The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-03-03
Mrs. Richter Says Her Boy
a Soldier Was Tortured
to Death by Officer

Roosevelt II was in the shape of a
letter from Mrs. Ellen c. Richter Of
Syracuse, n. Y. She came to Wash
ington to see the president in person
and her mission will appeal to every
mother in this country. She wants
the government to bring home from
the Philippine Islands the body of her
son. who died there in February, 1902
and she wants the government to
punish Lieutenant William s. sincIair
Of Texas, whom she charges with hav-
ing issued orders which caused the
death Of her boy.
Mrs Richter is a wido' with gray
hair Her shoulders are bent and her
face bears the traces Of suffering; deep
lines of grief no doubt marked upon
her countenance by the sorrow she
has known since her boy went away
to the other side Of the world to fight
for his country'y Gag.
The story of Private Edward c.
Richter's death at Dasmarinos is al
ready known in this country, for It was
made a subject for newspaper com
ment at the time of the Democratic
attack on the outrages in the Philip
pines last year. Senators used the
episode to prove the cruelty of certain
American army officers and the whole
country heard of the death of Private
Richter Nevertheless, the devoted
mother takes occasion to again recite
the details of her sons demise in the
letter to President Roosevelt and the
document speaks eloquently of the
mothers anguish.
Mrs. Richter has been to the war de-
partment to ask that the body of her
son he brought home for burial She
wants It to rest beside the body Of his
father in the cemetery at Syracuse.
She says the war department refused
to bring the body home and further
more refused her a copy of The pro.
ceedings of the court martial trial Of
Lieutenant Sinclair. who was acQu,t.
ted In her letter to the presid2n-.
she says Judge Advocate Davis OF y.
war department. had admitted 70 her
that the court had erred in its verdict
of acquittal for Sinclair
The widow has been in consultation
with Senator Carmack of Terncssee
since her arrival in Washington sen
ator CarmaclS has been one Of he
most active officials of he govern
ment in disclosing the cruel''es in The
Philippines and may be of service &c
Mrs. Richter
Mothers Pathetic Appeal.
Following is the text OF her loteT
TO the president:
"Hon. Theodore Rockwell:
Il have iourneyed from my home in
Syracuse. n. Y. for the purpose Of
asking that justice be done in he
ohse OF my only son, Edward C. Ri"h,
ter, who was cruelty tortured to d~ash
by Lieutenant William S. Sinclair. 4
commissioned officer Of the United
states army I earnestly desire Al an
dience with you and I am prepared p
prove these facts:
"That my son was a good, kind.
obedient boy to his mother and Dos
sessed the confidence and esteem of
tho leading citizens Of Syracuse.
"That on the night OF FebruarS z,
1902. at Dasmarinos. Philippine
Islands. William s. Sinclair directed
and ordered that my boy be removed
from his quarters and bound hand and
foot to the ground That while thus
bound Lieutenant Sinclair ordered a
gag placed in the helpless bows
month.
"This gag, consisting of a piece Of
cloth. was held in Edwards mouth by
means of club in the hands OF Ser
geant McDermott who sat on his
breast, That as further means of
torture Lieutenant Sinclair compelled
his men 60 pour Ice water on the help
less soldiers face. This torture was
continued for two hours and twenty
minutes. and when my poor misused,
dying. helpless boy pleaded for mercy,
saying, Oh don't, Mae!' the torture
was still continued.
"That many OF the soldiers present
could nor witness the awful suffering
and were obliged to turn, horror
stricken, from the scene.
only yesterday ct the war depart
ment / read all the court martial pro.
ceedines which acquitted the officer
When mdee Advocate cenersl Davis
was asked why Sinclair was acquitted
he want en far "a a. admit the oanri