The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-25
WOODW0RTH'S
CASE OPENED
LAST EVENING

The court martial I'm the case OF Lieut.
Woodwork OF the Machine Gun Battery
continued it's sittings last evening; and
before adjournment the case Of the pros
ecution had been closed and that of the
defence had been opened
Trumpeter Henry Harris OF the Ma
chine Gun Battery rifle team, told OF the
trip with other militia teams 10 the range
at Wakefield. He told Of Lieut. Wood
worth instructing Lieut.. Blair Private
Davidson and himself TO purchase "A bot
tie Of whlskey TO send 10 Lieut.. GIadwin
10 replace a similar bottle he had bor-
rowed 10 pay the marker at the rife
range
Lieut.. William r. Blair. a former Off
Ger OF the First Machine Gun Battery
said I'm the fall OF 1905 he was a member
or the rifle team. THE scores were not
kept straight, because / got 20 and had
smaller mark by right. ! spoke TO Lieut..
Woodworth. hut he told me not TO say
anything about IL. / did not. At another
distance each OF the other mems scores
was falsified from one to three points"
Witness said he was requested by Lieut..
Woodworth 10 purchase a bottle OF whis-
Key which he wanted 10 repay a man
from whom he borrowed one to give the
naval scorer at the 5O0-yard range.
Edgar Davidson of S3S Park avenue Au-
field. but saw no evidence OF wrong keep
ing OF scores. The judge advocate
brought out the whiskey episode and wit
ness said n bottle OF whiskey was sent by
express. prepaid, 10 Lieut.. Woodworth
The judge advocate asked If Lieut.
Woodwork did not pay him a sum Of
money al "A visit to the armory.
Witness admitted that Lieut.. Wood
worth paid him the money. but In repay
ment for money paid out for expenses at
Wakefield He could not remember the
exact amount but thought IL was $3.50
but that was for presents for the scorer.
Charles Fletcher Of 735 Potter avenue
said that al 500 yards the scoring was de-
liberately falsifed by the scorer. a petty
officer Of the United States navy when
Harris fired he made a three and the
scorer called five In a loud voice. Harris
looed back and Lieut.. Woodwork.
said: Go ahead and shoot; that's all you
have 10 do.
when it was my turn l made a three
and he called five. When / turned and
he motioned for me TO shoot and say
nothing. | went TO quarters at once after
finished shooting on the way heard
Lieut.. Woooworth say; II we had that
scorer at 20 yards we would have won the
trophy. That fellow ought 20 be rewarded
and | will buy him a bottle OF whiskey.
don't know. whether he did receive the
whlskey. | do not know the scorer.
The state rested here. and the Judge
advocate read a letter from Adjt Gen.
Sackett bearing on the case. He said he
ndu 1Ofgotten tne lOcldentS OF the range,
but submitted a letter written to Capt
T.. Merle BiXby on the alleged use OF dis
respectful language. The letter explained
that they must have been greatly eXag-
gerated.
In opening for the defence John =.
Beagan said the letter and the testimony
effectually disposed OF specification four
which relates to the alleged disrespect to
Col. now Adjt. Gen. Frye. There was
nothing TO substantiate the charge and
that there was no need TO put anyone TO
the expense of answering TO II.
His motion 10 strike out was overruled.
Herbert +. McKenney, hospital steward
on the STAFF OF the Second regiment, said
he saw no falsifying of scores at Wake
field. IL was a seven shot match and the
range officer and members OF various
teams standing about IN a position 10 see
the marker on the target as we'll as the
blackboard where the scores were posted
lie said four disc looked like a two at
Wakefield. because the painting was not
as bright as the Rhode Island men were
used 70 seeing.
Fred Quinn. sergeant major. Second
Infantry. also a member OF the state team
at Wakefield said hs did not see any fall
styling of scores.
The court adjourned for one week.