The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-03
COLONEL HIGDON AGAIN
RELIEVED OF HIS COMMAND
AND DEMANDS A HEARING
the findings of the courtmartial referred

I the findings of the courtmartial referred
to.
You set aside the verdict of that court
finding the Lieutenant Colonel guilty as
| charged, in part, and sentenced mt, VINO
was not upon trial. to an indefinite sus-
pension from my command, without CIV
ing any reason for this action, and pre-
sumably from something ascertained up
ON that trial / had no opportunity 10 DC
heard upon.
Not only did your Excellency suspend
me. but my entire stan fell under the
same order, none Of whom had any con-
nection with that proceedings. ana most
OF whom did not know that such a pro-
ceeding was contemplated.
Your ExcelIency now proposes to set
aside that order suspend!ng me and my
staff from our several offices, without IN
any manner relieving me, or them. from
the suspicion of having been guilty OF
some conduct that justified such harsh ac-
ton.
For aught that appears. this last order
restoring me to the command of my
regiment may be accepted as merely de-
claring that a suspension from my com
mard. from the 18th of January to the
| 18th of May, is sufficient punishment
| for some offense that l have been guilty
| of that has not been made known 10 me
or my regiment.
Were an honora BILE man charged with
some grave offensc, anu being ready TO
meet 1t before a jury, he would hardly
| be satisfied for the prosecutor to with
| draw the charge without in some puolt:
crime.
Does Not Feel Guilty.
II feel that l have been guilty of no
sin of omission or commission In
the discharge of my duties as Colonel
of the. Bird Regiment. and that l
manner provided by law to defend my
self of any charge or reproach, and be
confronted with the charge and my ac-
cusers: or that your E.cellency should
to state that have done or invited moth
ing worthy of your censure. One of the
things / think any officer may justly ask
of his superior. and | beg respectfully
is done by your Excellency. as command
erin chief. do not desire to resume com
mand of my regiment. and | therefore
respectfully request that you will re-
woke and annuI so much - Special Order
No. Is just received by me, as restores
me to command of my regiment. Very
respectfully. f. l.. Higdon,
Colonel srd Regiment. Alabama National
Higdon Again Suspended.
Montgomery. Ala. May 81. 1902.
Colonel E. L. Higdon. Birmingham. Ala.
Dear Sir:-!The Governor is this MORN
ing in receipt of your letter of yesterday
and notes your request for the annull-
IIGHI VI special oTueT NO. n. u. ~.
THE Governor directs me to express
his regret at your determination, and to
advise you that he will instruct the Ad-
Jutant General to issue an order reliev-
ing you; as you request, Of any duties in
That officer is absent today and the
Governor will be absent from the Capt.
toll the greater part of the coming week
in attendance on the commencement ex-
ercises at the State University, but so
soon as the Governor returns the mat
ter will have attention, and in accordance
with your wishes. Very, truly yours.
y. X. Jackson,
Private Secretary"
Asks for Court Of Hearing
Headquarters 3rd Infantry, Alabama Ma
tional Guard.
Birmingham. Ala, June ., 1902.
TO His Excellency, w. ID. felix's. Cover
nor. Montgomery, Ala. :
Sir have the honor to acknowledge
| the receipt this day of a letter of May
81 from your nrivate secretary saying
that you had directed him to express your
regret at my determination, and to ad-
wise me that you will instruct the Ad-
jLtant General to issue an order relieving
me- as / request, of my duties in con-
nection with the 3rd Regiment.
beg to inform your Excellency that
l have made no such request and re-
spectfuly protest against any such as
sumption. l stated in my letter of
May 30, in. subtance, that l had been
suspended from my command without
any chsrges having been preferred
against me. and without cause, and
that l desired your Excellency to do me
the justice to take such action that
should have the opportunity. in the
manner provided by law. to defend me
of any charge or reproach. and DO con-
fronted with the charge and my accusers
Qf any there were) or that your excel
l?ncy should plainly and publicly do me
the Justice to state that | have done or
invited Wnrfhxr of
and that. until one of those things were
done. did not desire to resume command
OF my regiment. and requested that so
much of special order No. 25 as restored
should be annulled
Your excellency will see that this is
entirely different from request to be re-
lieved of the command of my regiment.
The letter of YOUR private secretary l
construe as a refusal on the part of your
excellency to state that I have done or
invited nothing worthy of your censure,
and that l take 1t as a refusal on your
tunity to be confronted with any charges
that may exist against me, and my ac-
cuSerS.
For these reasons. and having been
cut off by your excellency from any
other way Of generating myself from
the reproach you have put upon me. 1
respectfully demand court of hearing
to determine whether or not | have done
anything worthy of punishment. without
trial. and without opportunity of de-
Tense. Very respectfully.
"E. l.. Higdon.
Colonel Third Regiment. Alabama Ma
tional Guard"
The Regiment Notified.
Headquarters Third Infantry.
Alabama National Guard.
Birmingham, Ala, June . 1902.
ITO the Third Regiment, Alabama Ma
| tional Guard:
| Having been restored to the command
of my regiment by special order No. %.
| A. G. o.. and not having assumed CON-
to do publish the correspondence on
| that subject between his eXcellency, the
comma nder- in-chief. and myself.
Respectfully.
| e l.. Higdon.
| Colonel Third Regiment. A. n. G."