Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-03
HIS DEFENSE.

most conscientious old duff ever knew.
Joye, did see him trieked by a slick
scoundrel on a court martial once"
whats the yam?" asked the junior
captain.
Well" began the major, 1T came
about this way: There was captain in
my regiment whom we may call Breek,
and ii ever there was d seoundrcl Bgeek
was ii.
Every c. O. he ever had tried to pinch
him on one count or another, hut RreelS
was as cute as he was crooked and mean.
He always pulled out ON a teclnicality of
some sort.
The old boy over there was in com.
mand of our department. lie hated Breek.
All OF us hated Breek. So when Breek
was finally caught red handed. drunk and
raising Ned on the public streets, we re-
joiced clean through the department. 1t
was an open and shat case
The prosecution had no end of wit
nesses. Brcek said he didn't even want
any counsel He chose to defend himself
The court martial was ordered and
convened. Breek didn't object to any
body. The members rose To take the
oath. The judge advocate was Just start
ing to swear them when Breek broke in:
Il want to call the attention of the
president of the court he said. to the
fact that the collar OF his blouse is I'M
hooked. Officers sitting on q court mar
tial are supposed to be properly dressed.
The president, a fat old colonel of
forty years service, glared fieIcely at
Breek, but buttoned up his collar.
''Iba pQuTf NE1s ctSart, fs,.e{ ,,st
ness was called His testimony began
damning for i1ree,>. The court couldn't
help feeling satisfied Suddenly Breek
started again.
u wish to call the attention of the
court to the fact that Capt Jones is
lounging on the table, A member of a
court martial should maintain military
and decent position
Old Jones was too amazed to do more
than puff and blow The impotence of
this seoundrel! 1t all went on the record,
too. lie sat up in his chair, cherry col
ored with suppressed fury
Witness after witness svore to the
disreputablc and drunken conduct of
Breell. Breek smilingly let them go with
out cross questioning them. Then the
last witness for the prosecution was
called
The reiterated testimony was too
much for the patience Of the members of
the court, who began to let their thoughts
wander aimlessly. Breek's high. cracked
voice rasped out sharply:
The president of this court IS request
ed to call the attention of Mai. stafford
to the fact that he is here to do his duty,
not to put i'll an hour day dreaming
"A gasp of surprise ran through the
room. What was the idiot up to, any
how?
THE Judge advocate wrote down the
last conclusive statement Of the last wit
ness
The prosecution he announced here
rests
"Breek looked blinkingly at the presi-
dent.
The Defense he said, desires to call
Col. Martin as a witness to character
The president gasped with amazement.
He was duly sworn.
col. Martini was the first question
Breek asked, are you my friend?'
No, sir Numbered the indignant col
onel, smarting under the recent impudent
correction.
Do you consider me gentleman
Il do not. sir
Don't you think me fit to be an officer
OF the army and to associate with other
officers of the army?'
Not by great deal spluttered the
colonel honestly.
Did you feel this way before this trial
came up?'
II always have
Then please tell Inc court your pre-
vious personal opinion of me-
II considered you a miserable imper-
tinent, dishonorable rascal. SIR
That will do said Breek; please call
Mai Stafford
TO the amazement of the court the
same questions were asked of Stafford
with the same outcome. Then Capt. Jones
was called. and the scene was repeated
almost verbatim. A like result followed
the examination Of four other members
Then Breek announced that he had
statement to submit. The dazzled court
waited for it dumbly.
That statement was Il masterpiccc
1t called the attention of the court and
the department commander to the fact
that i'll this trial a clear majority of the
court had testified under oatn that they
had entered on their duties with bitter
hostile animus toward the accused
They had sererally admitted that be
fore any evidence was submitted they
were firmly convinced that he was unfit
for the army. Under such circumstances
a fair trial was impossible. He asked
that as a matter of justice the findings
OF the court, if mfavorable to him, be
disapproved.
'Iou never saw such a wrathv outfit
as that court was. OF course thev found
him guilty and sentenced him to dis
missal. But the old man was so afraid
his own feelings might prejudice him that
on reading the proceedings, when he
struck the statement, he disapproved the
sentence and Breek went scot free
New York Sun
He Said Too Much