The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-09
Army Exile Struggles in Vain to Present Witnesses to An swer Charge of Inca
 pacitation,
HEART DISEASE VICTIM
Onlcer Proves He Has Been on Duty Almost Continuously During Lifelong Service fin
 Army.

Washington. Got 8. For almost four hours to-day Colonel W, P. Stew art of the army, who has come 10 be known as the Arizona "eXile," strug- gled but in valn, with tle retiring board, before which he has been or dered to obtain permission to sum mon witnesses to prove that te is not incapacitated for army service and that therefore he should not he arbi- trarlly retired. He gave the names of thirteen witnesses whom he desired to have called and when he failed to obtain the boards permission to that end, hls attorney announced that the colonel, himself, would take the stand in support of his plea that he Is cap- able of performing the duties of a colonel in the coast artillery.
 When the board convened, I. w.. tatimer, counsel for Colonel Stewart. proceeded to cross-questlou Col. Ar thur and Major Edie regarding their report as the medical experts of the board or the condition of Col Stew arts health. Both of them stated that Col Stewart is afflicted With heart disease Co such an extent that any over exertlon might result disas- trpusly to him. The fact was brought out that Mir Stewart has been vic ! tim of heart disease for the past 5j years and reference was made to | | document on file In the war depart ment showing that AS early as 1877 participation in an Indian expedition i because of an affection of the heart and rheumatism. Both of the medl- | cal experts refused to make state ments bearing upon Colonel Stewart s 1 previous condition. Both said that
 SO long as Colonel stewarts present
 condition continued he would he fair
 ly comfortable. but much would de.
 pend upon tho exertion he might he subjected to,
 After the army surgeons had left thu
 stand Mir Iatlmer asked permission t'
 show tho record of Colonel Stewart
 service. how many leaves of absence the colonel had had during the past 2
 years. stating that his object was ( show that he had hnen almost contin
 uouslv Nl duty Recorder Howlan' said he was willing to admit that Col | l1 1ii hs lttt
 les assigned to him and had yer! seldom requeated leave of absence N
 made tho point that no showing of th' kind contemplated could have an,
 bearing upon tho patients present con
 dition of health and tho board sustain
 his objection
 Col Stewards attorney presented
 Hat of thirteen witnesses, all but on
 of whom arc fellow officers, medica
 and otherwise. o' the colonel and h
 asked to have all of them summoned
 The board separately refused tho re
 quests except one, tho exception he'n
 Dr spriegs. a civilian physician resll
 ing In this clty who yesterday made 8
 examination of col Stewards heart I | pr. SpriFgs case the board announce its willingness 10 hear him In case h should voluntarily appear, but lt wa stated that he would not he summone ht the board Two of the vitnesse whom Col Stewart asked to have or lered to Washington were Lent R \ Barton of the Fifth Cavalry an Chaplain chase of tho saye regimen both of whom took horseback ride with Colonel Stewart last septemhe Mir Latimer said that both would te' tifY that his client had shown no 1 { effect from these rides
 Mir Latimer made request th' Col Stewart should hs permitted make the ninety mile ride required | tho military authorities and to folio it with the walk which Ia required { an alternative for the ride, but q request was denied
 The board will meet again tomorrow