The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-01
COURT VOTES TO TRY
KOEHLER IN SECRET
Secretary Garrison RevOkes
Publicity Order and
Grants Discretion.
TRIAL Is TO BE RUSHED
Ex-Scrgcant Testifies in Sup.
port of Charges by
Lieut.. Frick.
TRIAL Is TO BE RUSHED

NEW LoNpoN. Conn. Feb. 2s.-Thres
Colonies five Lieutenant Colonies and
three Majors. sitting as a urt-rnartiai
at Fort Terry. Plum Island. decided to-
day that the trial of Major Benjamin NJ.
Kochler should be kept absolutely secret.
Secretary OF War Garrison had ordered
that the trial should be open. and then,
upon representations from the officers In
charge. had given them discretion in the
matter.
II Is said that the officers at Fort Terry
breathed n sigh OF relief when they heard
that Secretary Garrison had revoked his
first ruling that the press be admitted to
the trial room. Some OF the officers are
In New London tonight to see show
and there are signs OF rejoicing on Their
part.
The members OF the court martial are
Col Henry Kirby. presiding Col. Adei-
bert Cronkhitc. Col. John d. Barrette.
Lieut.. Herman G. Schumm. Samson
/. Faison. Edmund NJ Blake, Morris X
Barroll and Henry ID. Todd. Jr. Majors
William +. Martin. Joseph Wheeler, Jr.,
and Percy NJ. kessler.
Decides Against Open Sessions.
The court-martiai convened at o'clock
this morning In executive session TO
decide whether Secretary Garrisons
preference for an open trial should con-
uol. There was no debate.
Lieut.. Col. Harry J. Hawthorne, counsel
for Major Koehler. said that the sup
precision of facts had done much harm
to his client. but admitted that thu Bcan-
dalous nature OF the charges and the EVIL
dcnce yet to be heard might damage the
whole army. Capt James J. MayeS
Judge Advocate. replied that any degree
OF secrecy was preferable to the exposure
Of disgraceful conditions affecting q whole
garrison. single vote of the court was
heavily against opening the trial TO the
public.
These considerations took up the morn
ting. There was a recess of the court from
noon until 1 o'clock Then the taking OF
evidence was resumed. Two new wit
Nesses who had been taken to the fort
from New London this morning were
heard. Roth were formerly enliste men.
The star witness was a0 -Sergt James
Ward. who was brought to Fort Terry
to help support the Testimony given by
Lieut.. Frick of Fort Terry against Major
koehler. As "A sergeant Ward was In
charge OF the canteen at Fort Terry sev-
eral years ago. After landing at New
London tonight he sid
II must refuse to tell my testimony"
when you were at Fort Terry did YOU
lpi3N a personal cunlty Tor Mayor Koch
lery'
GruJRr Against Accused.
There was n Crudge," admitted Ward
re added tina; I've came as voluntary
witness
nc said that the defence to be inter-
POSED Is the charge that there exists a
conspiracy of officers at Fort Terry to
oom.ass Major keohler's downfall.
The court quit again at o'clock this
evening and reconvened at Z o'clock and
sat until g tonight. Cross-examination
developed little OF Importance.
II II said that the case as 70 far de-
Nciopod against koehler Is so weak as to
lend color to the stories that he 10 q
Ni"tim OF personal hatreds. As for the
use OF his name in the appeal to Secretary
Garrison to keep the trial closed, there
are intimations that Major Koehler was
told that II ne did not join In the effort
10 bar the public 1t might go especially
hard with him.
Dispositions taken at several forts on the
Pacific coast have been received to be
used against Major Koehler. Every effort
~ TO BE- made to rush the case through.
Speed is now considered almost as Inn
perative as secrecy by officers whom the
trial and the scandal of II have imperilled
Wholesale transfers OF nearly all the
men In the six companies OF Coast Ar
tillery at the fort are expected TO begin
- soon as the trial IL over