Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-05
STATE OF MAINE.


Augusta, Dec. %. 1905.
General Orders, No. "a.
l. Before a court of inquiry con-
vcned at Portland, Dee. IA. 1905, under
special orders No. So, issued by order
of the r-in-Chief from the
Office of the adjutant general, Nov. "a,
1908. consisting of Brig. Gen. Charles E.
Davis. inspector general, Col. Lucius
II. Kendall. First Infantry. Col. Ever
ard L. Ncwcomb, Second Infantry.
Lieut.. Col. Charles Collins, First In
fantry, Lieut.. Col. Frank NJ. Hume,
Second Infantry and Col. William b.
Shelton, judge advocate general as re-
COrding officer. to inquire into and in
vcstigate as to the efficiency. conduct
and plilitary standing of Co. T., First
Infantry, National Guard of the State
of Maine.
FINDINGS OF THE COURT.
That the commissioned officers of Co.
T.. First Infantry, during the past
year, have consisted Of Capt. McDon-
aid. First Lieut.. kaler and Second
Lieut.. MalOney; that Capt. Mcdonald
has been away from his company dur
during said year; that First Lieut. Kali
cr resigned about april. 1905 that Second
Lieut.. Maloncy was absent during the
spring of 1903 until about May |, 1906
that he then took active personal com
nand of the company; that he found
the attendance ut drills very small and
the company in 4 seriously disorSan-
iZcd condition: that under his personal
direction the attendance at drills in
creased very materially, and tn" con-
dition of tn" company made considerd-
bic Improvement; that Capt. Mcdonald
took personal command of the company
at the State cncanpmcnt IN August,
1"oI; that many of the nOn-commiS-
Siol"l officers and privates then insist
Ell lh:,t Capt. Mcdonald should either
promise to eve his personal attention
to IN" ait;,irs Of til" company in the flu
turc. or resign as captain; that he then
agreed to resign at The close of the en-
campment; that he has since submitted
his resignation, which is now pending;
that Second Lieut.. MaIoncy left the
state about the middle of September
1905. without leave and remained away
until 2bout the first Of November;
that OH oct. :? 1905. jor Frank +. w.
WclCh was placed i'll charge of the COM
pany and its property, pending further
action: that with the exception of the
attention Of Major Wclch, the company
has had no commissioned officer per-
sonally in charge during said Maloney'S
absence, except for very infrequcnt
visits from Capt. McDonald; that Capt
Mrbnnl I h.,c IN.
attention since oct. .. 1905. except to
assist in gathering III the property;
that on Second Lieut.. Maloneys return
about November |. 1905. he again took
personal charge OF the company drills.
TIL" court finds in connection with the
conduct q: this company at the state
cncanpment in August, 1905. that Pri-
Yates joyce and Harris were intoXicat-
ed while Ell route to Augusta, and on
their arrival there: that Corp. VIM. p.
McC'rath was Intoxicated at Augusta on
tie day of the arrival there: that Scrgt.
'Bricn was intoxicated while doing
guard duty at Augusta on Governors
Day. Aug. Il. 1905. and relieved from
duty for that reason; that while in
camp many members of the company
expressed an intention to refuse to
turn out under capt. Mcdonald; that
they were dissuaded from carrying out
this intention on the promise of Capt.
Mcdonald to resign as above stated.
and through the influence of Second
Lieut.. Maloney, First Sergt. Flaherty
and efforts made by one or NOR" officers
outside the company.
The court finds that Second Lieut.
Maloney has been indiscreet in his con-
duct connected with the command of
the company: that he has on some oc-
casions permitted himself to be infu-
cnccd in his conduct by feelings of
anger and disappointment that he has
been absent from the State for Il long
period Of time without leave as stated
above and that he has not always
shown the respect due his superior
officers. The court finds on the other
hand that Second Lieut.. Maloney has
don" much excellent work for the COM
pany under discouraging circumstances
and while greatly handicapped by the
absence of his superior officer without
leave. and bv the general disOrrariZed
condition Of the company, for which he
was not materially responsible.
The court finds in conclusion that the
company was. in the spring of 1905.
very seriously diSorganized: that that
condition has since been materially i'm
proved. but still exists to a degree dct-
rimental to the good of the service:
that this condition is due mainly to the
lack of personal Presence of an eff
cient executive officer at its head: that
the company generally. is capable of
good work under such a head
RECOMMENDATIO
Wherefore. the court respectfully
recommends that the resignation of
Capt. Mcdonald be accepted at the
earliest moment consistent with a
proper adjustment Of his accounts:
that an election OF commissioned off :