Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-09
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF GENERAL VIM. HULL.


 When the War of 1912 was begun the country was ill prepared for d conflict. Among the bfigadier generals appointed to command was William Hull, at the time governor of Arichi- gan. Detroit at this period contained some 50 people and a fort, & square inciosure of two acres. Hull notified the Government of his inadeuuacy to cope with the situation in this section. He undertook a siege of F7t. Maiden. 8 few miles below Detroit, on the oppo- site side Of the river, but he was com peNed to relinquish his project and re- turn home. Then word reached him that the British Comma nder Brock was approaching with 3 large force. When Brock arrived he called upon Hull 10 surrender but the latter refused Then the British prepared for an attack. As the enemy approached Hull was great ly agitated. He is said to have sat in his tent with his back against the rampant, moody and unconnlunicative Yet he might have made an immortal name that day.
 Hull imagined tbe forest swarr1irgs with Indians, and he thought of the women and children in the fort among whom was his daughter. His supplies would last out 2. month. His former bravery now forsook him utterly, and to the astonishment of friend and foe he surrendered the fort and his a17ny without strug sle-and all Michigan territory.
 The country was much dtsa ppointed. for it Was led to believe that Can ada was to fall an easy prey. Col. Lewis C3Ss, in 9 letter written Sept. lD. 1912, severely blamed Hull and the Government accepted his state ments and removed Hull and appoint ed Cass s governor of Michigan. Then arrangen1tns were made to try Hull by coUrL-maTtia1.
 The couTt-martiaI proceedings were held in Albany. \. r, beginning on the 5rd day of January, 1914. but were continued by adjournment to the 25th day of March following There were three different charges, each one containing several Speci flea tions Hull was not only accused of coNardice, but he was charged with treacherE g we'll
 The indignation of the army tt what seemed to them Q pusillanin7ous sur render was intense. The first sugges- ton Of thousands of minds was that Hull from some corrupt motive. must purposely and easonably have be- traEed his army.
 The first charge was treason against the United States. between the 9th of April and the 17th of August, ls12. The second was cowardice at and in the neighborhood of Detroit, be- tween the 1st day of July and the 1Tth day of August of the same year. And the third charge was neglect Of duty and unefIicer-like conduct while commanding 8 separate army between the "th Of April and the t7th of August.
 The court was presided over by Mai. Gen. Dearborn. After the evidence was all delivered, the finding was that Hull was not guilty Of the charge of treason. On the second charge. however, the court found him guilty Of the first, second and fourth specif- cations, except that part which chars- ed him Of "forbidding the American artillery to fire on the enemy on their. march toward the said Ft. Detroit"
 On the third charge the court found Huli guilty of neglect of duty and un- of1cer-like conduct which was the first specification, but on the others they acquitted him.
 The court-mart;al was finally ad journed OH AaP1h 26. In consequence of their determination respecting the second and third charges, and the specifications under these charges. Gen. Hull was sentenced to be shot to death-two thirds of the court concur ring in the sentence. The court how ever, in confederation of the Brigadier Generals RsvolCIi onsrs- services and his advanced age, earnestly recon- Inended him to the mercy. of the Presi- dent of the United States.
 Upon receiving the finding of the court. President James Madison di- reCted that Gen. Hull should return to his home 5n Massa chusetts and there continue until he should receive orders otherwise. Later the President reInitted the sentence
 Public opinion has long since re- versed this sentence, and the best his torians disapprovs of it. Benson T. Tossing, in his history, calls the trial disgraeeful, and its sentence unjust, and says that the court was evidently Constituted in order to offer .4uH a g a sacrifice to save the Government from disgrace and contempt
 Cooley, in his American Common wealths," says: The judgment of the cohrt-martisI upon Gen. Hull 1as never, as a judgment, had much weigh. with the people. It was ordered by an Administration whose hlun6ers in z11aiaseneerrt had been at -eest equally blamabfe with f7is own co1Gnc1, and it was presided over isy aa oTcep rl2cse position in respect to soIz3e os t-s questions involved was gUca as to sus- geSt q suspicion that he could not be wholly untfASed'