New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-13
Much Talk of Meeting in
Mexico by Members as
They Depart.
CASE MAY NEVER
BE COMPLETED
Plea of Judge Advocate, Followed
by Motion of Defence for De-
lay, Which Is Granted.

tr>or, q stan Correspondent OF The Tribune
New London. Conn, March l2-The MIL
itary court which is trying Major BenJa-
man VI. Koehler Of the coast artillery. on
charges involving immoral conduct. ad-
journed to-day to give the defence time 10
prepare a plea. BY several officers OF the
court il was intimated that the ulai
might never be resumed In that case
Major Koehler may be restored to DUTY
by the department commander.
Belief that the proceedings would BIO
dropped increased late this afternoon.
when the officers composing the court
who have been quartered together Tor
three weeks at Fort Terry, took leave OF
one another at the railway station mere.
Before boarding a train for Boston an
officer, shaking hands with Captain
James j. Mayes. the judge advocate, said:
"Goodby, captain. This is not the first
time / have seen an upheaval such as we
are about to experience TO save man.
Another officer declared on parting;
This is probably the end of the Koehier
trial" moment later he added: we
will most likely all meet again in Mexico.
THE Spanish War saved three officers
OF high -ank from court martial and dis
missal from the army. One of them later
died in the Philippines. after proving him.
self one Of the bravest men in the army
was the comment of another.
There were no witnesses before the
court to-day. Five sergeants from Fort
Caswell. near Wilmington. y. c., who
lac
the prosecution to add the final straw
to the load of evidence which has been
presented against Major Koehler, roamed
about the post. They expected to be
called into the courtroom at any minute,
but their Journey was futile, as II was
decided by the prosecution that enough
evidence had been presented TO convict.
The order of Secretary of War Carl
son TO expedite the trial. received oy
Colonel Kirby yesterday, probably influ-
enced the prosecution in its Willingness
TO rest the case. When 1t was learned
by the defence that all the evidence OF
the other side was in. II was decided 10
ask adjournment TO give time TO prepare
plea.
When approached by Colonel Harry j.
Hawthorne. of Fort Strong. Major Koch
ler's military counsel. and Samuel n.
Hudson. a Boston attorney. Colonel Kirby
was willing that the adjournment be
taken The matter was put up to the
headquarters of the Department or the
East at Governors Island. This morn
ing the court was notified that the de-
partment commander was willing that an
adjournment be taken.
The court, however, is by no means
over. Major Koehler, who was under ar
rest two months before the case opened,
is still deprived OF his command, his side
arms and his permit TO leave the fort.
The consensus however is that Major
Koehler will never hear sentence pro-
nounced upon him
When Colonel Kirby called the court TO
order Captain James J. Mayes. the judge
advocate. began his plea for Major
Koehler's conviction. Rehearsing the tes-
timony OF nearly thirty witnesses he
urged that the honor of the army ana
Justice warranted the condemning OF
Major Koehler upon practically every
specification Of the charges preferred
against him When he ended his ADDRESS
with a dramatic climax there was deep
silence Heads of the assembled officers
were bowed. The clear notes Of busle,
blown a quarter Of Il mile away to recall
the artillerymen from the sand hills,
where they were putting the lo-inch guns
through their PAGES. startled them. The
defence asked for adjournment. TO meet
again at Governors Island. None OF the
eleven officers who have sat In judgment
since February % opposed the motion.