The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-09
Wins Contention That
Adequate Court Should
Hear Negroes Case.
VRGINIANS
ARE JUBILANT
General Wotherspoon Annoyed by
Interference of Governor, but
Summary Court Is Suspend
ed, and Negro Who Drew
Pistol on Officers Will
Have Real Trial.
by ALEXANDER FORWARD.

BY ALEXANDER FORWARD.
Camp of Instruction, Gettysburg, PA,
July S-Goyernor william Hodges
Mann, of yirgtnin, hns apparently won
his contention for an adequate court
for the trial Of the negro, Thomas
Carroll.
A tremendous howl will be heard
among the Virginia soldiers Tomorrow
morning when they lenrn they will not
be paid off.
According TO the nmpires, the ndvan-
fnge In the sham battle to-day rests
with the Reds, composed mainly of reg
uinrs.
Governor Mann left camp this after
noon for Richmond.
The Virginia troops Will break camp
at daylight and entrnin ns fast ms pos
stble. The Richinonders will probably
reach Elba station by o'clock to-
morrow afternoon.
To the virginians In the Camp OF
Instruction, the battle waged to-day
at Granite Hill was as nothing in i'm
tportance compared TO the fight Cover
nor Mann made 10 have real Justice
meted out to the negro trooper who
on Monday threatened Lieutenant
Hardy and Corporal Trueheart. OF Rich
mond. with pistol. The utmost se-
crecy is being observed on both sides,
from the Old Dominion that a general
court martial will hear carroli's case.
When II became known that General
'Wotherspoon, president of the Army
War College and commander of the
camp, had ordered only a summary
court martial for the trial of the MEM
her OF the negro detachment from the
college there WAS general indignation.
Inasmuch as the offensc is regarded
as most aagraai, and zs summary
courts tn only trivial cases, IL was
felt that there was no possibility that
any punishment commemorate with the
crime would be meted out.
Appeal to Governor.
Some one thought of appealing TO
Governor Mann. Accordingly. early
this morning. practically every officer
of the First Virginia signed strong
paper, addressed to the Chief Execu.
tive as commander-in- chief of the Vir-
ginia forces.
4 I'VE have the honor" says this petit
ton. ito request that you ask for
general court-martial in the case o.
Private Carroll. United States Army.
for drawing his weapon on commits.
stoned and on-commissioned officers
of the Virginia Militia Infantry while
in direct execution of their duty, and
that the case be not allowed TO come
before a summary court. Summary
courts are only used for the trial OF
I minor military offenses. The above
mentioned offense is serious offense
and should be tried only as such.
Our commissions should receive
equal respect and recognition with
such In the regular service at all times.
ltends to form a precedent making
ihenceforth our commissions yalueless
and undesirable"
& The Governor considered this paper
4 and addressed letter at once to Gem
4 eral Wotherspoon. It's contents are
unknown, but it may be safely guessed
that the request Of the First Regiment
officers was complied with. In the
meantime, the court-martial had been
begun. Carroll was arraigned. and
pleaded not guilty, Lieutenant S. r.
Gleaves. of the Virginia Military In
stitute. being detailed to defend him
4 Colonel Kennon United States Army,
was the court officer. One or two mi
nor witnesses were examined, and then
Lieutenant Hardy was placed on the
stand. He had been asked only two
or three questions when Provost Mar
4 shal Boughton entered the tent. Evil
dently the Governor had been heard
from.
i ''The commanding officer presents
i{his compliments, said Major Bough-
ton. and 1t directs that the court be
suspended temporarily"
Colonel Kennon at once obeyed.
There was a walt of fifteen minutes,
and the provost marshal again ap-
Il lpeared and directed in behalf of Cen
eral Wotherspoon that recess be
taken. The witnesses were released
and the negro went off with his COM
Ipanions
Declines to Discuss 1t.
Nothing more has been officially
theard. The witnesses were not re-
Ecalled Tonight General Wotherspoon
the subject. while talking freely about
everything else. 1t is learned, how-
ever, that to, his officers he expressed
his annoyance at what he termed the
"interference"@ Of the Governor. What
ever the military ethics Of the situa-
ton may be. there is noquestion that
d AL the Virginians are Immensely
pleased with the Governors action. He
.s is commended on all sides. General
vaughan's wishes were, It is stated.
that he be not drawn into the matter
II In any way, and they were fully res
spected. 1T is believed that the pa
I pers in the case will now go to the
War Department for consideration as
to a. general court-martial.
Governor Mann declined to discuss
II the case in any way. but said he might
have something to say when he reach
ed Richmond,
Under the command of Genera
+ Vaughan, the Blue Army day made
ya brilliant defense of It's position or
Granite Hill. capturing two troops q
the snemy's cavalry and an entire
n lstuhbornly waged, both sides manoeu
wiring With great skill, OF course. ths
battle was stopped at the3critical mo-
the Reds held slightly the hetter post
ton, the Blues were not disturbed jir
their, situation IN the least Though