Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15
CASE OF MAJ. RAY
More Letters Made Public In
voIving Army Officer.
ACCUSED BY HIS CLERK
Ignored Suggestion That He Take
Steps to Disprove Charges.
WAS RECOMMENDED FOR TRIAL
War Department Correspondence
Throwing Light Upon
the Affair.
ACCUSED BY HIS CLERK
WAS RECOMMENDED FOR TRIAL

The suppressed letter in the scandal
involving Maj. Beecher B. Ray of the
Pay Corps of the army, who, it has been
alleged, was saved from punishment by
President Taft, whom he had aided po-
litically, was made public yesterday by
the House committee on expenditures in
the War Department. which has been
investigating the case. The suppressed
letter was written in 1909 to Paymaster
General Whipple by Maj. Rays personal
clerk, charging that the major had been
unduly intimate with the clerks wife,
Alleges He Was Prosecuted.
AS the facts developed at yester-
days hearing, it appears that the for
mer clerk Of the accused paymaster
under date of June IS, 1910. wrote to
Gen. Whipp1e, urgently requesting
that he be relieved from duty as Mai.
Rays personal clerk, owing, as al
legged, to Maj. Rays misconduct with
the clerks wife. The letter, which
was read to the committee, gave elab-
crate details of continued intimacy be-
tween the officer and the wife Of the
clerk. and stated that Maj. Ray had
forced his attentions through threats
and persecution.
Later, it appears the clerk wished
to withdraw the letter of June 20. and
under date of July L. 1910, telegraphed
TO Gen. Whipple to that effect Gen.
Whipple went to Beverly on July d.
1t was stated, his purpose being to see
president Taft in regard to the case.
and in his presence, it was shown, the
President wrote the letter advising
against court-martial for Maj Ray.
In a letter dated July 7, in response to
one from Gen. Whipple. the clerk wrote
that his wife had gone to her home for
Il lengthy visit. He stated hc had
talked with Maj. Ray, who he said had
admitted that the statements made in
the clerks first letter were true. The
clerk added that there would be no repe-
tition of the misconduct, deeply under
scoring the words. But under date of
July II the clerk wrote another letter to
the Office of the paymaster general in
which he reiterated the statements made
In his original letter, and denounced
Maj. Ray as "a dangerous man, who
would not hesitate to do his best friendA
an irreparable injury to further his own
interests or pleasure"
Letter of Reprimand.
ment sent a reprimand to Maj Ray at
Atlanta which read:
Sir: am directed by the chief of staff
of the army to inform you that implica-
tions against you have been made to the
alleging illicit relations between you and
Mrs. Blank. wife of Mr.. Blank.
These reports are of such gravity as
to call in question your character as an
officer and gentleman. for if the allega-
tons be true your conduct shall be char
acterized as reprehensible and deserving
Of the severest condemnation.
Should you desire to take steps to
clear your record Of these imputations
you will be afforded every facility to that
end
Maj. Rays Reply.
September Maj Ray answered the
reprimand as follows. the letter being
addressed to Brig. Gen. A. L. Mills
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
your letter of September 3. Since my &C
quaintance with Mrs. Blank, in SO far as
my knowledge extends, she has always
conducted herself as lady"
Brig. Gen. Mills in forwarding this let
ter to the adjutant general commented
that 1.-The failure of Maj. Ray to ask for
an investigation of the imputations
against his character makes him anne
nable to trial.
Then Paymaster General Whipple went
to Beverly and took the matter up with
President Taft, who suggested that Maj.
Ray be not court-martialed to save the
I, ~ioI ov,d no