him
to make oath to what he knew,
and asking for Will Rumbley's and
Fuller Swearingen's atiidavits, They
were Immediately secured and for
warded to Washington.
Coflield made an affidavit that the
two prisoners in question were cap
tured during an advance of the line.
Major Metcalf turned to him and,gave
the order. "Cohleld, take those pris-
oners to the rear" The Major then
turned on his horse and rode forward
after his regiment.
Fuller Swearingen swears that he
was present at the time and heard
Metcaf give the order to Cotiield and
that Metcalf then turned and rode
away before the prisoners were started
back.
Will Rumbley was present and
heard the same, but is not in town and
his affidavit was not taken.
The boys say the prisoners were
started to the rear, but the men who
had them wanted to be up on the line.
After the Major departed an officer
shot one and private snot the other
Coheld says he yelled at them and
tried to interfere but was too late.
And the Major had departed. After
the killing the men returned to the
line and Metcalf supposed the prison
ers were well guarded in the rear.
And the lola boys know some other
interesting things. who the men were
who did the killing, but they did not
feel called upon to make affidavit to
that.