The Washington times., 1905-12-29
FATE OF BURBANK
IN THE BALANCE
Army officer Tried Upon
Serious Charges.
FINAL PAP ERS ARRIVE
Findings of Court-MarIial Adjudging
Him Guilty to Be Reviewed by
Judge Advocate.

The fate of Sydney S. Burbank, a
first lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry,
now stationed in the Philippines, soon
will be known. The proceedings and
findings of the cour1-martial board,
which recently tried him on charges of
embezzlement and conduct unbecoming
an officer, have reached the War De
partment.
According to reports received by The
Times from Manila two weeks ago, the
army officer whose Domestic troubles
have been aired in the civil courts in
Kansas the past two years was found
guilty on both charges: on the former
he was sentenced TO dismissal from the
army, and on the latter to fifteen
months Imprisonment
Mothers Vain Journey.
Mrs. Burbank, wife of Col. /. d. Bur
bank, retired, went out to the Philip
pines last summer when she learned
her son was to face such serious
charges, and when the board finished
it's work and sent its report to the War
Department in Washington. Mrs. Bur-
bank boarded the steamer that carried
the documents and hastened to Wash
ington in an endeavor 10 save her son
If possible.
Arriving in San Francisco ten days
ago. Mrs. Burbank took the first train
for the East in an endeavor to reach
Washington before the documents, hop
ing to intercede in the case before the
papers were sent to the President for
him to sign the order of dismissal.
Arriving in the city. Mrs. Burbank
FASTENED at once to the office of the
II 70 General W Sh W
Informed that nothing could be done and
the case would have TO be reviewed In
the regular way when the papers came
Mrs Burbank has remained in the city
awaiting the outcome and will endeayor
10 see the President in order to make
an appeal In her sons behalf, as soon as
the Executive returns TO the city from
his holiday outing. Upon the case being
reviewed by the Judge Advocate General
| IL will go TO the Secretary Of War for
MS approval and then TO the President
for final action.
Detail of Charges.
The charge of conduct unbecomfng
an officer and a gentleman" covers
charges against the officer of failing to
support a Filipino woman who claims
to have been married to him several
years ago when first in the Philippines
with his regiment. From the Philippines
the officer was brought with his regi-
ment to Fort Leavenworth. and upon
the eve of his marriage to a promi-
nent young woman there the Filipino
woman appeared with a child and sued
him in the civil courts for support.
| He took a counter action for divorce.
declaring that he had never been legally
married to her. but he desired di-
vorce to anticipate any future action
on her part. A year ago. however, he
was again sent to the Philippines. since
when the native wife has secured legal
separation from him. His case for an
absolute divorce is still pending In the
! Kansas courts.
! Accompanying the papers in the Bur
| bank case. was the record in the court
martial OF Lieut. David A Snyder. also
OF the Sixth Infantry. who. II is under
stood has been sentenced to dismissal
! He was tried on the charge of con
duct unbecomlng an officer and a gen
/ tleman." for having borrowed money
! from an enlisted man Of his regiment.
! Neither case has yet been reviewed
by the Judge Advocate General