New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-08
Character Witness DiSCred-
tied by Other Testimony
at Court Martial.
MEN FROM FORT
WRIGHT CALLED
Defence Gets Blow When Hospital
Corps Sergeant Testifies
Against Accused.

From a STAFF Correspondent Of The Tribune J
New London. Conn. March THE third
woman to take the stand in the court
martial OF Major Benjamin VI. Koehler
testified to-day before the military trib-
unal at Fort Terry. Plum Island. Her
story was intended by the defence TO be
p strong character testimonial for the ac-
cused major. but witnesses who later APP
peared before the court completely dis
credited her testimony.
In military procedure testimony Of n
discredited witness is not stricken from
the records, but its force is nullihed by
the courts acceptance of contradictory
stories Of other witnesses.
Mrs Daniel Myers. wife Of a quarter
master sergeant. was the woman who
sought to give Major Koehler a clean bill
of character. She had known him
socially she said, and nothing in his ac-
tons ever led her TO suspect him capable
Of conduct unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman.
When Mrs. Myers left the stand the
prosecution exercised its prerogatve OF
interrupting the defence to call witnesses
In its own case. Quarterrnaster Sergeant
Martin, Of Fort Terry. then testified that
Mrs. Myers's word In this instance was
not worthy OF consideration. Private
John Barrett Of Fort Terry. who was re-
Gently reduced from the grade OF SER
-eant. following his arraignment before
a court martial for gambling, backed up
Martins testimony. The court, IL was
said. was convinced that Mrs. Myers was
an unreliable witness.
That the scandal that has drawn the
attention of the country TO Fort Terry is
not confined to that garrison alone, but
that 1t extends TO Fort II. 6. Wright,
situated in the Sound a few miles dis
tant. was learned to-day.
Upon an order Of the court the first
sergeants of each OF the six companies Of
coast artillery stationed at Fort Wright
will be subpoenaed TO testify at the court
martial The order was a move on the
part OF the prosecution, following the
testimony Of Sergeant Martin, OF the
Tooth Company, OF Fort Terry. The ser
geants will be asked to tell OF gossip,
rumors or actual instances duplicating
Major hOenieI anu uien lh AHcii Noih
panies.
Another witness at the trial to-day was
Lieutenant Thomas o. Humphreys, Of the
coast artillery school at Fort Monroe
He declared he had known Major Koehler
three and a half years and spoke highly
Of tho majors character.
An unexpected blow was delivered TO
the defence to-day, II was learned. when
a witness upon whom It had relied proved
to be Of great assistance to the prosecu-
ton. Sergeant Harvey Herman, OF the
hospital corps. II was believed, would
materially bolster up Major Koehler 6
case. but when he took the stand and
told OF his knowledge Of events when
Major Koehler was on recruiting service
in New York in 1870 with headquarters
at Fort Totten, the defence was stag
gered.
An assistant Judge advocate TO assist
Captain James ]. Mayes in corroborating
statements Of witnesses was detailed to-
day Second Lieutenant Raycroft Walsh,
Of the l2tbh Company. Fort Terry, was
named. He .s a warm friend Of Lleuten-
ant Austin c. Frick, who was partly
instrumental in bringing about Major
Koehler's court martial. Lieutenant
Walsh. It is believed. will attempt to in
duce employees of New London hotels to
tell what they have seen Of Major Koch
ier's actions