The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-20
attalion ore BE cause
He ) showed Mercy to
Private Corkran.
NO COUKl : nj ATRIAL
NOW SEEMSLIKtLYI
Executives Action in Withhold
ing Name of Chesapeake and
Ohio Employe May Result in
Dropping Charges Against
Others, Cited for
Same Ohense.

According to comrnon belief at the
armory OF the Richmond Blues the
charges guinst the twelve men of the
battalion of failure to report for duty
at camp al Basic CITY, will not he pre-
sented before the court-martial which
Will assemble here at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning. 1t is said no owl
dence will be on hand, unless matters
take a new turn.
Although Major E. W. Bowles de-
clines to discuss the court martial in
any way IL is tho feeling that he will
consent TO dropping all OF the charges.
in view of the understanding that
Governor Mann has protected Private
Ceylon C. Corkran, Of Company y.
from trial on the same charge. At all
events the name of Private Corkran
was one OF the thirteen originally pre-
scented to Adjutant- w. w Sale
for trial. and the same charges were
iiled AGAINST him against the 9TH
ers. 1t is further said that officials
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
interceded In his behalf to save him
from the embarrassment of "a trial by
court martial. II this be true, their
action has brought the name OF Pri-
vate Corkran into much more unpleas-
ant notoriety than If lie had remained
on the list with the other unfortu-
mates.
Only Twelve Announced
When announcement was made from
tho office of the Adjutant- General of
the names of those cited to appear be-
fore the court which had been called.
only twelve were given out for pub
lication. It was further said that the
Governor was withholding the thir-
tenth
Gossip at the armory is to the effect
are offended at the reported action Of
tho Governor in pardoning Private
| Corkran before he has been tried.
Certain IL Is that 1T is the principal
topic of conversation among the mem
bers of the battalion. among whom
the present status of the situation is
told in varying forms. The friends
of the twelve men whose names have
been announced, and who have been
summoned for trial are indignant that
one man should have been protected
and say they do not see tho logic of
a court-martial under the circum-
stances. which they argue would be as
unfair as l. will be undesira BILE, no
matter what the result.
Letter From Employer.
Friends of Private Corkran say that
IL
ten by his department chief, Superin-
tendent OF Motive Power i. f. Walsh
of the Chesapeake and Ohio, advising
Major Bowles that his chief clerk was
out of the city and that Private Cork
ran was acting chief clerk and could
not be spared.
However this may be. it is not be-
lieved that Major Bowles. considering
the attitude he had assumed. would
| har fur
plea. One, year previously, it had been
found impossible to get together a
single company of the battalion to
attend the joint manoeuvres At Gettys-
burg. with the result that the rest of
the military OF the State said things
| uncomplimentary to the Blues regard
ing their unwillingness to do hard
work when the occasion came Nat
urally. Major Bowles desired to show
to the contrary. and he had evidently
made up his mind. months ago. that
he would have battalion of real sol
diers none at all. In pursuance Of
this plan he resolutely refused to
grant furloughs from camp duty at
Basic City. save In three or four extra
ordinary cases.
Bakers Dozen Missing.
Thirteen men without Burroughs did
not report for duty Against these
charges were brought some of them
are said to have defenses which they
believe will bring about acquittai in
event of trial Others are said to be
"in bad" on the proposition.
It is still possible that the Governor
may decide to allow the trial of Private
CorlSran. though this Is regarded as
! distinctly improbable. In view Of the
withholding of his name Besides. no
process has been served on him accord
I,,-, nd ~ ~ a.
! appear tomorrow unless he chooses to
waive notice and accept service.
! Those who argue the case out at the
| armoiy fear the effect of the whole
matter on the future. They point out
| that If one man can escape trial
through intercession. others can fol-
| low. Dissatisfaction would ensue
among those who have not the intlu-
ence. and a breach would at once be
/ opened II all charges are withdra wn.
those who next year 90 not desire to
go to camp could stay at home and
snap their fingers at the major 1t is
accepted as true that In matters of
discipline most of the members of this
command obey orders, but naturally
there are exceptions
:: Names OF Accused.
The twelve men who in addition to
Private Corkran. were charged with
disobedience are:
Battalion Headquarters-Dr w: r.
Hopkins. hospital steward; William f.
BreaZeale. color sergeant.
Band-Private L. w. Leake
Company A-Private George C.. Fair
lamb.
Company R-Private Malcolm j.
Rawlings. Private John II. Brent. Pri-
vate Egbert ]. Giles.
Company Corporal Robert r.
Proctor. Private Lewis H. Gates. Pri-