The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-04-27
TESTIMONY TAKEN BEFORE
MILITARY JUDGES
Tales Differed, But There Seemed to
Be Strong Opinion That There Was
Feeling Of Discord and Discomfort
Existing Among the Commissioned
Officers Of the Second Minnesota
Regiment National Guard

First Lieutenant H. M. Hauck and
Second Lieutenant Cyril Spicer of
Company H, Captain A. G.. Liedloff
of the sanitary corps of the second
regiment and Attorney s. b. Wilson
returned last night from st. Paul,
where all have been attending the
court martial trial of Major Oliver j.
Duane of st. Peter, who has for
some time been awaiting his new
commission as lieutenant colonel OF
the second regiment of the Minneso-
ia national guard. zl.
The charge brought against Major
Duane is that of conduct prejudicial
to good order and military discipline.
One specification was that petit
ton was signed by Major Duane, and
about eighteen other commissioned
officers of the second regiment of the
Minnesota national guard, asking that
Colonel w. T. Mollison, commanding
officer of the regiment, resign his
commission. Major Duane was &C
cused of having brought this about.
He did send a copy of the petition
by enclosing it in a letter, which he
wrote to Colonel Mollison.
The Letter Was Received.
Colonel Mollison received this let
tier, which, it was claimed, had not
lbeen given any publicity by Major
Duane, and the colonel turned it over
Ito his adjutant general, with the in
Istruction to file charges against Ma
Ijor Duane, and bring him for trial
by court martial on these charges.
Two days were spent at the trial
lin St. Paul at the armory. A large
number of commissioned officers of
the second regiment, nearly all of
whom were in the service on the
border last fall, were present, and
Testified. Practically all of the wit
'nesses conceded that there was a
feeling of discord and discomfort ex-
listing between officers Of the second
regiment and their colonel on the
border. Several of them claimed that
/ this included a majority of the Off
\ GERS. Others claimed that it did not
| include that large number. Some
hclaimed that it existed to such an
Iextent as to impair the efficiency of
the service Others were of the
opinion that it did not reach that
far. - r'a.. , ss .--.
| Duane as Witness.
| 1t seemed to have been claimed by
Major Duane and other commissioned
Officers who signed the petition for
the resignation of Colonel Mollison
THAT the feeling was SO intense that
they regarded it for the good of the
Iservice to attempt to bring about the
colonel's resignation in quiet man
ner without any publicity. 1t was
the claim Of the defendant on trial
that he was trying to better the
service and not trying to do anything
Ito the prejudice of good order and
military discipline in the regiment
At the conclusion of the trial last
might the court martial at a secret
session formed its conclusion as to
what verdict or decision it would rem
der, but under the regulations OF
court martial trials, this conclusion
of the court is to be made up and
included in a complete record of the
trial and through regular military
channels it will reach the governor
The governor is the final Judge to
pass upon the conclusion that the
court arrives at. The governor has
authority either to affirm or reject
the findings of the court
Findings Of Court Secret.
| The people generally will probably
never know what the findings of the
court are, but will be advised mere
ly as to the conclusion of the gov
ernor. 1t will therefore probably be
several weeks before Major Duane
himself knows what the outcome of
the trial is.
Captain Elmer w. McDevitt of Du-
luth, of the third regiment of the
Minnesota national guard, was the
judge advocate, who prosecuted the
case. Attorney S. B. Wilson of Man
kato handled the matter for the de-
Tense.
Il