The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-06
.COURTOF INQUIRY
FORMALLY CALLED
Question of Vcracity Between
Nottingham and Parker Raised
in Official Orders.
MEET IN NORFOLK APRIL 20
Names Of Officers Criticized by
Colonel Are Learncd-Dc-
tail Is Named.
MEET IN NORFOLK APRIL 2;

Judging from the wording of tho
official orders issued yesterday by
Governor Mann. calling Il court OF
, inquiry In the Nottingham case. the
court will be required To pass upon
Il question OF voracity bctwcon
Colonel Thomas j. Nottingham, COM
mander of the Fourth Regiment. ind
Captain Walter G.. Parker, chaplain
OF the same regiment. 1t IL further
to be noted that the Inquiry court is
called upon the request OF Captain
w. G.. Parker, and OH the rccc'u-
mendation OF the commanding officer
Of tho First Acknowledgement c. G.
Vaughan, Jr.
AS matter OF fact. court of In
uuiry does not contemplate the in
vcstigation of formal charges. In
ing into certain definite facts or
statements. such as differences be-
tween officer or men, or varying
statements.
The court Is directed to sit in Nor
folk on April %. 1t Ia TO bc COM
posed as follows: Colonel Robert +.
l.eedy, of Luray, commander of tho
Second Infantry; Northumberland
Il. Il. Craighill. of Lynchburg. First
Infantry: Major t. NJ. Workman. OF
Richmond, commander of the First
Battalion. Field Artillery. The ro-
corder is Major Thomas w. Shelton,
'of Norfolk. acting Judge advocate
general.
Were Remarks Publict
While t is understood that Colonel
nottingham has admitted In writing.
in Endorsements on the official papers.
that he made the "unmilitary. vIlo
aud profane" remarks attributed 10
him by Rev. w. G. Parker. concern
ra1
other officers of the service the point
at issue as to truth IL that Colonel
Nottingham stated he said what he
did in tho presence of his official
family-his staff.
Captain Parker asserts positively, In
the papers, thrt his commander used
the offensive rcmaks, which caused tho
chap1ain's desire to leave tho service.
in a public manner in tho presence OF
n number of officers. 1t ia. however.
stated that public nature OF the re-
marks would mako no difference AS TO
the offcnsc.
The details of the affair nre con
taincd In the papers. which have not
been made public. Tnosc officers
against whom the "vilo and proiAne"
remarks OF Colonel Nottingham. ac-
cording to Chaplain Parker, were lev
eled at Culpepcr include, It Is said.
besides General Vaughan. the nssisitnt
inspector-gencral the quartcrmastcr-
general. and the United states army Of
nccr present at tho camp in the ca
pacity of Observation-Disclosures
These officers, according to the print
ed report of the hdjutant- general. arc
found to he Lteutciant-C Colonel 10 Lane
Stern. Major Allen Potts and Captain
Charles F. Baltzell, u. 5. a.
Text of Orders.
The Governors orders are as fol-
lowe:
Upon the request of Captain W. G..
Tarl<cr. chaplain Fourth Regiment In
fantry. Virginia Volunteers. and the
recommendation Of the commanding Of
ncer of the First Brigade, a court Of
inquiry is hereby ordered to convene
at Norfolk. Va. on Tuesday. April %.
1912. at 10 o'clocieN NJ. at the armory
OF tho Fourth Regiment of Infantry.
or at such other places as the senior
officer of the court maS direct. The
court will proceed to Inquire into and
report upon the facts touching such
conflicting statements and opinions of
Captain ". G. Parker and his com
harding officer, Colonel IT. ]. Noting
ham, Fourth Infantry. Virginia Volun-
tccrs, which seriously affect the vera
city and conduct of said omccrs.
And tho court Is directed to ex-
press such opinion and make such
recommendations as shall seem best for
the good of the service.
Detail for court-Colonel Il. r
Leedy, Second Infantry: Lieutenant
Colonel r. +. Craighill. First Infantry
Major n. NJ. Workman. First Battalion
Artillery; Major n. w. shelton, record
or.
(signcd) ''wM. HODGES MANN,
Governor and Commander-i Chief"