New-York tribune., 1914-03-01
'KOEHLER IMMORAL,
WITNESS TESTIFIES
Former Canteen Sergeant
on Stand at Fort Terry
Court Martial.
HEARING is SECRET
IN SPITE OF ORDER
Judges Induce Secretary of war
to Give Them Discretion, and
Public Is Excluded.

frDro,n a star Correspondent OF The tribune
New London. Conn, Feb @.-Jahes
ward of Baltimore, a former canteeh ser
peant AZ Fort Terry. was the star Witness
against Major Koehler to-day. Nhen TO
reached New London this evening o" "'9
way 10 New York he was asked 10 dlscuS9
the trial.
"r cannot tell what | testified TO- lie
said. but 7 will say was Kept OF INC
stand three hours and vas put through
severe cross-examnauon.
The testimony against koehler Nds
very damaging. he said.
Ward said he left Fort Terry year
ago. and although he would not admit ne
was an enemy of Koehler he SAID ne WAS
by no means his friend. lie added that ne
testified against Major koehler AT MS U" ""
volition, having been interested III ti'
case by Lieutenant Charles frick, OF the
Fort Terry garrison. who is the principal
Witness against Koehler. Ward is no
longer in the army.
"Did you testify from your own kno"i-
edee as TO immoral acts performed by
Major Koehler?" Ward was asked
''Of course, was lnt icpif'
While civilians are rot permitted ~
visit Fort Terry, il became known to-oaJ
that two citizens of the town who went 10
the island early in the week have not
been seen here since. Both are pnotoe
ra piers who have done much WORK Al '"e
fort Two other residents OF the to"n'
who refused when ordered TO TESTIFY went
to the isIand TO-DAY after being threat
ened with arrest.
After delay of twenty-four hours
during which the army men used every
effort to have the proceedings Kept se
cret. s on the first day of the trial tne
case was resumed to-day behind closcu
doors.
Thursday night an order from Secre
tarv Garrison, Of the War Depar
was the occasion for deep chagr1n afo
embarrassment to several officers az fort
Terry Of which post Major Koehlcr is an
officer. Believing that great harm would
he done by secrecy, the Secretary ordered
Koehlers trial open TO the public. Tho
members Of the court. believing, perhaps.
that for the good of the army the scan
dal of the garrison should not reach the
outside world, decided 10 question the
order.
Several messages, it is known. passed
Yesterday between Fort Terry, Governors
Island and the War Department AT
Washington. Although the order OF Sec
retary Garrison stood. Colonel John d.
Barrette, commander OF the post. as we'll
as member OF the court. refused TO per-
nit newspaper men at the fort. He took
advantage Of the techncality. declaring
over the telephone that while tho court
was opened he could not allow newspaper
men on the transports or the island.
When the court martial appealed TO the
War Department TO rescind the order for
the open trial IT received an answer from
Secretary Garrison I'm which he recalled
the command leaving to the discretion
of the court whether or not tho trial
should be public. At the same time, how
ever. he expressed his wish that the pub
lie should be admitted
Unless the administration OF Justice
will be furthered by the exclusion Of spec
tators, the court martial should be pub
lie" was his reply TO the message