The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-23
DESERTER FOUGHT
WITH FILIPINOS
Was Sentenced to Term of
Ninety-nine Years.
TELLS STORY OF CAPTURE
4 H. Richter Arrives in New York on
-ranzport-Mother Has Sen
tence Reduced.

NEW YORK, May 13-Bearing the
bodies of sixty-four soldiers who had
lost their lives in the Philippines and
large contingent Of live soldiers. army
officers and their families, the transport
Fitzpatrick came in from Manila yes
terday, and last night warped into the
government slip at the foot Of Wall
Street.
Conspicuous among the voyagers Is a
prisoner who had been entenced to
ninety-nine years for treason-H II.
Richter. a former private in the Sixth
Artillery. twenty-six years old and a
Marylander by birth
Deserted His colOrs.
He is charged with having deserted his
colors. Of having fought with the FIJI
pinos against his flag, attaining the rank
of lieutenant colonel in the insurgent
army.
OWNS to the pleadings Of his mother
and OF a doubt as to whether the man
was in his right mind at the time of his
desertion. the sentence has been COM
mitted 20 two and one-half years.
Captured by FilipinOs.
The prisoner tod his story after tn,
transport had made fast to her pier.
Il was on guard on the outskirts Of
Manila on the night of September "A
1Se9.' he said. when SUDDENLY I was
struck over the head and rendered sense
less. When / recovered consciousness
I was in jungle and surrounded by
Filipinos.
e was tod that would be killed IN
less l consented TO join them-and 1 ac-
cepted. l want TO say, however, that
-,
tenant colonel, 1 never fought against
my counTymen.
Not Intentionally d Traitor.
MY capture came about in this way:
was in bamboo hut one day and pre-
pairing TO shave with pocket knife
when l had sharpened for that purpose,
when my two servants came in. shout
ing, The AmericanOS! They were both
shot before they reached shelter.
4 was never traitor at heart. and
! did not care whether the Americans
came or not. but all the shouting and
the shooting got me so excited that
also ran. There was a three-foot creek
near the shack. and into this 1 ran. /
got but a little distance when l was
captured.
Receives the Water Cure.
BEFORE i was OTQGIcQ BdlduEdS 10
be tried Major william Pitcher. OF the
Eighth Infantry. gave me the water
cure. ! was captured By Lieut. NJ.
Noyes. of the Thirtieth Infantry. I was
tried first for treason, and beat the case.
Later I was again tried for desertion.
and the treason was brought uD. and
got ninety-nine years. Later this was
cut down to two and one-half years.
do not know whether my mother plead
ed for noe. but heard IL was cut on the
ground that the sentence was excessive
for desertion.''
There was another prisoner on board
and whose story has touch OF romance
in it. He is John Hogan. formerly Of
the Fifteenth Cavalry. and barber Of
3 troop He married a young japanese
woman. and putting his savings away.
soon had money enough 10 buy a house
Then the regiment was ordered home.
Not Transferred.
Hogan applied for transfer to some
other command, but the application
went astray. and he had TO go with the
regiment TO San Francisco.
There. on thought Of his pretty wife
and the snug nome he had made for
her, and failing 20 get a transfer to
one Of the regiments stationed in the
last ne look ulAllets IN ms own HanNS
and slowed away on transport, which
brought him back 70 Manila.
He says that he Immediately reported
for duty. and took part in a campaign
against the Moros Then charges OF de-
sertion reached the post from San Fran
cisco. and he was placed under arrest.
To Apply to Courts.
a curious thing in connection with
rv.fr &c ~ fc fafrr
OF enlistment expired. Today he win
consult a lawyer and try 10 procure
writ OF habeas corpus. alleging that he
served out his term Of enlistment and
was not tried for any oflense during
that time and now IL there be any
necessity for trial u should be a trial
fn the Federal and not in the military