The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
CHASE FARES WELL
Accused Captain Gains Point
at COurt-martial Trial.
CONDUCTS HIS OWN DEFENSE
Examines witnesses in a Mastery
Manner and Succeeds in Eliciting
Case-ArOuses More Interest in
Judges than He Has Heretofore.

New York. Dec. 1L-Capt Arthur w.
Chase. coast artillery corps. Z. S. A. who
is on trial by court-martial in the Army
building, made a decidedly good impress
sion to-day by his conduct of his own de-
Tense
Capt Chase got in trouble through a
letter which he wrote complaining OF the
conduct toward him of his commanding
officer. Lieut.. Col. Clarence Deems, COM
handing the artillery district of Balti-
more. The post is at Fort Howard
Three witnesses were examined to-day
and with two OF them Capt. Chase came
OF very well In fact. there was a per-
cepuble stir after the captain finished
with Lieut. Hugh S. Brown. adjutant of
the post. The members of the court
martial asked the adjutant a lot Of ques-
tons and the answers elected all tended
to help out the case Of the officer ac-
cused.
Lieut. Col. Deems was the first on the
witness stand when the court convened.
He was taken in hand by Capt Chase.
who was completing the cross-examina-
ton OF his commanding officer.
Col. Deems said that he considered
the letter thatCapt. Chase had written,
which letter caused the court-martiaI.
10 be impudent. He denied that he
ever had ordered the captain from his
Office
Has an officer ever before been or
dered by you to remain within post lin
its at Fort Howard before charges were
brought against him?~ asked Capt.
Chase.
L don't recall any cases" replied Col.
Deems, where an officer. having failed
70 obey an order. has not at once made
an explanation Later on in the cross
examination Capt. Chase asked:
You would have been willing to let the
matter drop if l apologized for my let
ter?"
I most certainly would" replied the
colonel
Did you consider my letter was sent
With criminal intent?"
/ did was the reply
Corners His Superior.
Then you were willing to compound a
felony" Capt. Chase began inquiringly.
Strike all that out. ordered Col. Wal
ter Howe, president of the court, and it
was done.
@AAN N4ANNl NAdlllllldLO OF Lieut.. BrOWD
by Judge Advocate Johnston produced a
line Of testimony in general support OF
the commanding officer. II appeared that
Lieut.. Brown heard all the conversations
between Col. Deems and Capt. Chase. and
that everything between them apparently
was friendly up to November 5.
On cross-eXamnation Capt Chase
brought out that Lieut. Brown was sup
posed TO have blanks for small arms
practice reports in Nhis possession. and
that he had none until they arrived from
Washington. about November c.
1t was proved that Capt Chase had
no chance 20 get these blanks. It was
for failure 10 make his reports in time
on proper blanks that he was reprimand-
cd Lieut.. Brown testified that although
he knew Of this, he had not told Lieut..
Col. Deems when the latter ordered him
TO write letter rebuking Capt. Chase
Tor not having filed his reports in time
Another point was that although the
commanding officer told the adjutant to
write that Capt Chase should not leave
the post until the proper reports were
filed, the letter actually read that he
should not leave until further orders"
1t was brought out that when Capt.
Chase had fled his first reports of prac-
tice, and they had been returned TO be
-A+N~~N NNN WI dSoAiis AlAdL lllt AISA ser
geant. and not the captain. had receipted
for them, and that they had been turned
over to Lieut. Cardwell. who had misun-
deKstood the Endorsement. and had delay
ed making them out again.
Lieut. Brown testified that Capt. Chase
had received orders to stay with the bat
terry on drill throughout the fourth and
fifth OF November. and not to stop for
matters OF lunch or dinner until the prac-
tice OF the battery was finished. That
was taken to show that he would hardly
have had time to complete the orders
about filing new small arms practice re-
ports, even If he had the proper blanks.
Sought Confidential Chat.
Lieut. Brown then said that he had
asked Capt. Chase to come and see him
for a confidential chat about the trouble.
and had assured him that the lieutenant
colonel would be willing to meet him
more than half way if ne would apollo
gize. Lieut.. Brown said he told the cap
tain that the move was of his idea, and
was not with the authority of the COM
handing officer. Capt. Chase told him
that he wanted to pursue the matter, be-
cause of other things involved
In answer to questions by members of
the board, the lieutenant admitted that
Capt Chase was in the office of Lieut..
Col Deems attempting TO explain about
the blanks when the latter interrupted
him and told him to 90 and obey the
order at once II was made clear that
what Capt Chase cOntended namely.
that he had no chance 10 finish his ex-
PLANTATION. was true.
There came up then the incident Of
October Il, when Capt. Chase ordered
Capt. Raymond 10 cease fire drill and the
latter paid no attention.
Capt Chsse's questions and those OF
members of the court brought out that
Capt Raymond had been direspectful 10
Capt. Chase, which was a point the cap
tain had made ia reply to complaint
made about him by Capt. Raymond.
Capt Raymonds action. apparently. was
based on the issuance OF an order that
the mine command he had was separate
from the regular fire command. and
Lieut. Brown had to admit that, although
that order had been in force for at least
two weeks. Capt. Chase. the battery com
maEder, had not been told OF it. That
scored another point for the accused.
Court shows Interest.
There was a rapid-fre of questions
from the members of the court. all except
one of the twelve asking Lieut.. Brown
something about the case. It was the
most hearty interest displayed up to that
point. Special stress was laid on the
fact that LeIt. Brown had not told his
commanding officer that Capt. Chase had
no chance to get blanks for his reports
and that Capt. Chase did not have 2
chance TO see Capt Reymonds complaint
of him. The additional foot .t,o. g..