Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-23
Fort Skaffer Notes
Especial star-BuIietin corre.pondencel

Especial Star-Bu1etin C0TrespOndencel
FORT SKATER, July 23-The
sudden death OF Private William p.
Cornwell. Company {, I'd Infantry,
that occurred some time in the night
Of July Is, has been made the sub
iect 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 IA
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 Cornwel 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 a 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 II was in a dis
torted attitude as il 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
surgeons at the department hospital.
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.
y - ..#
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-
tion act approved April %, 1914, pro-
yiso relative making good time lost
on account disease resulting from
misconduct has application only to en-
listments entered into on or subse-
quent to above mentioned date and
does not affect enlistments entered
into prior thereto except as to un-
authorized absence in excess one day. |
As to latter, act is but repetition for
n1er legislation" aTelegram, The A. |
G. O., July IS, 1914)
- -
A quantity of steel wall lockers for |
the permanent barracks has been re-
eeiyed at the post AID turned over to |
the companies eEstlleo third battalion |
for installation. The lockers are to
- -oAgDt4C0 OAAy w tic companies
that, have permanent quarters and |
therefore the organizations living in |
cantonment win 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.
- -
CAPTAINS e. Sa-ekineeln. Names Il.
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 a Manchu and not available for
detached service.
=