The San Francisco call., 1903-01-13
DENSMCRRE COURT
MARTIAL OPENS
Infantry Officer Charged
With Having Been
Drunk.
Prosecution Starts Laying of
Foundation for Its
Case.

The court-martial of Lieutenant George
A. Densmore. Tenth Infantry. charged
with being intoxicated while wearing the
uniform of the United States army and
with having failed to report for duty
without leave Of absence, was formally
commenced yesterday morning The
court-martial convened in the new mess
hall of the Nineteenth Infantry, just in
side the Preside gates. Colonel Edmund
Rice, Nineteenth Infantry, was president
and Captain Frank p. Mcintyre judge
advocate. Lieutenant John 3. Murphy,
artillery corps, acted as counsel for the
defense. When the trial commenced
Judge Advocate Mcintyre read the fol-
lowing charges and specifications:
Charge No. .1-Conduct to the prejudice OF
good order and military discipline. Specinca-
tion No. ! in that the accused was absent
without leave from December 6 to December
10. 1902; specification No. =. in that he was
ordered to report 10 the depot OF recruits for
instruction on the 18th Inst. and did not re-
port until the 10th: specification No. 8, in
that ne fas absent without leave from De-
ceruber Is TO rs.
and a gentleman. Specification No. l. In tha-
the accused was while wearing the uniform
Of the United States army. drunk in the Oc-
ctdental Hotel bar; specification No ?. in that
the accused wrote a letter to the commanding
officer OF the depot OF recruits for instruction
saying that he was taken III on the 2Oth OF
the 27th OF December knowing the statements
in the letter TO be false.
To the first charge. that of being alb
sent without leave, Lieutenant DenSmore
pleaded guilty. but he entered a plea Of
rot guilty to the charge Of being drunk
while wearing his uniform. Z,
Captain Mcintyre produced two letters
Which Densmore had written concerning
his absence from duty, and Lieutenant
Murphy objected to the introduction of
the letters. Captain Mcintyre claimed
that they were material and admissible
because they contradicted each other IN
the explanations to why Densmore was
absent from duty. The two letters were
read into the record. One of the letters
IN question was sent to Colonel CARING
ton, and 1t clearly indicates the line OF
defense Densmore will make when called
upon TO submit his side Of the case. The
letter set forth that he, Densmore had
met an officer whose name he had forgot
ten who told him that there was very
little work for him to do at the casual
camp, inferring that it did not make any
difference whether or not he overstayed
his leave a day or two.
To the charge OF drunkenness Densmore
will set up the plea that he was drugged.
Lieutenant DensmOre returned from a.
visit to the East shortly before Christ
mas. and his friends claim that upon his
return he became the prey of several
sharks. who knew that he carried a large
sum Of money on his person. They in
weighed him, so il is claimed into a re-
sort, where he was drugged and robbed
While laboring under the influence OF the
powerful drug he was seen by Inspector
General E. A. Darlington, who appeared
as a witness against him yesterday. The
inquiry yesterday did not take a very
wide range. The following witnesses were
examined on behalf Of the prosecution:
Colonel c. A. Coolidge, Seventh Infantry:
Colonel ]. I. Orsdale. Seventh In
fantry: Major James S. Petit, inspector
generals department, and DR.. j. j.
Schaefer surgeon of transport Thomas.
Shortly before noon an adjournment
was taken until Wednesday morning at
10 o'clock.
Lieutenant Densmore has a brilliant
army record. having performed brave SER
vice both IN the Spanish and the Philip
pine wars