The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-16

The story of the Statesboro Waterloo
has been finished. The book has been
closed, and into the history of the mil
itary establishment of the state of
Georgia has been entered the investi-
cations of a court OF inquiry and of a
court-martial on the subject.
The ponderous tome was closed yes
terday by the cOurt-martial, which
labored for six days and two nights to
review the correctness of the decision
reached by the court of inquiry that
five officers at Statesboro. Capt. R. M.
Hitch and Lieuts. Nell. Cone, Griner
and Morrison. had been guilty of con-
duct such as to call for official in
Yestigation.
Previous to the sessions of the court
martial, which began last Monday
morning, Col. George NJ. Napier, judge
advocate, spent some days in sitting
and gathering the evidence in each
case, so that when the court should
meet it's business could be transacted
with the greatest possible dispatch. So
well did he perform the task that
every turn of the case showed system
and cogency, repetitions and inmate
rial testimony being reduced to min
imum.
Fairness of Judge Advocate.
Not only was the case for the state
well prepared, but witnesses for the
defense We're gathered with the same
care, and every aid was extended to
the other side both before and during
the trial. His exceeding fairness was
evident on frequent occasions during
the course of the proceedings, showing
that his greatest desire was to get at
the truth of the affair and not to con-
vict the defendant on the charges.
So effectively did the judge advocate
set forth the standards of the state
militia that members of the court will
ask the Governor that the speech be
printed for distribution, as being a
needed and high class presentation of
the subject. This request referred to
the general observations on the state
militia, and in no sense to the presen-
tation of any particular case.
The speech was an able presentation
of the rights and duties of the mill
tary, and set up the responsibilities
and dignity of the soldier on an ex-
allied plane. 1t was regarded unani-
Ihously by the court as one the finest
pieces of work of the kind accessible
TO the establishment. The speech was
reported geographically, and will be
distributed freely, If the recommends
ton of the court-martial members is
concurred in.
Cost of COurt-martiaI.
How much has 1t cost the state of
Georgia to investigate the conduct of
the state militia at Statesboro? In
round figures, about $1,000 including the
court of inquiry, and the court-mar-
tial. To this may be added the cost
of sending the military to Statesboro
and the pay of those on duty there,
both the Savannah and the Statesboro
companies, which can be pretty &C
curately estimated at 81 200.
But a cost which cannot be estimat-
ed in dollars and cents has been paid
by the state for the reputation ac-
chieved by the fail1Te of the soldiers
to protect the prisoners, which can
only be redeemed by the prevention of
similar happenings. Many lessons have
been learned from the Statesboro affair."
and the lessons so dearly bought win
undoubtedly be of service to the state
troops on future and similar duty.
1t will be perhaps a week before the
findings of the court-martial are trans
mitted to Gov. Terrell through the
adjutant generals office. 1t will then
be up to Gov. Terrell to approve or dis
prove the findings. His action will be
final in the matter, from which no
appeal will lie.