The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-16
.ENR|GHT EXPLAINS COURT
MARTIAL
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Il was. replied Major Enright.
Are you Michael ]. Enright. who
enlisted at Toledo, Ohio"
y am
Were you ever on oury at Boiling
Green. KY
Il was
Then you are not Michael J. En-
right, who. In lss2. was found guilty
of quitting your post, tried by court
martial and sentenced to hard labor
with ball and cham
Il have no recollection of such an
4atafsff u
Attorney Smith said he held let
ter from Ad1utant General Ainsworth
stating that Michael j. Enrgiht. OF the
command mentioned. has such re-
cord of service in the army as charged
against the witness
Major Enrgiht said he had been
court-martlsl. but did not recall be-
ing convicted. He admitted that he
draws q pension.
Lawyer Smith asked: Then you
do not know that men drawing pen
sions have their records on ale?''
Il do" replied the witness.
Was Trivial Matter.
Major Enright asked permission to
explain his case. and told the story
Of the accident. which he had con-
stdered dead and forgotten more than
TWO score years. In voice shaken
exonerated himself OF the charges
that he had been tried for de-
sertion and convicted by drum
head coart-martiai and wore a
bali and chain. Admitting he
had appeared before court-martlal
proceedings Major Enright declared
the charge against him was insubor-
dination and he also asserted that the
charge was of a minor character and
nnjussifaed. Further, Mapar Enright
testified that no finding was returned
in the case and that 1t was ultimately
dropped.
II was astounded Saturday. said
Major Enright. when those questions
concerning the ball and chain were
put to me. / had always looked upon
the whole AFFAIR more or less as a
joke and I had told II to hundreds
Of friends In the nature of good
story. The seriousness of the affair
never impressed me.
THE charges OF insubordination
were made by a second lieutenant
friends was on picket duty and
which ! knew to be violation OF the
regulations, ] appraised the lieutenan:
Of the fact and he said; well you're
her and here to stay.
That resulted In a charge of leav-
ing my post In the presence OF the
enemy being placed against me. al
though there was no enemy present.
IT was simply case OF the lieutenant
taking my words too seriously.
II was seventeen years old at the
time and during the war ! fought in
twenty battles and was In about thir-
ty of forty skirmishes.
After returning to Toledo, where
I had enlisted. was elected clerk
OF the court and was the only county
officer elected for three terms
served three years in the war. ana
In that time never missed a day. Re-
cords in the war department will show
that my career was without q blemish,
barring the little episode I have ex-
planned. and ! and my friends, and
have always looked upon It as triv-
ial occurrence.
THE lieutenant, f. II. Bowling. who
has since lived In Toledo. where he
is very well known. is one of the
closest friends ! have. General l. r.
Sherwood, who was member OF Con-
gress later. was colonel OF the regi-
ment In which served at the time the
unwarranted charge was made against
me.
Major Enright told the story with
but few Interruptions. speaking In a
low voice. which WAS plainly heard by
every one In the crowded courtroom.
After completing the story. Major En-
right was followed on the stand by
Mr.. John G. Hagan, member ~ the
~ ~ ~ he Maft