The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-06
GOVERNOR ORDERS
COURT OF INQUIRY
TO MEET IN NORFOLK APRIL ~
AND INQuRE INTO CHARGES
AGAINST col. NOTTINGHAM.
LEEDY HEADS COURT
CAPTAIN I. BRANCH JOHNSON REP
REsENTs ACCUSED OFFICER
AND WILL ArPEAR IN HIS
DEFENSE.
LEEDY HEADS COURT

After all efforts for an amicable set
Element out of court had failed. Gov
ernor Mann. acting in his capacity
as commander-in-chief of the Vir-
ginia military forces. yesterday morn
ing ordered court of inquiry to hear
preliminary testimony In the case OF
Chaplain w. @. Barker, OF the Fourth
Virginia regiment, who recently sent
in his resignation. and charged that
Colonel Thomas J. Nottingham at the
Culpeper encampment last summer
used abusive and violent language in
speaking Of his superior officers.
The hearing will be held in Norfolk
on April 23d. and the following off,
GERS have been appointed by Cover
nor Mann to act ~ the court of In
quiry: Colonel Robert +. 1.eedy. OF
the Second Infantry regiment: Lieu
tenant-ColoneI Robert l.. Craighill. OF
the First infantry; Major T. NJ.
Workman, OF the First artillery, and
Major Thomas w. Shelton. recorder.
A stenographer will be employed to
take all the evidence in the hearing
and to reduce 1t into written terms.
NOUft -MeTeIy AnQttlEeA~
A court of inquiry Is simply to de-
termine whether actual charges shall
be preferred and whether they are
of sufficient seriousness to justify a
caart-maFtisi. The findings of the
court Will be forwarded to Governor
Mann. and he. in his discretion. may
order court-marttal. request the
resignation OF the accused officer or
totally ignore all proceedings on the
ground that the evidence Is not SUM-
Gent to base ground for action.
Colonel Nottingham will be repre-
scented by Captain l. Branch johnson.
Of Norfolk. who admits that there
has been trouble between Colonel Not
tingham and Captain Parker. but de-
MES that Colonel Nottingham ever used
abusive language in reference to Gov
ernor Mann. He says that the real
cause of Captain Parker's resignation
has not yet appeared.
Governors Order.
The order issued yesterday by Gov
ernor Mann follows:
Upon the request OF Captain Wal
ter G. Parker chaplain Fourth Regi-
ment Infantry. Virginia Volunteers.
and recommendation Of the command
ing officer OF the First Brigade. a
court Of inquiry is ordered to con-
Esd, at 10 o'clock A. NJ, at the armory
Of the Fourth Regiment. Infantry. or
at such other place as the senior Off,
GER of the court may dire ct. The court
win proceed to inquire into and re-
port upon the facts touching such
conflicting statements and opinions be-
tween Captain w. G. Parker and his
commanding officer. Colonel r. J. Not
tingham. Fourth Infantry. Virginia Vol
unteers. which seriously affect the
veracity and conduct OF the said Of
hcers. And the court Is directed to
express such opinion and make such
recommendations as shall seem best
for the good of the service"
(Signed) "w HODGES MANN.
Governor and Commander in Chief"
Now that the trouble between Cap
tain Parker and Colonel Nottingham
has como to a head. the inquiry will
be exhaustive. Captain Parker will
he the main witness against Colonel
Nottingham and. 1t is to be pre-
sumed. many other witnesses will be
| summoned.