Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1909-12-31


that he had no occupation at the time
OF his entry, and the records in the
office show that he entered as a
physician and surgeon"
Capt. Munger, the fifth one of the
witnesses, was not dishonorably dis
charged, but asked for discharge,
because of an Objectionable letter ad-
dressed to his wife by Col. Geddis.
The circumstances connected with
these discharges show, unmistakably,
that they were issued in spirit of re.
venge, because of the adverse testimony
given by these witnesses.
l talked with four of the discharged
men and they stated that they did not
seek to come before the board, but
we're ordered to do SO by Col. Geddis.
The wife of one of these discharged
men was very i'll and the discharge of
her husband, and her consequent
evacuation of her rooms, was piece
of cruelty without excuse.
found Col Geddis man of violent
temper and inclined to be over.
bearing. His treatment of me was
courteous and he afforded me every
facility for investigation. However,
l think there are persons under him,
in his employ, who are untitled for the
positions which they hold. Geddis'
language concerning the discharged
men was extremely vindictive, and am
firmly of the opinion, from all that
saw and heard, that he is temperament
ally untitled for the duties of his
position. Not only do think that he
committed grievous wrong in the
discharge of these men, but / found
that he is feared and despised by quite
a respectable minority of the inmates
of the Home.
l have no wish to make political
capital of anv incidental mismanage-
ment of department under your ad-
ministration. l hold the good of the
Soldiers Home to be paramount to any
political consideration, and would
rather cooperate with you in assisting
to resdedy existing wrongs, than to
throw obstacles in your way.
i have asked the persons who have
been wronged to leave the matter in
my hands for the present, and I bring
1t to you believing that when the facts
are known, you will take the necessary
steps to have these wrongs righted, as
far as it lies in your power to do so.
] am making no charge against Col.
Geddis, SO far as his honor and in
tegrity are concerned, but am bound
to say from the evidence in my DOS
session. and believe the present and
future good of the Soldiers Home re-
quire different kind of man in his
position.
The discharged men to whom have
referred, were the peers in intelligence
and character of any five men in the
Home, and it strikes me as being
entirely out Of the question that they
should be driven from the Home with
the sentence of dishonorable dis.
charge against them. They served
their country faithfully, and bore
honorable discharges from that service
They have only a few years to live,
and should not be disgraced cause
lessly at the very sunset of life.
Trusting that you appreciate the
spirit Of this communication, and that
the matter will receive your prompt
and energetic attention, 1 am,
Very respectfully yours,
GRANVILLE JONES.
The following is letter written to
the editor of the Sioux Falls Daily
Press answering the Jones article:
Hot Springs, s. D., Dec. 81, 1909.
Editor Sioux Falls Daily Press,
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
In your issue of December 23rd, an
article appeared headed by Granville
Jones, and thare is q letter in the
Argus Leader signed by George A.
Ludlow. Both of these articles are in.
correct. l simply wish to say that the
records Of the Board of Commissioners
will show that this whole matter was
investigated by the Board at regular
meeting, all members being present,
and each one of the parties, Munger,
Smith, Fsssett, Horner and Coberston)
appeared before the Board and made
their statement, and in each case the
Board approved and ordered the
action OF the Commandant; after which
the parties discharged served man
damus on the Board and Commandant
to reinstate them as members of the
Home. The case was heard before his
honor, Judge McGee, in Circuit Court
of Fall River County. and the action
of the Board WAS sustained by the
Court and the case dismissed. Now
this thing was done and all settled on