Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-06
PRISON FOR OFFICER
LIEUT.. HAMILTON IS DISMISSED
FROM THE ARMY.

NEW YORK, February 6.-Second Lieut.
John s. Hamilton, Company F, 18th Infan-
try, United States armv, the garrsoning
command on Governors Island who has
been on trial by court-martial, for more
than three months, has been found guilty
of violating several of the articles of war
and sentenced to be dismissed without
honor from the service and also to serve a
sentence of one and half years imprison-
ment, in some penitentiary to be designated
by the Department of War.
The sentence will not become operative
until it has been reviewed and passed upon
by the Secretary of War and the President
and pending their final action Lieut.. Ham
iNon is confined in the hospital on Gov
errors Island.
The lieutenant, who at the time of his dis
appearance from the army some six months
ago. was the senior officer in command of
Company F, is under guard, and his every
move is watched by an armed sentinel, who
has been put over him to see that he does
not attempt to escape OR in any other way
try to evade the sentence.
Held Secret Sessions.
The court-martial which was so long in
reaching verdict in the Hamilton case
held only secret sessions, and it was not
until yesterday that the facts in the case
leaked out. Lieut.. Hamilton was tried on
three specific charges, involving the mis-
appropriation of about ST. 100 of the funds
OF Company r, absence without leave and
conduct unbecomng an officer and a gen.
tleman. On all charges he was found
guilty.
Lieut.. Hamilton himself is not acquaint-
ed yet with the full verdict. He realizes
that he has been dismissed in disgrace from
no :on ;,, TT. l.
vate to commissioned, rank, but he has yet
to learn that in addition he also has been
sentenced to serve term in prison.
Already, it Is said, Lieut.. Hamilton has
appealed from the sentence of the court
martial, and requests that Capt William
H. Jordan, jr., of the 10Th Infantry be as
signed as his counsel for the purpose of 60
ing over the court-martial records in search
member of the court-martial which found
him guilty.
In Camp at Mt. Gretna.
Lieut.. Hamiltons battalion went to Camp
Roosevelt, at Mount Gretna Pa, to partici-
pate in the field maneuvers last summer
The battalion had been at Mount Gretna
but a short time when Lieut.. Hamilton was
ordered to proceed to Fort Niagara, near
Buffalo. to represent the 10Th Regiment in
the annual target competition there. He
never got to Fort Niagara.
Just before he left Mount Gretna, the
testimony offered at the secret court-mar-
tial showed. Hamilton had turned over to
Lieut.. Finch, who succeeded him in tenn
porary command of Company F, a check
for about $1,1O0, the amount of money
then supposed to be in the companys treas
ury. In few days the check came back
protested. Hamilton. it is now said, spent
the money in New York entertaining
friends. Three months after his disap-
pearance Hamilton walked into the head
quarters of the Department of the Lakes,
Chicago, and surrendered to Gen. Carter.
He was then sent to New York to be courr-
martaled.
When the court-martial convened, on the
morning of November 5 last Hamilton APP
peared before it and offered as an ex-
cuse temporary insanity, the result of long
and faithful service in the Philippines.
On Governors Island not a single officer
will talk Of the Hamilton case. They will
not be permitted to do SO until the Presi-
dent sees fit to make the finds of the court
martial public. they said. At present the
findings are being reviewed by Brig. Gen.
George B. Davis. the judge advocate gen.
eral of the army, in Washington. From
Gen. Davis they will go to Secretary Taft.
and from Secretary Taft to President
Roosevelt for final action.