Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-21

nv the colonel or the lieutenant. would
one day influence her aunt toward the
defendant, the next toward the plain
tig. The former being a prominent
artillery officer. that arm of the serv-
ice took great interest in the trial.
some siding with and some against
their comrade of the big guns.
OF course the officers families took
great interest in the trial, and, as there
is intercourse between the different
corps, the trouble spread to the in
fantry, cavalry and the staff corps.
Thus by the time the court was ready
to try the case the whole army was
involved.
The members assembled in full uni
form The first proceeding was the
reading OF the charge. which was tyr
amy, and the specifications, which
We're very numerous. The first speci-
fication began thus:
In this, that on or about the til
day of -, 10. the said plaintiff
being on dress parade. a hy lighted
on his nose, the organ being very sore
and painfully tender
At this point the president OF the
court interposed.
Whoever drew that specification
should be cashiered. Lieutenant Phil
lips is not being tried because a fly
lighted on his nose. Colonel Auchin-
Gloss is being tried on a charge OF
tyranny
1t was explained TO the president,
who was so much OF soldier that he
could not be anything of a lawyer.
that this incident Of fly lighting on
the adiutant's nose was the beginning
of the trouble, whereupon he was sat
isfed, and the reading proceeded.
There was one matter that could not
be introduced into the trial That was
the rivalry between plaintiff and de-
PENDANT for the hand of Miss DRESSER.
But everybody knew that this had
added fuel TO the fame till the fly
that had lighted on the adjutant's nose
had been put entirely in the back
ground. When the trial began and all
through the army the question was
asked. whats this rumpus between
Colonel Auchincloss and Phillips?" the
reply was invariably, "Why. you see,
a fly lit on Phillips nose when he was
on dress parade" etc. But after
awhile when the question was asked
the reply would be, mo one knows,
but If you want to get at the bottom
of the matter you'll have to look for
a woman In the case"
1t was found necessary to bring wit
nesses Cat government expense) from
the uttermost points of the world, and
when witness was summoned it was
necessary to wait for his or her ar
rival. So the case dragged and was
very expensive till at last it was
found necessary to ask congress for
special appropriation 10 carry it on.
The matter was then taken up by the
secretary of war, who sent for the
Judge advocate Of the court and asked
him to give the facts. The judge ad-
vocate began:
"Why, you see, Mr.. Secretary, wnei
LieutC uant Phillips was on dress pa
rade fly lit on a sore spot on the end
of his nose"
81 haven't time for THAR snapped
the secretary. Give me the gist of
it."
There's no gist to it"
isn't there some way Of getting rid
Of it,"
'That depends" ~~/
"On WHAT"
"a woman"
The secretary was Informed that
the rancor was kept up by niece of
the commander of the department who
couldn't make up her mind whether
she wished to marry the colonel or the
lieutenant.
go tell her to come to me-that /
have something nice for her"
Miss Dressler answered the sum-
mons in person and expectantly.
what is your ambition?" asked the
secretary.
"To be the wife OF a military at
tache at foreign court"
Name the man you wish for hus-
band and he shall be appointed"
Lieutenant Bob Phillips"
THAT will do. Good morning"
The next day Lieutenant Phillips |
his charges against Colonel |
and an order was pub |
lished promoting him and relieving the !
military attache on duty at Paris and |
appointing Captain Phillips in his |
stead.
There are those who give Mrs. Phil
lips part in this celebrated army case /
a deeper import than appears on the /
surface. These persons maintain that /
she had some sort of an ak TO grind. I
and If not from the first at least from
the moment it appeared that the trial I
was burden 10 the government she put I
the tx on the grindstOne. BE this as it |
may. 1t is always dangerous for a wo- |
man to discover that she holds the bal /
ance OF power.
When accused Of this the lady smiles |
and says, LET those laugh who laugh /
last"