The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-11-02
CHARGES ACA| INST
CORNMAN LIKELY
To FAIL
TRIAL ENDS AND BELIEF is THAT
GALLANT OIL DSoLDlER WILL
BE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN
OWN BEHALF.

| The trial OF Col. Daniel Cornman'
commanding the Seventh infantry al
Fort Wayne. was finished Monday
morning. The courtmartial, headed
by Maj. Gen. Grant, has disoanded and
the verdict IL has reached Is on It's
way TO Washington.
General opinion on the part or those
who heard the testimony Is that this
veteran soldier will be acquitted Oh
the charges brought against him.
"Col. Cornman is not OF suspicious
nature" declared his counsel, Col.
Carbaugh. in summing up TO the court
Monday morning. He did not nag
his officers. Had he done so, venture
TO say that he would not long have re-
NAMED a post commander but would
have been sent into exile"
The evidence brought out by the de-
Tense. particularly the statements OF
Col. Cornman himself. were greatly In
his favor and tending TO show that ne
did not know OF the foraging Of DIR. j.
l.. Burkart's horses by various officers
AT the post. More clearly than ever,
the fact was brought out that the en-
tire trouble arose through the antag'
onism OF Capt. Peter G. Fields, post
surgeon, toward his assistant, Dr.
Burkart.
Col. Cornman. grizzled. dignifed' and
wearing his badges OF honorable SER
vice was an impressive witness. He
testified that he knew nothing or the
deals which Lieut.. Peck, Lieut.. Moore
and others had for keeping horses be-
longing TO DR.. Burkart on their forage
allowances Capt. Toffey alone had
consulted him and he had advised the
captain 10 get rid OF the horse he had.
Surgeon Fields had told him that he
was m liking an investigation and asked
the colonel II he know that horses
were being foraged.
Yes, Capt Toffey told me Of 1t.
was Col. Cornman's reply.
Surgeon Fields then presented a re-
port but the commanding officer re-
fused to accept II. considering II ir.
regular. He explained that he would
have ordered an investigation himself
through some officer at the post had
complaint been made to him properly.
AS IL was, Capt. Fields sent his. report
on TO Washington and an investiga-
ton was begun which resulted In the
present trials.
He stated In sending il that he re-
officer" declared Col. Cornman. That
is false-absolutely false
At one time, Col. Cornman testified,
he visited Dr. Burkart and found the
latter greatly agitated.
Great god, what shall do to get
rid OF this man." DR.. Burkart Is said
to have cried. He started the money
loaning investigation. he has censured
me for driving outside the post with
! out permission, now he has started ar
investigation with regard TO the horses
What shall I do with this man and his
prosecutions?
! Col. Cornman said that he wanted
everything open and above board. He
thought that DR.. Fields should have
called in his assistant, questioned hin
and then asked for an investigation In
the proper manner. II was Col. Corn
mans custom, when any officer hat
been indiscreet, to call him in and dis
euss the matter in private, straighten
ing matters out.
| Col. Cornman admitted that he haC
written a letter to man named
Holmes, in Detroit, stating that DR.
Burkart need not worry as he had moi
done any wrong and that the same
custom had prevailed elsewhere In tn,
army. He declared that he considered
the methods OF Capt. Field TO be lob
noxious."
Evidence was ALL in at IL 30 MOnda,
morning and the defense had the frs
argument. Capt. Rowland followed fol
the prosecution.