Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-06
Charge Of EK-Private Weir Made on
Hsarsay and Not Responsible,
OFFICER REBUKED FOR CERTAIN ACTS
Secretary Of War Holds Some Abuses
Should Have Been Prevented.
SERGEANT EDWARDS THOUGHT GUILT,
Investigation DiscIoses Fact that He
Assisted in CrueIties and Later
Deserted the Army for
Parts Unknown.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-The War de-
partment today gave out the results Of
the inquiry made by Colonel Crowder into
the case Of Lieutenant Frederick T. Ar
mold, Fourth cavalry, acquitting him OF
direct knowledge or completely in the ILL
treatment of Filipinos by United States
soldiers.
This is the case referred to by Senator
Culberson on the floor OF the senate some
time ago. The case grew out OF charges
made by ex-Private Weir against Lieu
tenant Arnold, alleged cruel treatment of
prisoners Of war occurring within his COM
mand while serving in the Philippines II
was under that that General Miles had
recommended to Secretary Root that the
charges were OF character to Justify
court martial. The action Of the War de-
partment is embodied in the following ex-
tract from a letter to Lieutenant Arnold
through the commanding general OF the
Department Of the Missouri:
THE secretary Of war, while concurring
in the conclusion expressed by the in
spector that the evidence acquits you of
direct knowledge OF or completely in the
infiction OF the punishments shown TO
have been practlced by members Of your
command, is Of the opinion that these
abuses we're preventable and could scarcely
have occurred had you exercised that high
degree Of vigilance which was impera-
lively demanded by the unusual conditions
under which your command was operating;
that your failure to do this is only meas
urably excused by the numerous and ex-
acting 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 in
stances of cruel treatment OF prisoners.
which were of undoubted occurrence within
your command, the military service gen.
orally has incurred unjust criticism.
Commendation of Gallantry.
THAT such neglect has not been made
the subject OF charges is due to the con-
siderations above quoted and TO the fur
ther fact, shown in evidence, that In your
personal and official relations with ma
tiyes, you uniformly exhibited kindness
and consideration for them and worked
assiduously and with excellent results for
the betterment of conditions among them,
in the establishment Of municipal govern
ment and in the maintenance of public
schools. In this connection, and as fur
ther influencing the action taken, the sec
retary Of war is pleased to recognize the
special commendation for gallantry in ac-
tion extended you by your regimental and
division commanders"
The War department furnishes the fol-
lowing statement Of the facts developed:
"The evidence taken in the courts Of the
| Investigation show that the punishment
| charged by Private Weir Of the native
| prisoner at Pasay was administered by
three native policemen Of the town OF
Pasay, directed and assisted by Sergeant
James c. Edwards, Troop H, Fourth United
States cavalry, in the quarters Of the de-
tachment, six Of whom testify in substan-
| tial corroboration of the more material
allegations by Weir, but state that no seri-
Gus injury resulted from this punishment
1t apears that with the exception Of Ser
| geant Edwards none of these men had any
thing to do with the administration Of the
punishment. all except him being there as
| spectators.
weir's Evidence Hearsay.
Private weirs allegations of severe pun
ishments resorted to by members OF Lieu
tenant Arnold's command at Calaca, Luzon,
were stated by him upon hearsay evidence.
\ he disclaiming all direct knowledge as to
these punishments. The evidence taken
completely refutes the charges, but does
establish the fact that punishments Of a
lesser degree OF cruelty, but wholly un-
| Justtnable, were secretly lnnlcted Dy ser
| geant Edwards aud the native scouts in
the quarters separately occupied by them
at Calaca and behind closed doorp.
THE evidence Of guilt against Sergeant
Edwards and Of the native scouts who. un-
der his direction. administered in greater
part all the punishments above referred to
is reported as conclusive by Colonel
Crowder, who expressed the view that their
trial therefore, II now possible, would of
necessity be followed by conviction and
| severe punishment. He also reports that
such action in the case Of Sergeant Ed
wards cannot be had for the reason that
upon publication in the daily press OF the
fact that such charges had been made
against him and that an investigation had
been instituted and preliminary action look
ing 10 his trial ordered by the secretary
Of war, he deserted the service on May 2e
at San Francisco and has not since been ap-
pretended"