The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-09
.CONS0LVO court
READY FOR TRIAL
Military Officials Summoned as
Witnesses in 'ro-Day's
Inquiry.
CAUSED BY CRITICISM S
Paymaster-G General Asked That
His Military Conduct BE
Examined.

With most Of the ranking mill
tary officers of the state summoned
as witnesses, and with interest at a
high pitch because of the rank of TIL.
officer involved and the nature of the
/ circumstances to be investigated, the
court of inquiry asked for by Lieu
tenant-C Colonel Charles Fl. Consolvo
will begin its sessions this morning.
The court will sit in the officers room
In the armopy of the Richmond Light
Infantry Blues Battalion
Among the witnesses who arrived in
the city last evening were: Brigadier-
General G. c. Vaughan, Jr., of Frank
lin, commander of the First Brigade
OF Virginia Infantry; Lieutenant Col
onel Robert f. Craighill, First Ragi-
ment, of Lynchburg; Lieuteuant- Coll
onel S. r. Millar, Second Regiment, of
Front Royal. and Lieutenant T.. ".
Peace. of Stanton. Other well-known
ofi1cers are expected to arrive this
morning.
Composition of Court.
The court Will be constituted at 10
o'clock by it's president. Colonel Rob-
crt II. Leedy. of Luray, commander of
the Second Infantry. The other men,
bers Of the tribunal are: Major Allen
I. Finish. Medical Corps, Chase city:
Major Alfred b. Percy, ordnance officer,
Lynchburg; Captain II. II Hunt First
Infantry. of Farmville, and Captain
Harry A. Brinkley, Battery c. Field
ARTILLERY, of Portsmouth.
The recorder, who occupies a posi-
ton in court of inquiry correspond.
Ing to that of judge-advocate in
court martial as prosecuting oficer
will be Lieutenant j. Randolph Tucker.
of the Richmond Blues Lieutenant
Tucker represents the Commonwealth
Colonel Consolvo will, 1t is understood,
be represented by counsel.
The duration OF the courts session
is probematical. 1t may conclude Its
labors within two or three hours. or
the inquiry may consume the entire
day or the remainder of the week.
Again. when it comes to consider its
verdict. 1T may POSTPONE action, as Is
sometimes done, until the stenographic
report of the evidence can be received.
However, in this instance, when the
members of the court come from vide
ly separated sections of the state. and
gather with much trouble to them
selves and considerable expense to the
,, Commonwealth. it is probable that they
| will decide upon a verdict before leav-
ing the city.
This verdict will be transmitted to
the Acknowledgement and considered
| by him and by the Governor.
Requested Court.
| Colonel Consolvo asked for the APP
| pontment of the court to investigate
his official conduct in the matter of
the payment of the Virginia Nolun-
teers who We're on military duty at
| the Joint manocuvres at Gettysburg in
| July.
| 1t had been the understanding that
| the officers and men Would be paid off
| at the time of breaking camp, but the
| money was not on hand for the pay
| MASTER generals use From day to
| day. after the return of the troops, the
| checks We're expected, but fina! pay
| ment was deferred until several weeks
/ had passed. This circumstance tried
! the patience of many of the militia
| men, and some of them INDUCED in
| rather bitter criticism of the disburs-
: ing officer
An answer to these critics was made
/, by Colonel Consolvo, in which he de-
| tailed his difficulties in securing the
money, in getting the payrolls proper
| ~ prepared and signed, and IN procur-
| ing the necessary checks.
When payment had finally been
! made, the paymaster- general asked the
| Acknowledgement for court OF in
] quiry, nclosing clippings of articles
| winch had been written concerning the
matter, and in which his official
course had been sharply arraigned
| Some of these expressions Of opinion
were, 1t was understood, written by Of
| ficers of the militia.
| 1t will be the duty OF the court
which meets to-day to fix the respon-
! sibility for the delay in the payment
of the troops. to see whether ol not
Colonel Consolvo used proper diligence
and displayed military efficiency In the
discharge of his duties, and to make
such recommendations as 1t may see fl
concerning the good Of the Virginia
Volunteers.
IT Company Meets.
The new Company n. First Regiment.