The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-06
WEIR'S CHARGES
ARE UNF0UNDED
crowdef's investigation Results
In AcquittaI of Arnold.
cEESURED BY DEPARTMENT.
TESTIMONY duplicates SER
GEANT EDWARDS.
JIIAsHINGToN, July 5.-The war de-

Il II L "
wv partment today gave out the re-
suits of the inquiry made by
Colonel Crowtier into the case of Lieu
tenant Frederick t. Arnold, Fourth
cavalry. acquitting him of direct
knowledge of or completely in the i'll
treatment OF FiIipinos by United States
soldiers.
This is the case referred to by Sem
atOr culberson on the floor of the SEN
ate some time ago. The case grew out
of charges made by ex-Private Weir
against Lieutenant Arnold, alleging
cruel treatment of prisoners of war oc-
curing within his command while
serving In the Philippines.
1t was understood that General Miles
had said that the charges were of a
character to justify court-martial.
The action of the war department is
embodied in the following extract of a
letter to Lieutenant Arnold. through
the commanding general of the depart
ment.
The secretary of war, while concur
ring in the conclusion expressed by the
inspector that the evidence acquits you
of direct knowledge of, or completely
in the infiiction Of the punishments
shown to have been practieed by mem
berS OF your command, is of the opfn-
lon that these abuses were preVentable
and could scarcely have occurred had
you exercised that high degree of Wig
lance which was imperatively demand
ed by the unusual conditions under
which your command was operating:
that your failure to do this is only
measurably excused by the numerous
and exacting civil duties imposed upon
you, and justly exposes you to official
censure for neglect of duty, the direct
result OF which has been that, because
OF the few instances of cruel treatment
OF prisoners which were of undoubted
occurrence within your command. the
military service generally has incurred
unjust criticism.
That such neglect has not been
made the subject of charges is due TO
the considerations above noted. and to
the further fact, shown in evidence
that in your personal and official re.&-
uons with the natives you uniformly
exhibited kindness and consideration
for them, and worked assiduousIy and
with excellent results for the better
ment of conditions among them, par
ticularly in the establishment of mu-
nicipal government and in the mainten-
anee of public schools.
Praised For Gallantry.
influencing the action taken, the secre-
tary of war is pleased to recognize the
special COMMUNICATION for gallantry in
action extended you by your regiment
al and division comma nderS"
The War department also furnishes
the following statement OF the facts
developed:
The evidence taken in the course
OF the investigation shows that the
punishment charged by Private Weir
Of the native prisonSf at Pasay was
administered by three native policemen
of the town of Pasay. directed and as
sisted by Sergeant James c. Edwards,
troop H, Fourth United States cavalry,
In the quarters of the detachment, six
of whom testify in substantial corrob-
grafton of the more material allega-
tons preferred by Weir, but state that
no serious injury resulted froII this
punishment
1T appears that, with the exception
of Sergeant Edwards, none of these
men had anything to do with the adj
ministration of the punishment, all ex-
eept him being spectators.
Private Weir's allegations of severe
punIshments resofted to by members
of Lieutenant Arnold's command at
Calaca, Luzon, We're stated by him
upon hearsay evidence, he diselaiming
al uitect hnoWieQSe as 10 these pun
ishments. The evidence taken COM
pleteiy refutes the charges. but does
establish the fact the punishments of
a lesser degree of cruelty, but wholly
unjustifiable. were secretly inflicted by
Sergeant Edwards and the native
scouts in the quarters separately occu-
pied by them at Calaea and behind
closed doors.
The evidence of guilt against Ser
geant Edwards and the native scouts
who, under his direction, administered
In greater part all the punishments
above referred to, is reported as con-
elusive by Colonel Crowder, who ex-
pressed the view that their trial, there
fore, If now possible. would of neces-
sity be followed by conviction and Sc
we're punishment He also reports that
such action in the case against Ser
geant Edwards cannot be had. for the
reason that upon publication ia the
daily press of the fact that such
charges had been made against him.
and that an investigation had been in
stituted and preliminary action hooking
to his trial ordered by the secretary OF
war. he deserted the service on MAY
% at San Francisco, Cal. and has not
since been apprehended.