Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-09
COL STEWART DENIED.
Medical Experts Say That Arizona
 Exile Has Heart Disease.

I Washington, Oct 9.-For almost four hours Colonel W. F. Stewart of the army, who has come to be known
 as the Arizona "exile" struggled yes terday, but in vain, with the retiring
 board, before which he had been or
 dered, to obtain permission to sum-
 mon witnesses to prove that he is not
 incapacitated for army service and
 that therefore he should not be arbi-
 trarily retired. He gave the names
 of thirteen witnesses whom he de-
 sired to have called and when he fail-
 ed to obtain the boards permission
 to that end, his attorney announced
 that the colonel, himself, would take
 the stand in support of his plea that
 he is capable of performing the duties
 of colonel in the coast artillery.
 When the board convened, J. W.
 Latimer. counsel for Colonel Stewart,
 proceeded to cross-question Colonel
 Arthur and Major Edie regarding
 their reports as the medical experts of the board on the condition of Colo nel Stewards health. Both of them stated that Colonel Stewart is af-
 fiicted with heart disease to such an extent that any over exertion might result disastrously to him. The fact was brought out that Colonel Stew art has been the victim of heart dis ease for the past 35 years and refer ence was made to document on file in the war department showing that as early as 1877 he had requested to be excused from participation in an Indian expedition because of an af- lection of the heart and rheumatism. Both of the medical experts refused to make statements bearing upon Colonel Stewards previous condition. Both said that as long as Colonel Stewards present condition continued he would be fairly comfortable, but much would depend upon the exer- t!on he might be subjected to.
 After the army surgeons had left the stand, MT Latimer asked permis- sion to show the record of Colonel Stewards service, how many leaves of absence the colonel had had during the past twenty-five years, stating that his object was to show that he had been almost continuously on duty. Recorder Rowland said he was willing to admit that Colonel Stew art had performed all the duties as- signed to him and had very seldom re- quested leave of absence. He made | the point that no showing of the kind | could have any bearing upon the patients present condition of health, and the board sustained his objections.
 Colonel Stewards attorney present. ed a list of thirteen witnesses. all but one of whom are fellow officers, medical and otherwise, of the colonel. | and he asked to have all of them sum. moned. The board separately refus- ed the requests except one. the excep- ton being Dr Sprigg. a civilian phy- sycian residing in this city, who yes terday made an examination of Colo. nel Stewards heart In Dd Spripp'. ease the board announced it's willing ness to hear him in case he should appear. but 1t was stated hat he would not be summoned by he board. Two of the witnesses whom Colonel Stewart asked to have ordered to Washington were Lieuten- mt R. M. Barton of the First cavalry. ind Captain Chase of the same regi- nent. both of whom took horseback 'ides with Colonel Stewart last sep- ember. Mir Latimer said that both would testify that his client had ho*n no i'll effect from these rides.
 MT Latimer made request that 1 'olonel Stewart should be permitted 1