The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-11-11
LATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE
MILITIA SENSATION SPRUNG
BY PRoBERs.
LIEUT.. COffEY ALSO COMING
Lieut.. Mcclellan Appeared Before Leg.
isIative Committee Monday But
What He Told Has Not Been Given
out-Checking up Adj. Gems Office.

Jackson, Miss, Nov. 11.-Official in.
formation that Lieut. Edgar N. Coffey,
until few months ago stationed here !
as national guard instructor, was en-
route to Jackson from Salt Lake City !
by order of the War Department, that
Lieut.. B. F. Mcclellan. U. S. army, de-
tached for service in Mississippi in |
connection with the national guard, |
was summoned before the legislative
investigating committee late yesterday
afternoon, and that three army men
were en- route here from Washington,
are the most important late develop
ments in the militia sensation, sprung
by the Legislative committee, when it
announced that it would probe certain
reports and rumors of alleged irregu-
larities in the adjutant generals de-
partment.
Just what Lieut.. Mcclellan told the
committee was not made public,
though it is admitted by one member
of the committee that he assured them
certain army officers. would be here
within the next few days. Later Lieut..
Mcclellan told newspaper men that he
had no information regarding the COM
ing of any men from the national cap
ital. 1t is assumed therefore, that he
referred to the return of Lieut.. Coffey.
Lieut.. Coffey's coming to Jackson at
this time, and after determination by
the committee to probe the reports re-
ferred to, is considered significant, but
of what no one seems to know. At any
rate it is safe to predict that he will
be called before the committee soon
after he reaches Jackson. Lieut.. Cof-
fey was transferred from duty here to
the position of recruiting officer in
Salt Lake City.
Members of the legislative investi-
eating committee held several ses-
sions yesterday, and most of the day
were busy looking up laws and statutes
federal and state, regarding military
matters. So far they have not convinc-
ed themselves just how far they can
proceed in the present investigation,
/ n, l,otI, .tato o,d national militia M &C.
tions appear to be involved, as the
chairman of the committee admits the
probe was instituted because of infor-
nation furnished the War Department
regarding expenditures of the U. S.
government funds contributed to help
the state militia and tending to show,
according to the committee, that mill
: tia equipment valued at more than $19,-
900 was missing.
: Several members of the committee
: went to the Morrison building, where
t the equipment is stored, late yesterday
5 to search for any documents or papers
e that might give them information or
Y any phase of the questions they are
e trying to solve They did not comment
; on the result of the search. When they
arrived at the warehouse it was lock
: ed, but Capt. S. P. Walker, who is il
l. charge of it during the absence of Col
n e. B. Baker, was notified the commit
e teemen desired entrance, and immedi
s. ately went from the adjutant general
i: office to the warehouse.
}, Louis E. Crook one of the expert az
E. countants engaged by the committee
l. is hard at work checking up the offic
c. of Adjutant General Arthur Fridge.
S, is said that he was first provided wit
ID copy of report given by Auditor
IS ]. Moore, who checked the office tw
years ago. The committee refused
eff comment on the contents of that r
port, and had nothing to say for pub
a cation at late hour last night, exec
en- to reiterate that full investigation
es 1.-THE department would be made.
IS. -------
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