The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-20

SO EVIDENCE TRAT he BROKE
TOTAL ABSTINENCE PLEDGE.
He Disappears Last February when sent
TO Inspect Some % the states NnitiA
Defence Is That He Was Taken Sick
and was Unable to Perform n Duties

He B1st FeotuAIy WITT
TO Inspect Some % the states NnitiA
Defence Is That He Was Taken Sick
and Was Unable & Perform h Duties
Major David Price Of the Coast Artillery
was arrai8ned before a c~ourt-maTtial yes
terday in the Army Building. He was
charged with neglect Of duty. due 10 into1-
cation. conduct unbecOming a gentleman
and the violation Of a pledge OF total alb
stinence.
The charges grew out Of the Majors
disappearance last February when he was
detailed to inspect some militia regiments
in Syracuse, Albany and Troy. This dis
appearance caused Gen. Grant considerable
Worriment at the time. Several officers
who were despatched through the northern
part Of the State to look for Major Price
found him in Syracuse. Brig.-Geu. Mills
Of West Point was Instructed 70 make an
investigation and it was on his report
that the charges were based.
Although fouT witnesses for the prosecu-
ton were examined yesterday the Judge
Advocate, Major David Z. Sharks, vas
unable to prove that Major Price had either
taken an intoxicating drink or mad been
seen under the influence OF liquor.
At the beginning Of the court-martlal
Charles E.. LIE Barber, counsel for Major
Price. asked that the specification regarding
the v~ioIation0of the pledge be dismissed,
for it vas over two years old and thus came
under the statute Of limitations set forth
in Article 1O5 of the Articles OF Mar. The
objection was overruled.
Major Price pleaded guilty 70 having
failed to perform the inspections he had
been ordered TO make, but entered a pie
of not guilty 10 all the other charges.
DR.. Edward l. Mooney OK Syracuse was
the first witness. He had examined the
Major in the Yates Hotel in Syracuse on
February 3. He thought at first, he said,
tina the officer had been drinking to excess,
but later decided that the nervous condition
OF the patient was due to Other causes. He
found no actual evidence Of the use Of in
o Iicants.
While Syracuse the Major had visited
William ". Loomis, a t1ayelll9g d sa !
were ordered, but the Major sent out for
some sleeping powders.
Robert J. Wood. the night clerk Of the
hotel, said that Major Price had been
brought into the hotel on the morning Of
appeared to have been -doped,s but Wood
insisted that he had never noticed actual
evidence that the Major had been drinking
Later he was found in a saloon, but the
bartender. Charles Mehan, said q the
Major had complained to him OF being
i'll. and that ne a given him a mixture
Of Jamaica ginger and ginger ale. Mehan
said that he had never seen the Major
take any other drink, nor had he seen him
intoxicated.
The members Of the court trying Major
Price are. Col. George S. Grimes, presi-
lent Col. Philip Reade. Col. Calvin d.
CowIes, Ueut.-CoI. Alexander Rodgers,
Lieut.-Col. John D. C. Hoskins, Lieut. Col
Robert E. Evans. Lieut. c o Medoren
awford. Lieut.-Col. Albert S. Cummins,
Major Francis P. Fremont and Major
David C.. Shanks, judge advocate.
= Mr.. LS Barber, counsel for the defence
says that the Major was taken sick while
away and was unable to attend to his du-
ties. The charges grew out OF this alb
sence, and a c~ourt-martial is the only way
OF settling the affair.