The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-09-23
Adiufant General LiIIef Calls
COL Harrison a Liar and
''Fun' Begins,
ACCUSED MAN MAKES
DASH FOR THE SPEAKER
Trouble Arose Over Accounts Which
Had Been Declared Faulty BY
the Auditing commIttee-Af
fair Creates Sensation.

Indianapolis, September 22.-The differ
ences that have existed between high Of
ficers of the Spanish-American veterans
eliminated at the second session of the
encampment this afternoon in a sensa-
tional incident During the course OF a
discussion of the invalidity of certain
records of the last encampment Adjutant
General Liller, who was removed from
office Sunday night, gave Col. Russell B.
Harrison the lie direct. The latter made
dash for the deposed official but was
caught and held by Col. B. Hutchins of
Iowa and Dan S. Sauer of Louisville.
Adjutant General Liller was reading the
minutes of the Buffalo meeting. All
through the records Colonel Harrison was
studiously referred to as Mr." Harri-
son. This angered the majority of the
delegates, as the bylaws of the order ex-
pressly state that all members of the
body shall be referred to as comrades
The eneampment by this time was in an
excited condition. Above the noise a dele
gate moved that the minutes of the last
encampment be amended so as to elimi-
nate the word Mister" before Colonel
Harrison's name and that the word
"Comrade'' be substituted. This motion
was carried by acclamation.
Minutes Had Been Changed.
At the last emcampment Colonel Harri-
son was appointed chairman of the audit
ing department to go over the account Of
Adjutant General Iiller, and after the
latter had finished reading them he arose
and said that the minutes of the last
meeting had been so changed that he was
unable as chairman of the committee to
proceed under the resolution. Adjutant
General Liller arose and exclaimed:
do you mean TO say that 1 falsified the
record2'
Colonel Harrison-I mean just that, and
nothing more.
you are a liar," exclaimed Liller.
Colonel Harrison jumped from his seat
and made a dash toward the deposed ad-
jutant general He had not gone three
feet before he was grabbed by Colonel
Hutchlns and Mr.. Sauer.
moment after Mr.. Liller called Colo
mel Harrison liar, Charles Madden of
this city arose and addressing Colonel
Harrisons cause. said "I'll smash your
head"
Colonel Hutchins addressing the chair
and the encampment said in a most dra-
matte manner:
Gentlemen let this trouble blow over.
Let us have peace. We are comrades
brothers let us show 1t"
Colonel Harrison Explains.
After the committee on credentials had
reported Colonel Harrison was recognized
by the chair He said: 'It Is with much
timidity that 1 enter into statement in
regard to the work of Mr.. Liller at the
convention at Buffalo / was chairman
of a committee to admit the accounts of
the general. The reports of the adjutant
general were In such condition that 1
was unable to do much with them-in
fact, their form made it necessary that
they should be examined by other COM
mittees.
Acting Assistant Adjutant Frank Clark
read an order directing Liller to appear
before the council of administration
which in war parlance is known as
court martial, to answer to certain seri-
Gus charges that had been preferred
against him.
Idller arose In his seat and briefly de-
clined to appear before the council. He
said that the matter had been given
such prominence that he had been placed
in a bad light before the country and in
consequence had Decided to settle the
matter in the courts.
The military court or council OF ad-
ministration called to try ex-Adjutant
General Liller met tonight. The charges
were read and 1t Is found they had not
been signed by the commander-in-chief
To repair this technical fault in the pro-
ceeds the council adjourned to meet
Wednesday morning at o'clock.