Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-10-20
COURT MARTIAL
FOR WOMEN
WOman's Relief Corps Summoned
to Appear Before Conn
mander Porter.
HAD BEEN DESERVING
RUNNING FROMHO
After Due DeliberatiOn the Case
Against,the Women Was
Adjourned.

The members of the Relief Corps
were led into ambush Saturday even
ing and then taken before Commander
Lafayette Porter and his G. A. R.
cohorts at the q. A. r. ball
The ladies could never have been so
completely surprsed-in fact, the
soldiers could not have carried out
their well planned coup d'etat at all
had they not been able to lead one of
the CORPS own members into the plot.
For weeks details of the deed had
been revolving in the minds of the
soldier boys They met in groups
on the street corners and exchanged
significant gLances-they met to-
getheI behind bolted doors and
screened windows TO discuss the plans.
But it took long time before they
could see their way clear to have the
ladies arrested in a body and bring
them before the proper tribunal.
At one of these meetings a bright
soldier spoke up: Let us take one of
the women into our confidence. F."
"Who shall it be?" came the cries
from all assembled" "How can
any woman keep a secret?" was the
ungracious remark by one in the
rear of the room. All united, how
ever, in electing Mrs. George Baker.
The result was that Mrs Baker
invited the ladies to her home Satur-
day evening at 1870. When they had
all assembled, a G.. A. E. comrade
appeared upon the scene and I'M
tremendously read summons from
the commander of the post. They
were then marched, under heavy
guard, to the g. A. Il. hall.
The court martial was sitting in
state to receive the fair prisoners. At
the proper time Commander Porter
arose and thus addressed the members
Of the Relief Corps:
Ladies of the Relief Corps:
"The members of Wood County Post,
No. p, G. A. r., Department of
Wisconsin,, while they are not willing
to offer any excuses or apologies for
what they have done in causing your
arrest or in summOning you to appear
here at this time, feel that they
have for some time been greatly
indebted to you for your extreme
kindness and genuine goodness at all
times. For this we are very grateful
eve thought, when we were anxious
to show our hospitality to you this
evening by giving you little treat in
part payment for favors you had
shown us, that you acted very
unWiSely in DESERVING and running
away from your BONES and secreting
yourselves at the home of one of your
sister friends, thereby trying to pre-
vent our carrying out certain plans. In
consequence of this act on your part
we felt that we were required to issue
the summons, which was served on
you in order to bring you to a speedy
leaving. You will remember that
the summons which the cOmrade
served on you read as follows:
TO any cOmrade of Wood County
Post: You are hereby commanded to
summon all the members of Wood
County Relief Corps, No. 145, to
appear before ne at the G.. A. r. hall
forthwith to show cause why they
should not be prosecuted for treSpas-
sing upon Mrs. Bakers generosity.
LAFAYETTE PORTER,
Commander
Now we have presumed that your
plea would be mot guilty and in order
that no undue advantage should be
taken and that you should have all
the advantages and mercy shown
possible, we have provided counsel for
you. We have also with US a justice
Of the peace and a circuit court Judge
and L am sure that with all of these
provisions made in your interest you
need have no fear of the outcome.
Ladies, you are our guests; we
invite you to make yourselves per-
fectly at home and to feel for the
hour, that we shall spend together.
that you are free to do what you
please. We place no restraint upon
you and it is our hope and expecta-
ton that you will make the most of
your time while here and enioy
to the fullest extent
Being taken completely by surprise,
there was silence in the ranks of the
Relief Corps. Then Mrs. Porter
made plea for mercy, using the
powerful argument that this was the
corps first OtfenSe. Seeing that the
members of the court martial were
not disposed to use any leniency at |
that time, Mrs. F. Beadle made a
motion to have the case adjourned |
for six months. At this point ustice |
Cooper made an eloquent plea to have
the case dismissed, stating that there |
were not sufficient grounds upon |
which to hold the defendants. W. |
Ii. Gets took the opposite view. |
After some minutes consultation. the |
court oVerruled Justice Cooper's mo-
ton and the case stood adjourned |
for six months.
Then came the banquet. The tables