The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-15

OF AGENSS SAID
UNJUST
Friends Say So and Will
Try to Nullify Action Of
General Campbell.

Friends of Captain Frederick g. Agens,
OF Company Fl. Fifth Regiment, N. G. N
j., are interceding to have his resignation
refused by the State militia authorities.
Just before Company II left the camp at
Sea Girt for Orange Saturday afternoon,
Captain Agens was presented with a resig-
nation blank. and, on the ground that he
had not given proper attention to brigade
orders. requested to sign it. He did so
only after having tried to qualify 1t by
noting that he did so under orders.
A number of the members Of the Orange
company fnlled TO put in an appearance
when the Fifth went into camp, and Cap
tain Agens sent n detail to Orange to get
those who were not on hand. After the
inspection Friday morning Captain Agens.
who had been instructed to appear at
brigade headquarters and in accordance
with the militia regulations covering the
annual muster and inspection, hand In his
blanks showing the number of men attend
ing and giving other data concerning his
reported that six men had been
brought In by the detail andtthat he would
have his report ready later.
At 1.s0 there was a second inspection or
his command. After that the captain was
ordered by Colonel Allan b. Wallace, of
the brigade staff, TO report to brigade
Headquarters a second time. He went
lltits IL u SUM- Jul AHAiNN'
dier-General Edward A. Campbell or Col
ouel Wallace. He returned TO the COM
pnny street and later sent First Lieutenant
Valentine Drescher 10 complete the blanks
he had left.
Colonel Wallace would not permit the
lieutenant to do this. but sent him back
with instructions for the captain to appear
Immediately. Captain Agens was not In
the company street and Lieutenant
Dreseher couldn't find him..
After waiting for some time in vain for
the captain to report. charges were pre-
ferred against him under the direction or
General Campbell and an order Of arrest
issued. Later Adjutant Hilton showed
the papers to Captain Agens and ordered
him to remain in the vicinity of Colonel
Edwin w. Hines tent. Colonel Hine COM
mands the Fifth.
Orders were issued relieving Captain
Agens of the command of Company
and placing Lieutenant Drescher In
charge.
Shortly before the regiment was leaving
camp on Saturday Captain Agens, In ac-
cordance with an order Issued by General
Campbell. appeared with his muster and
inspection blanks filled out. and after pass
Ing them in was presented with aflled-out
resignation blank. Captain Agens wanted
to give as the reason for his action that II
was on Or0cr oil tne pTiBuue coiihhuiuci'
but was constrained to insert pressure
of business"
Captain Agens, at his home. 71 High
street. this city, eaid last night that he
had not recovered from h surprise. He
was released from arrest after resigning
and returned to Newark with his company
Saturday night.
s'The news OF my resignation seems to
have spread pretty WE'LL said the captain.
az have received a large number OF mes
sagss that are comforting, In that they
bring EXPIRE zslons OF belief in me in spite
of the position in which I find myself. |
have been long In the service, and l find
this sudden termination OF my connection
with the militia difficult to comprehend
offhand,"
CaptoIn Agens served twelve years In the
Essex Troop Of Cavalry before he was
elected captain of Company Fl. June 10,
1905. While declining to discuss the de-
tails of the Incident of last week, the
captain was in reminiscent mood. He saiu
thnt he had not missed n drill since he
had been in the regiment. and only one
meeting of the board of directors OF the
regiment had been held without him. Ills
single absence from the board was due
to his being In camp.
Even State military regulations bring
about some remarkable situations. Cen
eral Campbell Is a cousin of Captain Agens
and Adjutant-G Genera r. Heber Breintnall
is his uncle. Both must approve his reslg-
nation before 1t goes to the Governor for
final action. The resignation will go first
to Colonel Hine, then to General Camp
bell, next to the Encouragement OF the
division, and finally to the Governor, who
gives his decision through the adjutanr-
general.