The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-22

1.
certain steps that he was to take to
plea OF nonjurisdiction, the first
move in the defense prepared by
counsel for Major w. f. Hancock,
coast artillery corps, on trial before
general ocurtmaftiaI OF army ON
GERS at headquarters, department al
the Gulf, Monday, was overruled by
the court of thirteen officers after
two recesses had been taken for Its
consideration, and the court adjourn
ed to reconvene at Q o'clock Monday
afternoon for a continuance or the
hearing.
Shortly after noon the court was
formed, he regular order of procedure
in military courts being followed, the
recorder being sworn, the charge
read. and the officers ofsthe court'ahd
the Judge advocate being sworn to
secrecy as to votes and findings.
. The breaking of pledge signed to
his commanding officer at Fort Casey,
Wash, to abstain from Intoxicating
drink during a period of 2 years from
April %, 1896, is embodied in the
charge of conduct unbecoming an Of
ficer and gentleman, In violation OF
the sixty-first article of war, which
Major Hancock will be called upon
to face
The specification which reproduces
a copy of the pledge signed by Ma
jor Hancock, alleges that the major
broke his word by again indulging in
intoxicating drink, on several Occa-
sions, while on duty at Forts Dade
and DeSoto, Fla, and in the city OF
Tampa. The charge is preferred by
Lieutenant Colonel III. E. Robinson. of
the Twenty-second infantry, in his ca
pacity as adjutant general,(- depart
ment of the gulf.
1t is set forth In the specification
that Major Hancock was threatened
with disciplinary measures by his
officer at Fort Casey, |
Wash, for continued drunkenness and
neglect Of duty while the major, then
a captain, was on duty at that fort |
with his corps.
notwithstanding these warnings, |
says the specification, Major (then |
captain) Hancock again was drunk |
and absent from duty, and was placed |
under arrest by his commanding Off /
GER. The latter acting on recommen-
dation Of the commanding general, de-
department. of Columbia, received the |
pledge of Major Hancock to abstain
from liquor for two years, and the
latter was released from arrest.
Major Hancock, in full uniform, but
without sidearms, stood before the
court while the charge and specifica-
ions against lin were being read by
Colonel Lewis E. Goodier, judge ad-
TOcate general
A plea Of non-jurisdiction was the
'eply which counsel for Major Han
,ock, Lieut.. Gordon N. Kimball, Of
he I'll cavalry, flied before the
court. Lieut.. Kfmball, formerly
nemDer of the bar and an officer who
las achieved a reputation in army cir
les for his effective work before
contended that the
court before him was convened with 4
Tut authority in that the order under
which it assembled had been signed
With the name of the commanding
department. of the gulf, while s
uty.
The judge advocate general argued
hat the defense was introducing no
roof to show that the commanding {
eneral had not been present in the Q
apartment when the order was sign
d. In further argument he ad-
anced that 1t did not lie with the
curt to go behind or inquire into L
he act Of the authority which con-
ened 1t; and that II such plea were
made at all, it would be more ad- 2
lissable later, on the accomplished
ction of the court. II
Colonel Goodier read a letter of the
var department, showing that the F
ommanding general, while detailed
n other duty, was under specific di-
ection Of the acting secretary of war
D retain his command of the depart
lent. Lieutenant Kimball replied