The sun., 1905-12-29
THE FEELINGS OF A SOLDIER.
PEACE TINE COURT-MARTIAL
ABOUT A THEATRE SEAT.
was 1t In Accordance With Best Tradition
or Conduct Worthy OF Lieutenant
in Evening Clothes That He Should
ASK a Serge in Uniform TO Move?

In the Philippines, and now stationed at
tranquil New London, was court-martialIed
yesterday at the Army Building, 1t was
for requesting n sergeant in theatre
TO please to change his seat. This was
called in the charge conduct prejudicial
TO good order and military discipline
As brought out by the testimony the
matter amounted to this: There was
show on October "a in New London, and
many officers and rank and file asked for
leave. Lieut.. Taylor was seated in the
parquet with two young women, when
Sergt Patrick Butler in uniform entered
and took chair just in front.
Lieut., Taylor leaned over and said, ac-
cording to the sergeant's testimony:
Sergeant, don't you think you'd better
change your seat?"
Il turned about" testified the sergeant,
"and looked into the face Of Lieut.. Taylor,
my superior officer. / was in uniform and
Lieut.. Taylor was In evening dress, was
30 surprised that could not reply for sew
eral moments. Then Lieut. Taylor again
suggested that 1 might find better seat
In another part of the house"
Did you have any difficulty in finding
another seat?" inquired the Judge Advo-
cate, Capt. Skerrett.
IL did not l didn't want to make
scene, as there were ladies with Lieut.
Taylor; but my feelings were hurt No, l
didn't take it as an order. Still thought
best to regard the request as such, coming
from my superior officer, and obeyed."
In his remarks to the Court, at the con-
clusion of the hearing, the Judge Advocate
eaid that the material facts as stated in the
charge having been proved it was for the
Court to decide whether the sergeant had
been Inundated whether indeed, the act
of the accused could have led to any other
result" Next, he asked the Court to con
slider whether if the act was thoughtless,
It was not, nevertheless, an offence" There
we're certain customs and traditions OF the
service respecting the manner OF the re-
latons between men and officers, and this
accused officer was by his commission
made an inheritor Of the traditions.
1t was to be inferred from the Judge
Advocates questioning that of duty an
officer must treat soldier Of his command
as one citizen another citizen.
Sergt Butler testified that next morning
be had spoken to the Lieutenant, inquiring
why he had asked him to change his seat.
ut was merely u personal request,
answered the officer. "Iou did not have
to move; anyway, a soldier in uniform does
not look we'll down front in a theatre
1t was thought that the fact that Lieut..
Taylor is not a graduate of West Point,
but Of Michigan Military Academy, might
have had something TO do with his prosecu-
ton. But Capt. r. H. McMasters Of the
l25th Coast Artillery, who preferred the
charge, Ia not himself West Pointer. He
is a graduate Of the South Carolina Mill
tary Academy. When called to the witness
stand Capt. McMasters said;
~Yes, / was in the theatre at the time
not far away from the sergeant-to the
right and back and saw him get up and go
to the other side Of the house. At break
fast I first heard talk about the episode.
When the sergeant was passing that morn
ing, asked him about It. He began what
/ saw was to be a long story. So I cut
him off,"
Five days later the sergeant made
complaint in writing When it was made,
and the paners had been submitted to
Lieut.. Taylor, the Lieutenant, according
to his Captains test mony, remarked that
he looked upon it as an impertinence that
a colder should send q complaint to the
CAPTAIN over the head Of the soldiers
ranking officer
He endorsed the papers, howevc-, de-
claring that he had requested the sergeant
to change his seat ~for personal reasons
and that he had made it clear to the sergeant
that II was merely request and not an
order
Capt. o. W. Farr Of Fort Totten erved
as counsellor for Lieut.. Taylor, and after
a recess taken to allow him to consult
ho tho raCnnVnne1
and called Lieut.. Taylor.
He withstood some gruelling from the
Judge Advocate First he described the
theatre affair, his version agreeing with
the sergeant's except as to the copversa
tion.
Il asked him, in an undertone, if he
would not change his seat. He said he
was afraid the box office would not change
1t, and l said oh, that will be all right,
But, anyway, I only ask it as a personal
favor He hesitated then he did change
it. Next morning he spoke to me, wanting
to know why had made the request. Was
drunk he asked, or disorderly? 1t hurt
my feelings to be asked to change NO.
] told him. you were in uniform. and you
bore yourself like soldier. l asked it of
you as favor, for personal reasons He
afterward told me ne had maze the COM
plant on direction of the company COM
mander. When tn paper came to me
it was indorsed as though the company
commander had not directed the complaint,
So told the sergeant he must be mistaken
about that. He said, We'll, that's the way
] understood it,
What" inquired the Judge Advocate,
"was the personal reason you had for wish
ing him to change his seat?"
"A family party had all that row except
the seat he occupied"
"You did not make this explanation on
the papers-you merely stated personal
reasons
"Yes. thought that was sufficient"
He was asked if he thought it usual for
one citizen to request another in thea tire
to change his seat for such a reason, and
the lieutenant thought that it was. He had
no doubt that he himself had so accommo-
dated others. He would always do it for
anv one who made such request, especially
II it were not a stranger.
But YOU knew stranger was likely to be
inserted in the seat vacated, in the midst
of the family party?"
Yes" Then, after more questions he
added: 1T occurred to me, too, that it
would not be agreeable TO have the con-
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