Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-23
Fort Shafer Notes

l Especial tar-BnlIetin Cerrespondencel
FORT SKATER. July 23.-The
sudden death of Private William p
Cornwell.s Company c, I'd Infantry.
that occurred some time in the night
OF July Is, has been made the sub
ject of an investigation by a board of
officers that was convened by orders
from post headquarters and the re-
port of that board has now been sub
mitted. On the morning of July II
the department hospital was notified
that Private Cornwell had been found
dead in bed. Captain Foucar, the
surgeon on duty, made an immediate
visit to the barracks and upon ar
rival thereat found the soldiers body
already stiffening in death The Of
ficer in the opinion expressed to the
board was convinced that death had
occurred some six or eight hours
previous to the time when the body
was discovered The board interro-
gated number Of witnesses as to
any circumstances that might shed
light on the cause of the mans de-
mise. Most of those examined were
company comrades of Cornwell and
testified that the deceased was a peri
odical drinker and that he had been
known to drink bay rum as well as
other methyl preparations. Cornwell
had been in charge of the company
barber shop for some time previous
to the date of his death and had done
some work for men of his company
on the 18th. One of these stated that
on that day the barber had taken bay
rum as drink and number of men
were positive that he had been well
under the influence of an intoxicant
on the day in question. When the
body was discovered it was in a dis
torted attitude as if the death had
been more or less violent A care
full examination of all available cir
cumstances failed to reveal any evil
dence of self destruction. This view
was supported by the result of the
autopsy that was performed by the
From consideration of the evidence
adduced from the witnesses called be-
fore it and with the results of the
autopsy before it, the board was of
opinion that the soldiers death was
caused by methyl alcohol poisoning
and that chronic alcoholism was es-
tablished
An important decision relative to |
the enlisted man making good time |
lost from duty through temporary dis
ability due to the soldiers own mis-
conduct has been received and is as |
follows: Reference Army appropria-
ton act approved April q, 1914, pro-
viso relative making good time lost |
on account disease resulting from
misconduct has application only to en-
iistments entered into on or subse-
quent to above mentioned date and |
does not affect enlistments entered |
into prior thereto except as to I'M |
authorized absence in excess one day. |
As to latter, act is but repetition for
mer legislation" Telegram, The A. |
G.. o., July Is, 1914.) .@, '.. II
. - ~.
A quantity. of steel wall lockers for |
the permanent barracks has been re-
ceiyed at the post aid turned over to |
the companies of the third battalion
for installation. The lockers are to
be supplied only to the companies
that have permanent quarters and |
therefore the organizations living in
cantonment will have to make Shift
without that class of useful equip
ment The number received brings |
the total lockers on hand in each COM
pany up to $50 or sufficient for the
war strength command. |
T y
Captains C.ES. Lincoln, James E.
Bell and E. II. Cooke have been des-
gnated by Colonel French as inspec-
.orinstructors for duty with the bat
talions of the National Guard during
the approaching joint encampment of
that body and the I'd Infantry. Cap
tain Cooke will: do double duty since
ne is Manchu and not available for
detached service.