The San Francisco call., 1905-08-30
Young Army Off,
Ger Is Jailed at
Alcatraz.
Lieutenant G. S. Rich
ards Begins Serving
His Sentence.
Scion Of Member of Standard
Oil Trust Must Pay for
Irregularities.

Lieutenant George S. Richards Jr. is no
longer an officer IN the United States
ermy. He has beea dismissed from the
service and sentenced TO one years i'm
prisOnment at Alcatraz Island for irregu-
larities IN his pay accounts and other
acts unbecoming an officer and gentle
man.
The news came yesterday in q special
dispatch 10 The Call from Washington.
The young officer. son Of one Of the pow
erful magnates Of the Standard Oil trust,
was greatly surprised when he learned
that the findings Of the court-martial be-
fore which he was tried had been ap-
proved by President Roosevelt From be-
ing an officer at Alcatraz Island, he yes
terdsy stepped down 10 be a prisoner
there.
Up 10 the last he had expected that the
findings OF the court-martial would be re-
versed through the wealth and power OF
his family connections in the East.
The case OF Lieutenant Richards has
occupied the attention OF army circles for
over a year and a half. Early IN 1904
Richards was brought back from Manila
and tried by q court-martial at the Pre-
sidio for duplicating his pay accounts and
for other irregularities. The president
Of the court-martial was Colonel William
/ Pitcher, Twenty-eighth Infantry, and
Captain Clarence E. Dentier was Judge
advocate. The trial began March %. 1904,
and dragged along all summer. Richards
had for his attorneys II. W. Day and r.
]. Hathorn. A tremendous fight was
made TO save the honor Of the young off,
Ger and keep him in the army Richards
senior came out from New York and bat
tied in his sons behalf. and brought with
him other prominent men TO testify re-
garding his sons character. The first
trial closed on November 8, 1904. with the
result that Richards was acquitted on
the ground OF insanity.
Having been acquitted on the ground Of
insanity. Richards was naturally not IN
q position TO be an officer IN the army.
Consequently a medical board was or
dered TO look into his case. At the head
OF this board was Lieutenant Colonel
George H Torney. Medical Department.
u s. A Richards was taken to the
General Hospital at the Preside, where
he was carefully watched by the board.
on December u. 1904. the board decided
that Richards was sane. and he was or
dered to proceed to duty at Acatraz
Island.
Farlv in June of this year he was
brought before a second court-martial.
This time, in addition to the charges Of
Duplicating his pay accounts, he was
charged with rnisappropriating funds be-
longing TO enlisted men serving in the
company Of which he was in command
in the Philippines.
Laeutnant Colonel w. H. c. Bowen was
president Of this second board and Cap
tan A s. Abernethy was judge adyo-
cate. Richards was defended at this
trial by Captain L. G. McAlexander. A
hot fight was put up to save the young
lieutenant, but the amount Of testimony
was Overwhelming and he was convicted
on the charges perferred against him.
Richards entered the army May IL,
1855, a private in Company Z, Third
n. Y. Infantry. he was made a first
lieutenant February 2. 1901. and trans
ferred 10 the Twenty-third Infantry Sep
tenber q, 1902. Since his last trial and
up TIL yesterday he has been performing
his Guties at Alcatraz Island