The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
KOEHLER'S DEFENCE
F, STRIKES TWO SNAGS
Woman Witness Is Promptly
COntradictcd and Man Aids
Prosecution.
COL. DAVIS WILL TESTIFY
Order Calling Him East From
Post in California Is
Reissued.
COL. DAVIS WILL TESTIFY

New LoSpoN, Conn. March "A third
woman witness and the destruction OF her
TESTIMONY In favor Of Major Koehler was
the days sensation in the court-martial
at Fort Terry, Plum island. The first
sergeant Of each Of the six companies
stationed at Fort Wright was ordered to
appear before the court
Mrs David Meyers. wife OF AN engineer
In the quartermaster's department was
called by the defence to certify 10 Major
Koehler's good character. She did 80 nj
some length and appeared a convincing
witness until the prosecution exercised
its prerogative of calling its own wit
nesses at any stage Of the trial As soon
as Mrs Meyers had left the stand Capt.
James J. Mayes. Judge advocate, sum
rnoned Second Sergeant Martin OF the Tooth
Company, Coast Artillery. and First Ser
seant Robert Archer of Fort Terry. whose
testimony Ia said to have greatly out
weighed that of Mrs. Meyers.
In courts-martial hearsay evidence Ia
admissible, and instead Of eNpunging nom
the record evidence which has been i'm
peached the court votes to add testimony
which appears to outweigh or destroy II.
This, II liz said. was the procedure with
regard to Mrs. Meyers testimony. The
stories OF the two sergeants "trumped
hers and were accepted by the court
Testimony already introduced by the
defence. especially that Of Mrs. James
Hall and Mrs. Ewing. wives OF non-com-
missioned officers. has so piled up names
Of army men who may know somethins
about the Koehler case that Capt. Mayes
asked for an assistant Judge advocate
and Lieut. Raycroft walsh OF Fort Terry
vas appointed to-day.
Lieut.. walsh is of the l25th Company
Coast Artillery. He IL personal friend
OF Lieut.. Austin q. Frick. one OF the chief
accuscrs OF Major Koehler. He began al
once to Investigate the stories told by the
women witnesses.
A surprise of to-days session OF the
court was the testimony OF Sergeant Har.
vey kernen of the Hospital Corps Called
by the defence he turned out to be goo,
witness for the prosecution. His story
concerned events at Fort Totten about
three years ago. when Major koehler wa
making that fort his headquarters Will.
he did recruiting duty.
Col Richmond T.. Davis ex-commande
of the three forts Wright Niche and
Terry. and now at the Preside San Fran
cisco. Is to testify He was summoned
- witness at the beginning OF the trial
but a little later the order was counter
manded. Now II has been reissued. Col
Davis may get here in time to be heard
on Wednesday.
Lieut.. Thomas .. Humphreys OF For
Monroe completed his evidence to-day anc
went back to his station. lie wound VI
by telling the court that he had served
three and half years under Major Koch
Ter and had often met him socially. III
had always found him very considerat
. of all below him in rank. Lieut. Charlie
". Steese also concluded his testimon!
1t became plain to-day that the proeecu
tion has great mass of rebuttal evidence
presentation OF which would extend tn
trial over at least a week or more