The Washington times., 1903-05-03
MAY DENY MAIL TO
WILLIAM c. L|LLER
POstOffice Takes Hand in
Troubles of Veterans.
HEARING FIXED FOR MAY IA
Deposed Adjutant General Must Estab.
lish His Right to Receive Letters
Bearing Former Title


ordered the mail OF '.Adjutant General"
William C. Liller, of the spanish-Ameri-
can War Veterans Association. held at
Harrisburg, Pa, and notified Liller to
show cause why on or before May IA
"a. fraud order should not be issued
against him
"Adjutant General Liller is well
known in Washington. He is a young
man, probably not more than twenty
six years old. He served few months
in the war with Spain, in one OF the
regular infantry regiments, as a hos
pital orderly
Was Often in Trouble.
1t was in 1906 '.Adjutant General" Lii
Ter first appeared in Washington He
came from Lancaster. Pa, his home. The
first association of men who took part
in the war with Spain, the Spanish War
Veterans, was then in the process of
formation As the representative of the
Pennsylvanians. and what he asserted
was previously formed society. he was
prominent in the convention held in the
city in that year
Maj Gen. J. Warren Keifer was elect
ed commander-in-c chief at the conven-
tion, and Liller was appointed TO a
temporary Office Soon afterward the
executive committee, which at that time
consisted of General Keifer, General
Harries, the commander OF the National
Guard, OF the District; Col NJ. Emmet
Urell, local newspaperman. several Of
fcers who had served in the New York
regiments, and Major Maus, surgeon in
the Regular Army. met. and removed
Liller from Office.
The young man, however, was allow
ed to remain in the organization. This
discipline did not please Liller, and later
decisive action followed.
Liller then disappeared. and when next
heard Of ne was busy organizing THE
Spanish-American War Veterans Asso-
ciation." He managed to enroll mem
bership of several thousand men who
had not Joined the older body. No soon
er had this organization assumed tan
gible shape. however, than Liller got
into more trouble. He was made 1.ad
iutant general, and complaints tegan
to follow from all quarters. Man, OF
!.
and the inspectors investigated the ''ad-
jutant general"
In the meantime a convention OF the
Spanish American War Veterans AS
soeiation was called, and when it met
at Indianapolis a few months ago Liller
was ousted from office again. He was
charged with all kinds of irregularities
Obstructed Proposed Merger.
The Spanish War Veterans met in con-
vention about the same time and the
newer organization made overtures for
The Spanish War Veterans agreed 10 |
take in the younger body II Liller were |
not carried on the muster rolls. This |
was agreed TO. Liller then. it IS said. |
took all of the records of the 1ssocia- |
ton, came 20 Washington, and went TO |
the Ebbitt House. where he said he held |
a meeting with some of the members OF /
the younger body who continued him |
in Office, despite the action of the con- i
Local men claim they made an investi- I
cation. and learned at the 'hotel that /
Liller was the only man at the meet i
ing He continued, however. TO call /
himself "adjutant general and his wife I
organized a ladies' auH1iIarr. Inis vas
done without any authority from the !
)ody he was alleged TO represent.
The Spanish American War Veterans
association put up with these actions
lntil about ten GgGG ago. = q u
nto court and sued out an injunction I
restraining Liller from calling himself /
sdjutant general. and from using furtner
he name of the organization