The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-06
ANOTHER SNUB FOR MILES
The Commanding General Suggested a Courtmartial.
The Case to Which Culberson Re- ferred and Which Caused a
 Sensation in the Senate.
 Review of the Inquiry.


 ment today gave out the results of the inouiry made by Colonel Crowder into the case of Lieutenant Fred T. Arnold. 4th cavalry, acquitting him of direct knowl- edge of. or complicity in. the ill-treat- ment of Filipinos by United. States sol- diers
 This is the case referred to by Mir. Gull bersen on the floor of the Senate some time ago.
 The case grew out of charges made by ex-Private Weir against Lieutenant Ar mold. alleging cruel treatment of prison CTS of war occurring in his command while serving in the Philippines.
 It is understood that General Miles had recommended to Secretary Root that the charges were of a character to justify a court martial. The action of the War Department is embodied in the following extract in a letter to Lieutenant Arnold through the Commanding General of the Department of Missouri:
 The Secretary, of War. while concur ring in the conclusion expressed by the Inspector that the evidence acquits you of direct knowledge of or complicity in the punishment. shown to have been practiced by members of your command, is of the opinion that these abuses were preven9able and could scarcely have oc- cured had you exercised that high de- gree of vigience which was imperatively demanded by the unusual conditions un- der which your command was operating: that your failure. to do thls was only measurably excused by the numerous and exacting civil duties Imposed upon you, and itIatIv axnasAd ya,i fo ofFENints cau. sure for neglect of duty, the direct result of which has been that because few in- stances of cruel treatment of prisoners
 II were of undoubted occurrence w4tnin your command, the military ser vice in general has incurred unjust criti- cism.
 Arno1d's Bravery.
 That such neglect has not been made the subject of charges is due to the con- sideration above noted and to the further fact showing evidence that in your per sonal and official relations with the na- tives you uniformly exhibited kindness and consideration fdr them and worked arduously and with excellent results for the betterment or conditions among them particularly fin the Department of Muni- cipal Government and in the maintenance of public schools. In this connection, and as further influencing the action tdhels tHc oeCFV%dTy or W ar IS pleased to recognize the special commenda tion for gallantry in action extended you by your regimental and division command CTS" 'i
 The War Department also furnishes the following statement of facts devel- oped. The evidence taken in the course of the investigation shows that the pun tshment charged by Private Weir of the native prisoners at Passay was adminie- tered by three native policemen of the town of Pasay, directed and assisted by Sergeant James c. Edwards. Troop II, 4th United States Cavalry. in the quar- ters of the detachment comma nded hy Lieutenant Arnold. and was witnessed by several non-commissioned officers and privates of the detachment, six of whom testify in substantial corToboration of the more general allegations preferred by Weir, but state that no serious in- jury resulted from this punishment It appears that with the exception of Ser gcant Edwards none of these men had anything to do with the administration of the punishment: all except him being there as spectators
 Weir's Allegations.
 Private Weir's allegations of severe | punishments resorted to by members of Lieutenant Arnold's command at Calaca, | Luzon. were stated by him upon hear say evidence. he disclaiming all direct | knowledge as to this punishment The evidence completely refutes the charges, l but does establish the fact that punish | ments of d lesser degree of cruelty. but | wholly unjustifable. were secretly in- | f1icted by Sergeant Edwards and the na- tive scouts in the quarters separately oc- | cupied by them at Calca and behind | closed doors. The evidence of guilt against Sergeant | Edwards and of the native scouts. who | under his direction administered in greater part all the punishments above | referred to is reported as conclusive by | Colonel Crowder, who expresses the view | that their trial, now possible. will prob- | ably be followed by conviction and se- ! were punishment. He also reports that | such action in the case of Sergeant Ed | wards can not be had for the reason that | upon publication in the daily papers of | the fact that such charges had been | made against and that an investigation | had been instituted and preliminary &C., | tion looking to his trial ordered by the Secretary of War. he deserted the service l January 29 at San Francisco and has not | since been apprehended.