Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-03
MARTIAL
Sits SCANDALS
OF NAVAL ELITE
Paymaster Auld Defends
Action in Ejecting
DR.. COWleS
MISS AMES TESTIFIES
Officer Denies He Struck
Doctor, but Says Latter
Fell in Scuffle
tAssociated Press1

I OSTON, Feb. 2.-The social set of
u the CharlestoWn navy yard, which
- has crowded the big dance hall
three times this week at the court
martial of Paymaster George p. Aud
for conduct unbecoming a gentleman
and an officer, just missed hearing to-
day from one woman witness. what she
claimed was the real cause of the eject
ment of DIR. E. S. Cowles from the
dance of December II.
Miss Margaret Ames, daughter of DR.
Ames of the navy, wanted to tell the
cause, but the court preferred to hear
Paymaster Auld's version. The days
session was practically given up to the
young officers defense of himself
1t appeared from his statement that
several of the dancing set at the yard
discussed Dr. CoWles for days before
the dance, and MI Aud said that he
then received permission from Miss
Ames to have Dr. Cowles kept from
the dance on account of certain stories
in which the name of Miss Dorothy
Hesler of Evanston, ILL.,, was involved
Then came the incident at the dance
when Mr.. Auld asked Dr. Cowles to re-
tire from the hall, following which
the two met in the corridor below and
continued their alteration with DR..
A. S. Robnett, who will be tried later,
as a witness.
Denies Hitting Him
Mr. Auld denied today that he struck
Dr. Cowles, but admitted that he took
him by the shoulders and that, in the
wrestling which ensued DR.. Cowles
was thrown to the floor
Mr.. Aud said that he considered that
he was acting for the dance committee
in speaking to DR.. Cowles, whom he
personally did not think proper guest
at the dance
This practically concluded the tes-
timony in the case, and tomorrow aft
ernoon argument will be concluded. DIR.
RobnettS trial on a similar charge is
expected to begin Friday
The first witness was Miss Ames,
daughter of Medical Director Ames,
who testified yesterday regarding the
incidents connected with the alleged
assault committed by Paymaster Aud
on DR.. Cowles.
Miss Ames said she wished to COR
rect an impression she understood had
been made by her testimony when she
said at the time of the trouble between
Paymaster Auld and Dr. Cowles, the
paymaster was mot himself
Miss Ames said she did not mean to
insinuate Aud was under the influence
of liquor, but ratherIthat he seemed
much agitated.
Sam Boyd Sebree, a student in Har-
ward university, and Lieuts. Bristiss
and Basset testified to having heard
general conversation at Rear Admiral
Swift's house few days before the
night of December II, on which the al
legged assault was committed.
The general tenor of this conversa-
tion, the witness said, was that DR.
Cowles was not a desirable person to
have at the navy yard dances.
AuId's Version
Paymaster Auld gave his version Of
his meeting with Dr. Cowles. He said
four days before the dance at which
the assault occurred he discussed
Cowles' conduct toward Miss Hesler
with Miss Ames, and understood from
Miss Ames that she had no objection
to anything he might do to keep DR..
Cewles from the dance so long as Mrs.
CoWles did not hear of her suggestion.
Aud said he was surprised to see
DR.. Cowles at the dance and con-
sidered it an affront to the committee
in charge of the affair. After taking
DR.. Robnett with him to identity DR..
Cowles. Auld said he interviewed the
physician in the dance hall and said
to him:
I'VE wish you would not attend
dances at the navy yard"
The conversation was in a quiet tone
Aud said he used Miss Ames' name in
making the request. Later he met
Miss Ames and explained what he had
done and she asked him not to drag
her into the affair.
Aud admitted he followed DR.
Cowles down stairs where the latters
language became violent, especially
after Mrs. Cowles appeared. Then
came the clash.
Aulds story of it was that he took
hold of Dr. Cowles by the shoulders
and the two had a wrestling bout, in
which DIR. Cowles was thrown. AUD
denied emphatically that he struck DR..
Cowles.
"Why did you ask him to leave the
dance?" inquired member of the
committee.
Because ] considered I had the
backing of the dance committee after
my talk with Miss Ames," replied
Aud.
He could not recall that any other
member of the committee had asked
him to interfere. He told the court
he had forgotten the names of the
committee members.
N-&-oe-
nFnI AnFC HEAIC nDIMTIkIH