Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-04
Society Woman Arraigned
for Sinister Influence
Over Officers.
YOUNG SOLDIER VICTIM
Rebuffed Her and Drew
CenSure; INDICATED
by Inquiry Court.

LONDON, Jan. Am army SCAN
raj involving the exercise of Influence
over high officers by prominent So
clety woman is described In the report
OF court of inquiry issued tonight
ana Mrs Cornwallis-W West, wife of
'l. William Cornwallis-W West and
hlother of the princess Of Ploss and
"Wl W lnr uu'hoss OF Westminster, Is Of
Ilclnlly severely censured.
The late Sir Arthur Basil Markham.
ilberal member OF parliament for the
mansfield division of Nottingham
shlre' who died last August. demand
ed an inquiry IN the house of COM
mons into this matter and was sec
"nded by Irish members, who de-
clared thnt young Irish officers
honor was involved. It has since de-
Heloped that the officer was Lieut..
Patrick Barrett OF the Welsh fusil-
icrs.
Barrett ENonCratcd.
According To a statement in the
house of commons before recess. he
was completely exonerated. his COM
handing officer Licutcnant-Colonel
Define Radcliffe was removed from
his command and Gen Sir John Cow
ans was censured, but was returned
because of his good work Gen. owen
Thomas. who was also concerned,
was indicated
Barrett was sergeant in the
Welsh fusiliers. Colonel Define Rad
cliife and other officers recommend
ed him for a commission late in 1915
and his claims We're supported by
Colonel and Mrs. CORVALLIS West and
several prominent civilians.
Turned Down: Angry.
"Probably before this time and GER
tainly later" says the report. Mrs
CORVALLIS West began to take more
than an ordinary interest in Mr. Bur
rctt, TO which he cons. silently failed
to respond. Eventually he wrote her
In February, last, a letter OF roron-
STRANGE, which she placed In the
hands OF his commanding officers"
Barrett was severely censured by his
commander without the opportunity
Of stating his case Soon after that
lac was transferred To another bat
talon on the demands OF Mrs Corn
wallis West General Cowans, who
aided the CORVALLIS Vests in sccur-
ing Barrctt's transfer, Is censured for
interfering with discipline General
w. II. MackinnOn, who was also con-
cerncd in the correspondence is crlti-
of the western command after he re-
linquishcd his command
Woman Arraigncd.
The court of inquiry reports regard
ing Mrs. CORVALLIS West:
we have no doubt that her in
iudicious boasting of the power she
welded at the war which was
confirmed to an apprecable extent by
the wording of some Of Sir John
Cowan's letters-was calculated to
bring him and the administration at
the war into disrepute. We feel
Obliged to record our opinion that this
lady's conduct as revealed in this case
has been highly discreditable both in
her behavior towards Second Lieu
tenant Barrett before his letter of the
l4th of February. in her vindctive
attempts To injure him afterward and
in the untruthful evidence she gave
before us.
'lt appears in the evidence that this
lady holds positions of some impor-
tancc in the country of Denbighshire
in various associations of public
character FOR assisting in war work
In our opinion it is to be regretted
that she should hold such positions"
Prominent Socially
Mrs Cornwallis-W West is the eldest
daughter of the Rev. Frederick Fitz-
patrick and Lady Olivia, who was the
daughter Of the second marquis of
Headiort She was married in 1872
to William CORVALLIS West Of Ruthin
castle. county of Donbigh, who has
been lord lieutenant OF Denbighshire
since 1872 and is honorary co'onel of
the Fourth battalion of Royal Welsh
fusiliers
Their son. George Frederick Mvdle-
CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR