The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-05
ATKINSON FACES
COURT-MART|AL
Admits Failure to Attend Gettys-
burg Camp OF Instruc-
ton.
COULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF
Manager Of Locomotive Works
Says He Would Not Have
Been Discharged.
COULD HAVE GOTTEN OFF

Reduced to the original facts in the
case, as judged by the evidence in the
trial by court-martia1 last night OF
Sergeant Frank L. Atkinson. of the
Richmond Howitzers. charged on three
counts under a general head of dis
obedience to order, the officers drew an
incorrect Inference from the remark
OF his immediate superior in the Rich
mond branch of the American Locomo-
tive Works, leading him. to believe
that he would be discharged If he wen,
to the national encampment at Gettys.
burg, and the management OF the big
corporation emerged from the affair
under a very different light from that
under which some had formerly con
sidered 1t.
Though there, was no gainsaying
the apprehension under which Ser
geant Atkinson had labored and nc
direct denial except as to the Original
facts of this misrepresentation. 1t seem
ed that he aad been too much .tundel
the Impression" that he would be dis
charged without first taking the nee
essary steps to find out his eXR/t
status or acquaintance his superior Of
fcers in his command of the real situa.
ton.
Would Uphold Militia.
E. B. Warren, Atkinson's immediate
superior in the Locomotive Works, and
]. R. Marshall general manager. both
stated that no man would be dis
charged from their employ because
of military service; rather that tHey
would uphold as far as they could
the militia of the State, and that, In
general terms, 1t would be folly for
them to do otherwise.
$io1 fa1 mr. y
more than an hour, and half an hour
was taken by the trial board in con-
sidering the testimony and In record
ing It's vote on the proceedings. The
findings cannot be made public until
they have been reviewed by the Gov
ernor of the State, commander-in-
chief Of the Virginia volunteers.
| The trial was much in the nature
| of a test case forit seems there had
| been some apprehension among certain
| officers that employers would make 1t
| SO difficult for their mon to belong to
the State militia that 1t would have
! an effect of running 1t, SO far as Rich
mond, at least, is concerned. alto
| gether.
| That this is not true, certainly as
regards the Locomotive Works, was
clearly established last night; and l,
| Is believed, to pe generally untrue sc
far as other Richmond firms are con.
| cerned, for 1t Is we'll known fac
among military officers that certain
large corporations charge up enforced
absence on account OF military ser
vice Of their employees to specified ac'
! counts, and in one instance corpo'
ration paid Its men then acting In {
military capacity the difference be-
tween the wages paid by the State ant
the wages they would have receivet
while working in their usual posi-
tions.
Court Officers sworn to Secrecy.
The court opened at Sis o'clock u
the Howitzers Armory, on Nortl
Eighth Street. The order of Adjutant
! General w. w, Sale for court-martla
was read to Sergeant Atkinson an
the court officers, We're then sworn
both to do their duty and to observ
secrecy until the findings shall hav
been reviewed, by the Governor an
made public by him.
! Sergeant Atkinson was arraignet
He was without counsel In full uni
form he listened to the charges. Th
lS lcontinUsd ~ Second PaEel