The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-05
DID NOT REFUSE
To GRANT LEAVE
Sergeant Atkinson Only Had I'M
preston That if He Left
He Would Lose Position.
INTENDED NO VIOLATION
Howitzer Officer Frankly Con
fesses His Misunderstanding
and Explains His Action.
INTENDED NO VIOLATION

The court martial Thursday night Oh
Sergeant Frank L. Atkinson, of the
Richmond Howitsers, charged with be-
ting absent from duty at. Gettysburg,
with conduct contrary to the good OF
the order and conduct of military dis
etpline, and absent from assembly at
his battery, all violations OF the aru-
Giles of war, brought forth facts which
tend to show that his employers did
not refuse to give him leave of absence.
Primarily the object of the court was
to bring to light an instance where en-
ployers declined TO grant their employ
ees leave OF absence to carry out mil
itary duties. The entire affair is a
result Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and infer
ences
Sergeant Atkinson is employed by
the American Locomotive Works. The
accused was under the impression,
that II he went to Gettysburg he would
be dismissed from his position. His
superior, e. B. Warren, OF the Loco
motive Works, and General Manager j.
! r. Marshall were present at the trlai,
/ and testified that no man would be dis
/ charged from their employ because or
| military service. In fact 1t was
! brought out the big concern maintains
a system of accounting whereby time
1 lost ny employees On UliilNtiS outs
| may be charged to a special account.
The verdict of the court was sealed
| and has been forwarded TO Governor
! Mann, as commander in chief of the
Virginia Volunteers. The verdict VIII
be made public by him
Trial Brief,
The hearing was brief About half
an hour was consumed in taking the
testimony. Another thirty minutes was
| occupied by the court in considering
the evidence and preparing verdict
/ Sergeant Atkinson pleaded guilty to
the charge of being absent without
leave from Z p. m, June 80, until a.
| m, July 10. He pleaded not guilty
to the charges of being absent from
assembly at his battery and to the
charge of conduct to the prejudice OF
military discipline.
CAPTAIN W. M. Myers, commanding
the Howltzers, testified that Sergeant
Atkinson had received his equipment
to go to Gettysburg, but that at p.
M on the day of departure the later
came to him and declared he would
be unable to go. Captain Myers stated
that he had then granted all Burroughs
possible, and Informed Atkinson's EN-
ployers to this effect. He Informed
Atkinson that he could not release him
! at that late hour. ana he failed 10 re-
port. He gave the accused a spiendld
| reputation as an officer.
When the Howitzers returned tt
! Richmond, Captain Myers called opoT
his sergeant for an explanation Al
;. kinson, said Captain Myers, declared
: he would have lost his job had h.
gone to Gettysburg"
Would Not Dismiss Him.
Captain Myers testified that a let
ter from the locomotive works, stgnef
, by Mr. Warren, stated that 1t woult
!, be fhconvenient to let Atkinson OF
:. that IL contained no reference 10 ais
n missing him.
@ Sergeant Atkinson was put on tn
stand and said he felt that he woul'
be discharged If he left his work. Fl
admitted that Mr" Warren had no
4 said he would be discharged. Fl
t stated that he knew his work had t
), 20 on and that a man would be pu
" in his place If he went away,
/, The situation was also explaine
!. | by Messrs. Warren and Marshal
IS The latter declared that the locomo
+ tive company had been placed In
i bad light before the public. that n
: encouraged military duty. rather tina
t, do anything to keep his employees fror
IL.
Intended No Violation.
7 IN MS OWN ueltiSE Sti HCNAat
i son said:
r. ut seems that have thorough
o misunderstood the position and WORD
II OF my employer. but my impressio
!. was that I would be discharged II
= went to Gettysburg and that someon
else would have been put In my place
never would have violated any mill
tary rule"
9 Captain l. Branch johnson, com
!, . manding the Norfolk Light Artiller
y Blues, Judge advocate of the cour
It addressed the board In closing u
: case and said:
."There Is clear evidence of the &C
cused mans guilt, but II also seem
:. to be the growth of a general mis-
= understanding. In acquainting Car
% tain Myers with his proposed pos
l. ton, he testified as to an inferenc
ana not as to facts. IT was enttrei
Sergeant Atkinson's fault that he di
- not get excused. Had he gone abo,
d It with the proper spirit he woul
10 have been excused. But there We
n something wrong with HIS head or h
II spirit
l. You must remember that fnilitar
courts are more stringent than ord
nary courts, and you may not punis
r. with a light hand. Sergeant Atkir
a sons excuse Is not admissible, and
g trust that the court will find the AZ
70 oused guilty and punish him sui
. stantially."
The conference of the court follow
ed and the verdict will be delfvere
,. to the governor through militas
= channels.
- The court was composed of the 70
lowing officers. Major E. w Bowie
commanding the Richmond Light II
fantry Blues, president; Major Ber
- tamin Harrison. Petersburg: Major
% +. Price. First Virginia regimen
Richmond: First Lieutenant K. (
Il Rees, Howitzers First Lieutenant
r c. Boschen. Richmond Light Infantr
10 Blues. Captain l. Branch JohnsoI
D OF the Norfolk Light Artillery Blue
Judge advocate.
~