Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-07
LIEUT.. ARNOLD'S CASE
CHARGES OF CRUELTY TO FILL
PINos INVESTIGATED.
Was Not Directly Implicated, but Did
Not Exercise the Degree of Vigil
ance That Conditions Demanded.

The War Department has given out the
results of the inquiry made by Colonel
Crowler into the case of,sLieutenant Fred
erick 7. Arnold, 4th Cavalry.
This is the case referred to by Senator
Culberson on the floor of the Senate
short time ago. The case grew out of
charges made by ex-Private Weir against
Lieutenant Arnold, alleging cruel treat
ment of prisoners of war occurring within
his command, while serving in the Philip
pines 1t was understood that General
Miles had recommended to Secretary Root
that the charges were Of a character to
Justify court-martiai The action of the
War Department is embodied in the fol-
lowing extract from a letter to Lieutenant
Arnold through the commanding general
of the Department of the Missouri:
Acquitted of Completely.
''The Secretary of War while concurring
in the conclusion expressed by the inspector
that the evidence acquits you of direct
knowledge of or completely in the infection
of the punishments shown to have been
practfced by members of your command, is
of the opinion that these abuses were pre-
ventable and could scarcely have occurred
had you exercised that high degree Of vigil
lance which was imperativeIy demanded by
the unusual conditions under which your
command was operating: that your failure
to do this Is only measureably excused by
the numerous and exacting civil duties i'm
posed upon you, and justly exposes you to
official censure for neglect of duty the
direct result of which has been that. be-
cause of the few instances of cruel treat
ment of prisoners which were of undoubted
occurrence within your command, the mill
tary service has incurred unjust criticism.
THAT such neglect has not been the sub
ject of charges is due to the considerations
how foa md IN thn f,rrf hlr 20 cy,,
in evidence that in your personal and Of
fetal relations with the natives you uni
formly exhibited kindness and consideration
for them. and worked assiduously and with
excellent results for the betterment Of con-
ditions among them particularly In the
establishment of municipal government and
in the maintenance of public schools In
this connection, and as further influencing
the action taken, the Secretary of War Is
pleased to recognize the special commenda-
ton for gallantry In action extended you by
your regimental and division commanders"
The War Department also furnishes the
following statement of the facts developed:
The Facts Developed.
'The evidence taken in the course Of the
Investigation shows that the punishment,
charged by Private Weir, Of the native
prisoners at Pasay was administered by
three native policemen of the town Of
Pasay, directed and assisted by Sergt James
c. Edwards, Troop H, 4th United States
Cavalry, in the quarters Of the detachment
commanded by Lieutenant Arnold and was
witnessed by several non commissioned off
GERS and privates of the detachment, six of
whom testify in substantial confederation
of the more material allegations preferred
by Weir, but state that no serious injury re-
suited from this punishment 1t appears
that with the exception of Sergeant Ed
wards, none of these men had anything to
do with the administration of the punish
ment, all except him being there as spec
tatorS.
private Wer's allegations of severe
punishments resorted to by members of
Lieutenant Arnold's command at CaIaca,
Luzon, were stated by him upon hearsay
evidence, he disclaiming all direct knowi-
edge as to these punishments. The evidence
taken completely refutes these charges but
does establish the fact that punishme nts of
a lesser degree of cruelty, but wholly I'M
justifiable, We're secretly inflicted by Ser
geant Edwards and the native scouts in the
quarters separately occupied by them at
Calaca and behind closed doors
sergt. Edwards Deserts.
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
therefor, If now possible, would of neces-
sity be followed by conviction and severe
punishment. He further reports that such
action In the case of Sergeant Edwards can
not be had for the reason that upon publ
catlon IN the daily press Of the fact that
such charges had been made against him,
and that an investigation had been insti-
tuted and preliminary action looking to his
trial ordered by the Secretary Of War, he
deserted the service on May 20 at San Fran
cisco, Cal, and has not since been appre-
hended."