The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-08
SALTY EVIDENCE
MAY BE DEVELOPED
BEFORE THE coURT-MARTIAL
CAPT. DAVIS FREEMAN's sELEC-
TON HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.

Dol. George NJ. Napier, JqdR Advo-
cnte, Reached savanna Tester
day Morning and Entei Active
Iy Upon His Duties by oNaferrinE
with Observation-Disclosures Wit
nesses Before Court of Inquiry
Said to be Ready to Speak More
FrecIy-First Session Will Com
vene Mt 10 O'clock Monday Morn
ing.
Cant. Davis Freeman. and not Maj.
W. w. Williamson, will fill the va
cancv on the court-martial caused by
the resignation of Col. William Gar
rard. who was named in the first order
Dispatches from Atlanta confirmed
the local story printed in the Morn
ing News yesterday to the effect that
Capt. Freeman was a member Of the
court. Capt. Freeman stated yester-
day that the reason he could not give
the information was that he thought
it should come from Atlanta.
AS heretofore, Maj. Williamson de-
clined to discuss his connection with
the court-martial, contenting himself
with saying that he never received any
notice of his appointment. AS his
name was reported to be on the list
at one time in Atlanta, it is supposed
that its withdrawal was secured be-
fore the official order was promul-
gated.
Capt. Freeman was formerly in COM
mand of Company A of the Guards,
having become a member of the COM
pany in 1856. -Four years ago he re-
tired from active service. He is a
well-known attorney.
Col. Napier Hard mt Work.
Col. George NJ. Napier, judge advo-
cate of the court, arrived yesterday
morning. and is registered at the De
Soto. He spent the day in conference
with Capt Hitch and Lieuts. Nell and
Morrison. and with witnesses. From
the defendant officers he obtained list
of additional witnesses who were de-
sired, and summons will be issued for
them.
1t is expected that there win be about
nifty witnesses to be examined, perhaps
as many as fifteen being from
Statesboro. Col. Napier will endeavor
TO have the evidence so well in hand
that little time need by spent in ir-
revelant questioning.
AS already stated in these columns,
the trial of the five officers viii be sep
crate. beginning with Capt. Hitch, the
senior in rank. The four officers with
the rank of lieutenant win be tried in
whatever order seems most conven-
lent to the court after the first trial
is concluded. though it is probable that
the trial of Savannah officers will be
held first.
morning, and will hold three sessions
a day. Three stenographers from
Atlanta will be employed, with perhaps
one form Savannah if the work de-
Inands another.
The extreme penalty which the
court-martial can infiict is dismissal
from the service. a fine of $1,000 and
one years Imprisonment OF course
such a combination is only for very
extreme cases. Dismissal or repri-
inand is sufficient for ordinary cases of
dereliction.
Juicy Testimony Promised.
Unless all signs fail, the evidence be-
fore the court-martial will be consid-
erably more exciting than that adj
duced before the court of inquiry. 1t
is said that a number of witnesses at
the former hearing did not tell all they
knew for various reasons, but that next
week they will make a clean breast
of the matter.
Tt is reported that there will be con-
siderable evidence introduced as to the
situation after Capt. Hitch was seized
and thrown into the crowd in refer
ence TO the whereabouts and possible
ties of Lieut.. Cone as senior officer.
The inquiry will be as to why he did
not hold the front stairway and take
command of the troops. At the former
trial Lieut.. Cone claimed that he was
not present when Capt. Hitch was
seized, but was somewhere else in the
Court House.
COnvenes Monday Morning.
The first session of the court-mar-
tial will convene at 10 o'clock Monday
morning at the Guards Armory. II
case the full thirteen members are mo-
present. the trial will proceed, as ever
as small a number of five judges would
constitute a legal court.
The sessions of the court-martial will
be public the attendance being onl!
limited by the seating capacity of thu
armory.