Evening star., 1907-06-24
INQUIRY is NOW ORDERED
Gen. Darlington Instructed to 1nvesti-
gate Circumstances.
EASTER oVERCOAT INCIDENT
Reported Criticism of Army Officers
and Justice of Military Trials I'm
pugned-oficer's Record.

As a result Of a conference between Sec
retary Taft and Assistant Secretary oliver
az the formers residence yesterday after
noon the case of Lieut.. Col. Charles g.
Ayres 18th Infantry, has been referred to
Gen r.. \. Darlington. inspector general
of the army. with instructions to investi-
gate all the circumstances and report 10
the War Department.
In announcing this action, Acting Secre-
tary OlIver said that Col Ayres had de-
CIincd to make any statement in reply to
an official letter from the department in
uuiring as To the authenticity of certain pub
IishrG statements attributed to Col. Ayres
in connection with the controversy at West
Point growing out of the Faster overcoat
Incident"
COL AyrcS who is on a leave of absence
from his post at Walla Walla Wash. is
now at Highland Falls. West Point.
where Mrs Ayres has resided since her
controversy with the authorities at West
Point
Remarks Attributed to Col. Ayres.
In the publications sent to him for ex-
PLANTATION Col Ayres was credited with the
declaration that the charge that the in
fiuence of women at West Point is detri
to jealousy and that the criticism of Mrs.
Ayres is tissue of falsehoods by officers
of the army anxious TO hurt Mrs. Ayres."
He was also credited with having said that
an appeal to a military court would be sui
ciddl his experience had convinced him
that military Investigations farce and
had been used for years means to de-
stroy officers record. He declared also
SO II was stated. that the result of his
wife's appeals TO the authorities at West
}Olnf Tor the protection of her had
resulted in cOwardly attack upon her
and her husband. the result of years os
malice OF a spite against woman who
had never Intentionally wronged human
being and man who never let an insult
pass
As to the reason for taking the matter
before the civil instead of a military court
Col Ayres was credited with the decIara-
ton that "a major general told him fifteen
years ago never to appeal to any kind of
military tribunal. for he might as well
be tried by crocodiles.'
Court-Martialed Three Times.
According to the records of the army Col
Ayres has been courtmartialed three times
The records show that his first court-mar-
tai was while he was first lieutenant of
the lOth Cavalry stationed at Fort Bay
ard. N NJ. in November. 1887. The charges
against him were of conduct to the preiu-
dice Of good order and military discipline. il
DNihS d4leSeu iHdl WHen ordered to Vacate his
quarters he had refused to obey. The sec
ond charge was of conduct unbecoming an
oincer ana gentleman. 1t being charged
that he had threatened TO shoot Second
Lieut.. W. II. Whipple of the 10th Cavalry
who had preferred the first charge against
him II was alleged that he called Lieut
Mhipple liar and no gentleman and asked
him to draw his weapon
He was found not guilty on tho fret
charge, not guilty on the second charge
but guilty of conduct to the prejudice of
good order and discipline and sentenced
10 pe suspended from rank for a period of
SIX months and confined to the limits of
the post where he may be stationed Cen
Miles IN reviewing the case. stated that he
deemed the sentence inadequate to the Of
iehses. but that il might be warning to
MN 10 properly govern his actions and
language in the future, it was confirmed
In December, 1892, he was court-mar
tailed at Fort Assinniboine Mont. on the
chdrse OF conduct unbecomng an officer
ana gentleman. There were numerous
specifications under this charge and ,ba
court acquitted him on many of these. find
ing MN guilty on others and he was sem
fenced to be reprimanded. In 1896 when a
captain Lieut. Col. Ayres was court-mar-
tlaIed at Fort keogh, Mont There were
three charges on which he was tried First
conduct unbeComing an officer and a pep
tlehan; second. conduct to the prejudice
OF good order and discipline. and third dis
respect to his commanding officer rho
specifications being that he did maIiciousIv
write and forward TO the War Department
raise. malicious and libelous accusation
concerning Capt. VIM. Davis ir.. 1Otb
united States Cavalry.
Sentenced to Be Dismissed.
He pleaded not guilty, but the court rem
dered verdict of guilty on all the charges
and he was sentenced to be dismissed from
the army. October ~ 1906 President Gro
Yer Cleveland disapproved and set aside the
verdict In doing so President Cleveland
gave his reasons. follows:
Grave questions arise upon the record
concerning the organization of the court
martial and the correctness Of It's proceed
ing winch In my opinion justify my nom
concurrence in IS judgments and sentence
On the merits of the case as develonad
Dy the evidence. while by no means excus
ing the conduct of the accused I have
reached the conclusion that the punishment
awarded by the court is far too severe. and
thdt the arrest and confinement to which
he has already been subjected NAV we'll ha
considered in view of the testimony as
sur1clent punishment for his circumstances :,
In closing. tn President recommended
that capt. Ayres be detached from his s,,r
roundinSs and stationed elsewhere Tha
war Department then sent Capt Ayres
from Fort ASsinniboine. Mont to Tex,s for