The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-29
BANDSMEN TESTIFY
IN SELF-DEFENSE
Three Give Special Reasons for
Their Failure to Play
for Dance.
REPORT GOES TO GOVERNOR
Court Will Hear Highland
Springs INSTRUMENTATION
Case To-Day.
REPORT GOES TO GOVERNOR

In order that special dc.enses could
he offered, each OF tho fifteen striking
members Of the Richmond Light In
fantry Blues Band were permitted to
take the stand yesterday ii the gen
cral conference.-the which conducted q
trial against the musicians for refus-
Ing Ia report At their armory on the
night OF February :, To play at II dance
given in honor Of tie visiting cadet
battalion Of the Virginia Military In
siiute. After each man had been cX-
anin"d, the court announced that 1T
would consider the evidence, ard that
its findings would he submitted to
Governor stuart for approval,
only three baudsmen offered spociat
dcicnses, ana I'LL others agreed To
abide by the evidence taken on Mon
day when Sergeant !. y. Slaughter
Hy the agreement. all viii receive tn"
same penalty. IL convicted. except
those who offered eXtenuating c!rcuin-
stances. which viii be considered by
the court
Corporal James y. Smith testified
that lie had been taken Ill Immediate
~ after the inaugural parade In which
trouble. lie went 10 bed. and several
days later was taken 10 hospital
Ina wn nnI sho tba egTiogs ppeSati2n
had been excused from parading, and
was unaware OF the order 10 report
for the. dance. Private b. I.uchini had
been dismissed Ia Capitol square. and
was, therefore. unaware Of amy orders
iarLin i,Icnds Guilty.
AZ the conclusion Of the trial Of the
j. II. larkin, 81 Frederick sburg. was
arraigned on q charge Of conduct I'M
becoming an officer, and pleaded
guilty To intoNication. lie admitted
that he had been under the influence
OF liquor while part!cipatlut; in a
parade az AlcNandria on February %
the night before Three witnesses cor
roborated his statements
An interesting trial will come up this
morning, when Quartermastcr Sergeant
James w. Iefew. Company NJ Fourth
Infantry, highland Springs, Will he ar
raisncd on It charge of INSTRUMENTATION.
Tho charge originated out Of trouble
between Sergeant Lefew and Captain
Fred Holden and First Lieutenant
James w. Cloyd. when the command
was preparing to 20 on a Sunday hike.
under arrest. lie will cndeavor to Of
fer an affidavit. in which he makes n
number OF charges against his supc-
riors Tho court will decide whether
or not the counterchargeS should bc
heard. More than malt Of the .iighland
SPRINGS Company have been summoned
as witnesses on both sides. All findings
OF the court Will be private. and the
Governor has the power TO set aside
any verdict, or to remit any Gne or
pun Shmcnt.
The court martial consisted Of Lien.
tenant Colonel II. ". Salomonslty, pres
ldcnt. Fourth Infantry, Norfolk; Major
IT, W. Devant. subsistence department.
Roanoke: Major y. Il. Finch, AIcdica
Corps. Chase CITY. ard Major !. S. Bu
FORD. Richmond. judGc-advocate
Thc accused bandsmcn are: Band
master Philip Colivita, James l.. Smith
Corporal \. G. Van Pclt, T. Nucilli.
B. !4uchini g. w. Baker. Drum Ma ior
Fred d. Cans. ID. W. Bedford. G. IT.
Atkinson. Jake Schwartz. w j. Pc
T. Slaughter