New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-01
VERBECK CHARGES FAIL;
MANIA" SAYS 0'RYAN
SuIzer Committee Calls ACCuSa-
tiOnS Trivial After Counter
Attack by Major General.
"A CAMPAIGN OF DECEITS"
Elk -Adjutant General Listens to
Affidavit That He Was Drunk
at Review in New York
Guard Funds Not Misused.
IBy telegraph TO The Tribune 7

10y lts.lidDU 70 ne tribune
Albany. Jan. Sl.-Major General Organ,
before Governor Suffers investigating
committee. made an attack to-day on ex-
Adjutant General William Verbeck, who
had preferred charges against him. Major
General Organ gave what he said was
the inside history of the feud between
himself and General Nerbeck. He &C
cused the latter. who sat only a few
feet away. Of starting a campaign of
'deceits of all sorts" against him be-
cause Of chaerin in not being appointed
major general last spring by Governor
Dix.
ORyan. who was then appointed 10 that
position. said that the adjutaut general.
in his furious mania twisted the most
trivial circumstance in a manner TO de-
stToy Governor DiX's confidence in him
10 Ryan," The attempt, he said. at last
was successful and resulted in Dix's OIL
der disbandng the guard and putting
Nerbeck at the head after its reorganiza-
ton.
Chairman Carlisle Of the committee an
nounced tonight that the Nerbeck charges
were trivial" and that formal recon-
mendation that they be dismissed would
be made tomorrow.
General Organ was not satisfied with
answering the charges. but presented an
affidavit Of a New York City Guardsman
that Nerbeck was drunk at a review at
the armory Of the lst Field Hospital, in
New York, on Lincoln's Birthday, 1872
The affidavit was made by William T.
Tracey, who Lad served eight and a half
years IN the regular army. and on being
geant. began service with that rank in
the lst Field Hospital.
Verbeck Drunk, He Says.
The affidavit states that the review was
given IN honor of Adjutant General Yer
beck. who was present with his staff in
uniform. The public had been invited and
the galleries were full Tracey said that
at the end Of the drill and review Yer
beck called for a horse. and nc took one
TO him in the riding hall. The affidavit
continues:
His fVerbeCk' 81 face was flushed, and
his face and manner made II very appaT-
cnt that he was intoxicated. Tho morse
which | brought for him TO ride was a
very spirited one. and held him for tho
general to mount The adjutant general
said: Never mind holding him, ! can
manage him" and ne attempted two Of
three times TO Jump on the horse's hack
before he succeeded. He AT once urged
tho horse into a dead run, nearly running
over me before | could get out of the
way lie rode the horse around the ring
on a dead run for Ten or fifteen minutes.
waving his hat and arms, shouting I'm Il
most disordcrly and undiguhcd manner.
His conduct was 50 diSEraccful that
many turned away and II was the gen
cral remark among tho officers and mon
that the adiutant general had disgraccd
tho uniform by his drunken action.
General Nerbcck was not steady on his
feet and that he was intoxicated was APP
parent to every one. Several people out
side Of our organization who were pres
cnt that night and saw the generals ac-
lions guyeu me for several days there
after about the adiutant general being
drunk when he was guest OF our or
ganizatlon.
Taking up tho Verbcck charge that he
used state money for certain military
duties while commander Of the LIST Field
Battery. OF New York CITY, and at the
same time drew on the funds of tho or
Ganization for the same purpose. Major
General O'Ryan produced af'idavits 10
show that ne was authorized 10 use such
funds by the members of his command