The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-24
Major Bowles Requests
Governor to Name Ex-.
arnining Body.
MAY DISCHARGE
BLUES OFFICER,
Little Known Section Of Code
Invoked-G Governor Defers
Action Until He Examines
Papers-Findings Of Courts Z.
Of Inquiry Show Fac
tons in Company.

Acting upon rarely used and al.
most forgotten section OF the Code OF
Virginia. Major E. w. Bowles. com.
manding the Richmond Light Infantry
Blues Battalion, has asked Governo,
Mann to order q board OF examina-
tion." to inquire into the moral char
actor, capacity and general fitness OF
Captain Thomas b. MCDOWELL. COM
mander OF Company "A, of the Blues
Such a board could cause the officers
dismissal from the service.
This action Is the sequel to the re-
cent court OF inquiry which made an
Investigation into the affairs Of the
company at the request OF Corporal
Carroll F. Martin. This court report
ed some weeks ago. entirely vindicat-
ing Corporal Martins character and
approving his military qualitcations.
The report further said that Captain
Mcdowell had acted In violation of
the regulations OF the Virginia Vol
unteers in recommending Corporal
Martin for discharge: that the proper
harmony could NOT be expected to ex-
list In the company under Captain Me-
Dowell's administration. and recon-
mended that action be taken under a
section OF the Articles OF War which
provides for dealing with officers who
are unsatisfactory to the service.
Decision OF Major.
To this report Major Bowles has
given great deal OF thought during
the past few weeks, consulting with
other officers regarding the matter.
His letter asking for a board of ex-
lmination, which reached the Cover
aor yesterday, Is the outcome
4 ~. y, 10 Ynf
such board is evidently intended for
use in such cases as 1T Is desirable
hat the commander-in-ch chief (of course,
the Governorl should take the inttia-
tive i'm dealing with officers accused
or action detrimental TO the service.
Ii provides that he may order any COM
9 missioned officer before a board OF .e1.--.
Summation. to consist OF no iesx athan
three nor more than Ave officers OF
the same or higher rank, " hich Is u. !.
vested by the law with the powers OF
rourts of inquiry and OF courts mar
.inl. II its findings arc uEfavorable.
The officer is to be dismissed from the
service.
1he presumption 81 that this section
was placed IN the military laws OF the
State SO that the Governor might take
.ognizance OF matters wherein there
nre reports regarding an officer. but
Whece no tCHdIbeS 3pCO1A1A . SASAA
Governor Defers Action.
The recommendation OF Major
Bowles was made up by him on Mon
day night and forwarded TO Adtutant-
General w. w. Sale. The latter ofti-
cial handed 1t to the Governor yester-
day afternoon. After looking over 1t
the executive said he would take no
action until he had examined the
paperssin the Hawkins case, which was
tried in 1908. and which Is referred to
by Major Bowles 1t is the intention
Of the Governor to gather all possible
tight on the subject before he grants
or refuses the board OF examination.
Reference to the case OF Corporal
Hawkins was evidently made by Major
Bowles to show that the feeling In the
company is not OF recent origin. He
also quotes from the findings in the
Martin case. which are fresh In the
public mind.
Members and friends OF the Blues
Association have much deplored the
recent troubles in the organization.
which are apparently not at an end.
ReuuestA Examinnti tion.
Under the provisions OF section 800
OF the code OF Virginia." begins Major
Bowles's communication, II have the
nonor to request the appointment Of
board of examiners to examine into
the moral character, apacitys and gem
eral fitness of Captain T. 3. MCDOWELL.
cf Company A, this battalion. My rea-
sons for requesting this board are as
follows: 53.3s i58 81
q. The censure OF Captain (then
first .ieutenant) T. B. Mcdowell OF
Company A, Richmond Light Infantry
Blues, by court Of inquiry, convened
spursuant to S. o. No. "a, headquarters
Richmond Light Infantry Blues Bat
TALON. series 1908, as follows:
I've (the court) think 1t not I'M
proper, however. to call attention to
the fact that the evidence clearly dis
stions in "A Company, to one Of which
the captain, and first Lieutenant It. B.
5McDowell) belong. and with which fac
ton Corporal Hawkins Is not aligned. |
eve also find as q fact that at. least
one officer (First Lieutenant T. B. Nc
sDowell) of this company. has stated
that it was the purpose and intention
OF this faction to get rid of Corporal !
Hawkins at this first opportunity
Captain Censuretl. ia
90 The findings OF the court OF In
quiry, convened July IA. 1s1 o, by s.. o.
No. a. headquarters this command.
5censuring Captain 4, B. NOD DWELL
Company A. for uni fairness and preju-
dice in;Sthe exercise Of HIS authority
as an offlcer;of the Virginia Volunteers
over corporal Carroll r. Martin, sot his
company. sl H. y 81 la s4a
n ''3, The opinion Of the last named
court that the proper harmony cannot
be expected to exist und der the present |
s(his) )Sadniinistrnt ton, and that the lack
of same is detrimental to the service,
"a. The recommendation OF said
court suggesting the advisab bilitys Of
sIOme such action "a ss& Il gYs III, syssi /
g.. The urgency OF enforcing ex-
:snplary discipline that will re-estab-
llish The n ecessaryl ord or. and harmony |
In the administration Of this colnpany's
iAffairs,"s Il, 81 5,l
Law Referred III TO, n 81
Is Section 80a of the Cod 9 Sot Virginia., /
hich Maj BoWl es refers, Is head
Continued on Second Page,l
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