New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-27
War Department Said to
Have Decided to Open
Court Martial to Public.
WOMEN TO TESTIFY
FOR THE DEFENCE
Officers at Fort Terry Have
Ordered Colonel Davis to Hurry
East from Pacific Coast.

fIror, a STAN Corr.Snondent OF The Tribune
New London, Conn, Feb. 26.-The court
martial OF Major Benjamin VI. koehier'
which IS being held behind closed doors
at Fort Terry may be opened tomorrow
m tbe pubIic. Late this afternoon a
telegram was received at the army post
which is said 10 have said that the war
Department had reconsidered its refusal
to rescind the order making the tr'd'
secret issued by Major General Barry
commanding the Department or the East
Since the court martial was Deguh' U"
Wednesday, extraordinary means TO keep
the proceedings secret have been resort
ed to by the government.
II was these proceedings which added
10 the graveness of the rumored charses
against Major Koeher. When freuerioh
p RYAN. law partner OF William f. NC
Combs. visited Fort Terry and New Loh-
don Yesterday he sounded public OPINION.
He was amazed 10 learn the seriousness
of what the public believed the accused
major to be guilty Of. II is SeneraHy We
lieyed here that upon his return 10 ne"
York Mr.. Ryan and Mr.. McComps went
into conference, the result or whlch was
telegram 10 Washington that leo u
the lifting Of the veil Of mystery from
the trial.
The beginning of the second day OF the
trial dispensed with the opening torinah-
ties. when Captain Philip ii. Worcester
said 10 be one of the prosecutors stAr
witnesses. went on the stand. In the pres
ence OF Major Koehler. he outlined the
charges against him.
As result OF what Captain Worcester
has told telegram was sent from FORT
Terry. ordering Colonel Richmond T.
Davis. i'm command Of Fort Ninheid
Scott. OF the coast defences OF San Fran
cisco. TO come East with all possible
haste. Until October :. 1913, Colonel
Davis was in charge Of the Fort Terry
defences. over which Major koehler mad
temporary charge following his CDavisS
transfer
II could not be learned from the army
authorities il the court martial would be
adjourned until Colonel Davis arrives. IL
is known, however, that there are sixty
six more witnesses to be called by the
prosecution Among those who VIII take
the stand for the defence are several
women, members OF officers families, VINO
testified to the good character of the &C
cuscd major during the inquiry which led
TO the calling of the court martial
It was not known tonight II the open
ing OF the trial to the public would mean
that the nature of the charges against
Major Koehler would be revealed or II
the testimony offered by Captain Wor-
cester would be divulsed.
Something of local sensation was
caused this afternoon when it was learned
that two citizens OF the town were about
TO be placed under arrest and taken o
Fort Terry to testify. one IL former
private and the other was once an en-
ploye OF a government transport Al
| though subpenas were served on them
both have made plain their attitude oil
defiance. believing because they were 10
longer in the service it would not be nee
essary for them to appear. Armed SOL
ders are expected from Fort Terry to-
morrow to take the reluctant ones to
| the trial.