The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-06
LIEUT.ARNOLD'SCASE
CAVALRY OFFICER GETS OFF VERY
LIGHTLY.
HIS GOOD RECORD SAVED HIM.
MILD CENSURE, But REAL COM
MENDATION.

He Is Acquitted of Direct Knowledge
of IIItreatment of FiIipinOs by Sol
diers of His Command. But He
should Have Exercised More vigil
Ianc~-Had His Hands Full o.
Other Work in Behalf of FilipinOs.
HOwever-Sergt. Edwards, Who
Perpetrated the NillainieS,
Promptly Deserted Soon As
Facts Were Published.
Washington, July 5.-The War De-
partment to-day gave out the results
of the inquiry made by Col. Crowder
into the case of Lieut.. Frederick T.
Arnold, Fourth Cavalry, acquitting him
of direct knowledge of a completely in
the i'll treatment of Filipinos by United
States soldiers.
This is the case referred to by Sen
ator Culberson on the floor of the Sem
ate short time ago. The case grew
out of charges made by ex-Private
Weir. against Lieut.. Arnold, alleging
cruel treatment of prisoners of war oc-
curing within his command, while
serving in the Philippines. 1t was I'M
derstood that Gen. Miles had recon-
mended 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 follow
ing extract from a letter to Lieut..
Arnold through the commanding gem
eral of the department of the Missouri:
The Secretary of War, while con-
NIlrrinp i'm the cnnC1nCiOT nYnrpGCpA nv
the inspector that the evidence ac-
quits you of direct knowledge of or
completely in the intiiction of the pun
ishments shown to have been prac-
ticed by members of your command is
of opinion that these abuses were pre-
ventable and could scarcely have oc-
CURED had you exercised that high de-
gree of vigilance which was impera-
lively demanded by the unusual con-
ditions under which your command
was operating; that your failure to do
this is only measureably excused by
the numerous and eXacting civil du
ties imposed upon you, and justly ex-
poses you to official censure for neg
lect of duty, the direct result of which
has been that because of the few in
stances of cruel treatment of prison.
ers which were of undoubted occur
renee your command, and the military
Service generally has incurred unjust
criticism
THAT such neglect has not been the
subject of charges is due to the con-
siderations above noted and to the fur
ther fact shown in evidence that in
your personal and official relations
with the natives you uniformly exhib-
tied kindness and consideration for
them and worked assiduously and with
excellent results for the betterment of
conditions among them, particularly in
the establishment of municipal govern
ment and in the maintenance of public
schools. In this connection, and as fur
Their influencing the action taken, the
Secretary of War is pleased to recog-
nize the special commentator for gal
iantry in action extended you by your
regimental and division commanders"
The Facts Of the Case.
The War Department also furnishes
the following statement of the facts
developed
THE evidence taken in the course of
the investigation shows that the pun
ishment, charged by Private Weir of
the native prisoners at Pasay, was ad-
ministered by three native policemen
of the town of Pasay, directed and as
sisted by Sergt. James c. Edwards.
Troop H, Fourth United States Caval
commanded by Lieut. Arnold. and was
witnessed by several non-commissioned
officers and privates of the detachment,
SIX of whom testify in substantial cor
roboration of the more material allie
cations preferred by Weir, but state
that no serious injury resulted from
this punishment 1t appears that with
the exception of Sergt Edwards. nona
of these men had anything to do with
the administration of the punishment;
all except him being there as specta-
tors.
Private Weirs allegations of severe
punishments resorted to by members
OF Lieut.. Arnold's command at Calaca
Luzon, were stated by him upon hear
say evidence; he disclaimed all direct
knowledge as to those punishments.
Inc evidence taken completely refutes
these charges, but does establish tho
tact that punishments of a lesser de-
gree of cruelty. but wholly uniustifia
Die, were secretly inflicted by Sergt
towards and the native scouts in tha
q w separately occupied by them
at Calaca and behind closed doors.
Guilty Sergeant Deserter.
The evidence of guilt against Seret
Edwards of the native scouts. who nm
oer ms direction administered in great
er part all the punishments above re-
terred TO, is reported as conclusive bv
Col. Crowder, who expresses the view
that their trial therefor, if now posi-
Bile, would of necessity be followed hv
conviction and severe punishment. He
further reports that such action in the
case of Sergt. Edwards cannot be had
for the reason that upon publication
in the daily press of the fact that
such charges had been made against
been instituted and preliminary action
looking to his trial ordered by the Sec
rotary of War he deserted the service
on May 29 at San Francisco and has
not since been apprehended."