Evening star., 1902-08-07
To Be Vigorously Prosecuted.

To Be Vigorously Prosecuted.
Richard T. O'Brien. formerly a corporal
OF Company NJ, 26th Infantry. United
States Volunteers, who appeared before the
Senate committee on the Philippines May
10 and made statements under oath calcu-
lated to bring certain officers and enlisted
men of the United States army and the ad-
ministration Of the affairs of the islands
into contempt and disrepute. is to be prose
cuted vigorously for perjury.
The trial. it is stated will be held in one
of the criminal branches of the Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia early
next fall Mr. Ashley NJ. Gould. United
States attorney for the District, will
duct the case in person for the government.
The understanding is that the administra-
tion is deeply interested in the cause.
The local grand jury reported an indict
ment against OBrien last Monday after
noon AS the exact Whereabouts of the
former corporal were not known at that
time. and as the authorities were desirous
of apprehending the man before he had no.
tice of the legal steps that have been taken
against him. the reporting of the indict-
ment was not entered on the court record.
In fact, from the beginning every effort
was made TO keep the proceedings secret.
Arrested by Detective Muller.
Detective Muller Of Captain Boardmans
force. armed with copy of the indictment,
and with other essential papers, started
that OBrien might be in New York He
was not to be found there, however
SO after a stop in the metropolis the
detective proceeded to the defendants home
at North Adams, Mass. Early this morn
ing OBrien was awakened and placed un-
der arrest. In order to bring him to Wash
1ngton II was necessary to secure a war
rant of removal from the proper authority
at PittSfield. Mass. In the event that
o Brier shall insist on preliminary hear
ing some delay may ensue.
- Up 10 late hour this afternoon nothing
had been heard here from Detective Muller
in additions to a telegram announcing the
arrest. O'Brten, it is said. took his arrest
quietly He said he expected to prove the
truth of every statement he had made be-
fore the Senate committee and would call
witnesses to confirm his assertions.
The Indictment.
Ssortly after o Brien had given his testi-
mony before the committee its chairman
Senator Lodge. called the attention of the
Attorney General to the same. The latter
directed United States Attorney Gould to
Investigate Mr.. Could. in due time, re-
ported that in his opinion the case should
be placed before the grand jury The re-
turn by that body of the indictment for
perjury was the result
The witnesses named in the Indictment
are Fred Mcdonald. Frank A Cook and
Charles S. Riley
IN the indictment the personnel of the
Senate committee on the PhiliDnines is set
forth as follows: Henry Cabot Lodge ,f
massachusetts,, chairman: William B. ALL
son OF Iowa, Eugene Hale of Maine Red
HeLd HieLd Proctor of Vermont. Albert ]. Bever-
ldge OF Indiana, Julius c. Burrows of NIict-
lean. Louis Z. McComas of MARYLAND
Charles II. Dietrich Of Nebraska, Joseph l.,
KaNiihs OF Utah; Charles A. Cuiberson of
Iexas. FRED. I, Dubois of Idaho. Edward
W Carmack Of Tennessee and Thomas M.
Patterson of Colorado.
Had Power to Investigate.
II is recited that the committee which had
Competent power and authority In that be-
half, began an investigation into the ctx,i,
and military affairs of the Phflippine Is
lands, and that there was adduced for tho
information of the committee the testimony
OF sundry witnesses under oath as TO and
concerning such civil and military affairs.
II Is further stated that the 26th Reei-
ment Of Volunteer Infantry was sent to tba
1sIand OF Panay, and arrived at the city of
aIo,ta q iad, oSt0oer 80 1888; and until February
D. Iyol, did duty on the island In SUPPRESS
ing !nsurrectOs who We're resisting the au-
tnority OF and making war against the
United States
company VI, 18th Regiment and Richard
1. . Br!en was one of the corporaIs. that
during the time detachments of the com
pstnN We're stationed as garrisons at Ger
Igbarras and San joaquin. and thar rbe
mihtary operations Of the company extend
ed to the towns Of La Nog and La Paz.
May 10, 1902. Richard r O'Brien an
peared before the committee TO be exam
1ned as a witness concerning his knowledge
In respect OF any acts of misconduct com
mitted by officers or enlisted n-a of the
military forces of the United States preiu-
dicial 10 good order and discipline and of
any lnhuman or cruel and abusive acts To-
ward the natives of the island which
We're not justitiable under the rules and
articles Of war. and We're calculated 10
bring such officers and enlisted men and tho
administration of the affairs Of the island
by the United States into contempt and dis
Iepute with the native inhabitants thereof.
ana 70 excite hostility and engender hatred
on the part Of the native Inhabitants to-
ward the United States
Richard I OBrien. 1t Is stated was by
senator Lodge, as chairman of the commit
tee du.y sworn, and took his corporal oat
that he would testify truly, and that the
evidence he should give should be the truth
the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Questions Asked o'Brien.
IL IS set forth that upon the examination
OF o Brien the subject of inquiry embraced
the following: Whether he was at the town
OF Igbarras on the 27th day OF November.
1900: whether he was present at the burn
ing of the town
Also, whether on the day and wear afnre-
said. and at lgbarras, he had seen one
Toboniana Ealdama. a native. who was
the presidente or chief officer OF the town,
treated cruelty. by having adminIst cred 20
him what was called the water cure by
and under the command and direction of
officers of the army of the United States
in order to compel Ealdama to disclose to
the officers information touching the where
abouts of Gen Martin Delgado and band
of insurrectos under his command which
Information before then he had declined
to give.
Whether on the day and year aforesaid
and at the town OF Igbarras certain off.
GERS in the military service of the United
States, that Is 10 say, Edwin F. Glenn,
then a captain in the army and judge ad-
yocate of the Department of the Visayas
Arthur E Conger. then lieutenant in the
army: Palmer Lyon, then acting assistant
surgeon in the army. and Fred. Mcdonald
captain, and also certain enlisted men OF
the army, and among them Patrick DriscoI
and Joseph f. Dugast. members of Com
pany NJ, each In succession had carna
knowledge of the wife of certain Manuel
Benedicto. forcibly and against her will
she and her husband being native inhab-
Rants of the town OF Igbarras: and
Whether Manuel Benedicto had stated tc