The San Francisco call., 1904-07-28
COURT. MARTIAL
IN FULL BLAST
Three Army Officers Appear
Before Tribunal to An
swer to Serious Charges

Three army officers were before
court-martial at the PresidiO yester-
day, all to answer serious charges pre-
ferred against them. Two of them,
Lieutenants William W. White and
Charles f. Smith. were the principals
in the scandalous orgies which have
recently taken place at Angel Island,
while the third was Lieutenant Wylie
T. Conway, who is accused of absent
ing himself from the post without per-
mission.
White and Conway both pleaded
guilty to the charges. Smith started
a stubborn fight to refute the accu-
sations brought against him.
The court convened at 10 o'clock
with the following personnel: Colonel
Charles Morris, Artillery Corps, presi-
dent Lieutenant Colonel George H.
Tomey, Medical Corps; Lieutenant
Robert H. Patterson. Coast Artillery;
Major Benjamin II. Randolph, Coast
Artillery; Major John P. Wiser. Coast
Artillery; Captain w. S. Alexander,
Coast Artillery; Captain Samuel l..
Faison, Thirteenth Infantry; Captain
James NJ. Kennedy, Medical Depart
ment; Captain Charles III. Hunter,
Coast Artillery; Captain Frank f.
Bamford, Twenty eighth Infantry;
CAPTAIN Francis T. Seviter, Twenty
eighth Infantry, and Captain John 2.
Bradley, Fourteenth Infantry, judge
advocate.
The case Of White was the first
called The charges against him are
reported to be that or conduct unbe-
coming an officer and a gentleman, and
conduct prejudicial to good order and
military discipline. He pleaded guilty,
and after a few moments discussion
by members Of the court, his case was
taken under adviSement by the court,
and in charge of the officer of the day
and a guard, he was escorted back TO
his temporary quarters at the Preside
Conway's case came next and was
conducted in open court. He pleaded
guilty to the charge of being absent
from the post of the Presidio without
leave His counsel. Captain Harold b.
Fisk made an eloquent plea on his
clients behalf for the clemency or the
court This closed COnway's case,
which was taken under Amusement by
the court An adjournment was then
taken until 2 o'clock when Smiths case
was called.
The accused officer declined the as
sistance of an attorney and handled
his own defense. The charges pre-
ferred against him are practically sim
liar to those charged against White
he challenged nearly every individual
member of the board. His challenges.
however, were not allowed and the
trial was resumed. with the full court
as originally named by the command
ing officer.
The session was conducted with
closed doors. The following witnesses
were examined: Colonel Alfred c.
Markley, Captain Ulysses G. McAlex-
ander, Captain Frederick W. Fuger.
Lieutenant Frank r. Curtis, all of the
Thirteenth Infantry, stationed at An
gel Island, who had more or less tes-
timony to offer as to the extraordinary
doings of Lieutenant Smith in his con-
nection with the different orgies at that
place. Miss Ruth Malone, domestic
employed at Fort Mcdowell, also was
| called to testify about seeing the
! ladies of the orgy party" land at the
Government dock.
4 At $50 the court adjourned until 10
o'clock this morning, when Lieutenant
Henry A. Hanigan, the officer who
! burst open the door at the height of
! the orgy. will go on the stand to de-
1 scribe the scene he witnessed there.
/ Lieutenant E. H. TarbuttOn and sew
eral enlisted men will also testify.