The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-10-27
WEB TIGHTENING
ABOUT ACCUSED
OFFICERS
TESTIMONY PILES UP THAT
eURkART WAS ALLOWED TO
FORAGE HORSES AT GOVERN.
MENT's EXPENSE. &.

system whereby Surgeon Burkart
maintained number or horses, at
government expense, last fall and
winter by the testimony elected be-
fore the courtmartial at Fort Wayne,
Tuesday. Each witness was a further
strength to the prosecution, although
the case against Capt. French, regi-
mental Quartermaster, Is still not fully
made out.
Only one officer testified. Lieut..
John C.. Moore justified his course Ia
accepting the offer OF a mount from
Burkart by stating that he believed
such to be the custom of the service.
He had mentioned TO Dr. Burkart that
he might need a horse If he were go
Ing TO the Philippines, and the doctor
had loaned him a mare. The animal
had then been fed from the army
forage stores.
Lieut.. Moore confessed that he did
not know which was his horse, under
standing that DIR. Burkart was simply
to furnish him IA horse in considera-
zion Of the forage. He had never paid
the doctor anything for the use OF the
animal. There was no secrecy about
his arrangement with the doctor but
he had not talked about IT, lie had
submitted only one forage ration. after
the court OF inquiry last March. This
requisition he had altered 10 accord
with the facts, he swearing that he
had furnished" horse which con-
sumed a certain amount OF hay and
oats, instead OF swearing that he own
ed the horse. The members OF the
court, particularly Gems. Grant and
Thomas, took an active part in the
examination.
VIM. &. Degner. patrolman. was
called to prove that Capt. Toffey was
not the owner Of q chestnut stallion
which Mr. Burkart had secured In ex-
change for the mare he originally
sold to Toffey for 81. Degner testi.
fed that he undertook 10 break the
horse for DIR. Burkart and that the
latter agreed TO furnish the feed and
to give q commission IL the horse
should be sold.
Degner had the chestnut stallion
from Aug. 80. 1907. to May IS. 1908.
at which time he took him to Pontiac
and delivered him to Frank Cares, u
horseman. Forage was brought every
ten days for the horse, during the
time Degner had him. No officer ever
came to his barn TO ask about the
horse and no one ever used IL except
himself and DR.. Burkart.
George Crkftz, for ten years boss
In the post corral, testified TO taking
government forage to Degner's barn
on Willis-ave.. and leaving IL there.
using an army team and army wagon.
lie also knew that DR.. Burkart had
three other horses In the corral and
that they got government forage.
William Lester,AXho- worked as
groom for DIR. Burkart last winter.
testified to the stabling and feeding OF
the horses, three OF them, on the mill
tary reservation.
Several other witnesses were called
who talked about the same line OF
transactions. No testimony was de-
duced directly connecting Capt.
French with the supplying OF forage
10 Or. Burkart's horses. Lieut.. Moore
recalled some vague conversations
With Capt. French In which the latter
talked about the forage matter.
One matter has not come to light
vet I'm the courtmartial and 1t may
hob up any time to give new turn
10 the AFFAIR This Is the question as
10 who furnished the tip to the depart
ment of the lakes headquarters regard
ing the contract surgeons horses. The
defense may bring this out.
That the officers who purchased
horses from Burkart we're the owners
of the animal legally but not moral
"" was the testimony Of those officers
in the courtmartial, Monday afternoon.
Cant. Toffey. regimental adjutant, and
Lieut.. Robert Peck were the after
noon witnesses.
They described the manner in which
Dr Burkart "sold" them their horses.
~ be used and exercised by the doctor
but foraged by the government. Capt.
ToSYey declared that, when there be-
came q question as to the regularity
of the deal. he consulted Col Corn
man.. commanding the post, and was
advised TO sell the horse Immediately.
He sold Il back to Dr. Burkart for the
81 which he had paid for II. The
horses were not used for military pur-
poses
The courtmartial. II is now certain.
will last longer than was expected
and may take all the week. The Of
ficers composing II have found the full
dress uniform too heavy for the long
sessions and now wear merely dress
uniform.