Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-22
JOKE ON COL. McCARDY
TRIED BY CoURT-MARTIAL OF
wHR-PooR-wILLs.
Required to Defend Himself on
Charges Resulting From His De-
sertion From Their Ranks.

ONCE Department, was the victim of a
mock court-martial recently when a num-
Der of his former associates in the Whip
poor-will Club gravely proceeded to try
him for what they charged was most seri-
Gus misconduct. Col. McCardy, who is
past commander of the Department of Min
nesota, Grand Army of the Republic, was
chief of staff under Commander-in-Chief
John r. King, and until month ago was
eligible for admission to any of the bach
eior apartments in the city. He was also
member of the Whip-poor-wi Club of
veterans, part of which lunches daily in
a. local department store restaurant. in one
corner. which is known as the "Whp-poor-
Will roost." Col. McCardy disappeared from
the haunts of the whip-poor-wills and
alter day or so modest announcement
appeared in The Evening Star that on the
list of December he had been married in
baltimore to Mrs. Campbell.
After serious consideration, Col. Nc
Caroy's comrades concluded to prefer
charges against him, and give him a drum
head court-martial. The trial took place
on Friday at the Whip-poor-w roost.
Gen. John r. King was president of the
court and his table was covered with
large flag, over which hung a skull and
cross bones. Three huge lighted candles sat
upon the table and illuminated a copy of
the articles of war of 1889, which, 1t was
explained by the president, it was neces-
Sary to use the later editions with
Amendment We're not strenuous enough.
The charges and specifications filled about
four yards of paper. They were wound upon
large rollers, and the clerk of the court,
Maj. Horace Greeley Jacobs, was COM
PEELED to stand upon a chair to read them.
They charged desertion to the enemy, in
that the said j. ]. McCardy. being on daily
duty with the Whip-poor- Wills, assigned
thereto by proper authority, did surrep
| titiOuSlv and with decentralization abandon
and desert said post, and remain absent for
some time, causing great strain on the
minds of his comrades.
Deserted to the Enemy.
The second charge was disloyalty, in that
he abandoned his associates without notice
to them and entered into a union, combina-
ton or coalition with another belonging
to a class inimical to all associations of men
outside of the church and O'Clock teas,
and communicated the countersign and
other secrets of the Whip-poor- to
the aforesaid enemy; and gross insubordina-
ton, in that he told the Whip-poor Wills
that lit was none of their blamed business
whom he married The third charge was
introducing stranger into the camp. The
last charge was going beyond the seas, ac-
companied by the enemy, without proper
permission of the Whip-poor-wills, all In
contravention of good order and military
discipline and in utter disregard of the
articles OF war NOlu Siylet.
Gen. John c. Black past commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army, acted as judge
advocate and COL. John McElroy, past senior
vice commander-in-chief acted as assistant
Judge advocate The prisoner was attend
ed by his counsel, Capt. Henry Castle, past
commander of the Department or Mime
sofa. G.. A. R., and the witnesses We're any
body who knew nothing about the case,
as announced by Judge Advocate Black.
Among these witnesses were Col. Daven-
port, deputy commissioner of pensions; Mrs:
Lillian Corbeille Pickett, Mrs. H. G. Jacobs,
Mrs. Hughes DeCourcy Slater, Mrs. Coul-
son. Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball, Mrs. Anna M.
Baden, Col. S. R. Burch, Col. B. H. War
ner, Capt. o. II. Oldroyd and Capt. Coul-
son, but they were unable to throw much
light on the subject. Col. McCardy was
convicted and sentenced, or about to be,
on Friday, at 2:30 pm, but begged the
mercy of the court, and said that he would
on Saturday produce the enemy If sentence
could be reserved.
Court Showed Mercy.
Promptly at 1890 Friday court was
convened, when Col. McCardy presented
himself, accompanied by yelled lady of
fine appearance who took a seat in the
background. The accused, after a few pre-
liminary skirmishes of wit from the coun-
sci, judge advocate and witnesses, and, all
evidence being overruled, presented the
enemy" and general congratulations fol-
lowed. Judge Advocate Black gravely de-
cided that the sentence of the court was to
turn the accused over to the enemy, land
may God have mercy on your soul" Capt.
Coulson presented a bouquet of handsome
carnations to Mrs. McCardy, and after be-
ing photographed, the court and witnesses
surrounded a flag and flower decorated
table and were served with luncheon. The
Whip poor-wills declared that they felt
quite satisfied with the result of the court
martial, as they had Smoked the deserter
out" and were pleased to win to their ranks
the wife of their former member
The .Whip-poor-wil will entertain Sena-
tor William Warner at a banquet and re-
ception al the Shoreham this evening. Sena-
tor Warner is past commarder-in-chief of
the Grand Army of the Republic.