Weekly journal-miner., 1918-03-27
Especial to The Journal-AIiner)

Special to The Journal-Miner) PHOENIX, March l9.-Follow- ing the receipt by certain State off, cials who accompanied Gov. Hunt on his first trip to Camp Kearny in February, of request signed by Ari-I zona men connected with the l5SthI infantry, that they send a formal apology for their conduct on the oc- casion of the visit, the facts which led to the court martial of three Ari- zona and two California men and the dismissal of two Arizona and two California men from the officers training school, have come to light. The three State officials, who arc said to have received this request, will probably not comply with the same as it would probably constr tute an admission of guilt of grave federal offense. They did not ac- company Governor Hunt on his sec. ond trip to Camp Kearny March Sth, and had they done so, it is quite prob able that they would have been taken into custody by the military authori- ties.
 Would Clear Regiment
 The Arizona officials were asked to direct their apology to Major General Strong, commander of the 40th division, who curiously was the officer who uncovered the offense The idea of the Arizona men in re- questing the apology was to fix the responsibility where it belonged and clear the Arizona regiment of the stain and uphold the enviable rcputa- ton which it has made in the federal service.
 The affair which brought disgrace to four Arizona men and from which the State officials concerned have es- capped without any undesirable pub licity so far took place on February ?, when the Governor Hunt party went to San Diego in their special car after they had been unable to attend the review of the division to be held that day on account of in element weather.
 Story of the Affair
 The trouble occurred at the |. s. Grant hotel in San Diego, the center Of all social and military activity of men stationed in the vicinity of that city. Bob Holiday, a former Phoc- nix newspaper man who has been regimental supply sergeant of the l5Sth infantry, having volunteered in the First Arizona shortly after the war broke out, had been selected on account of his competency to attend the officers training school at Camp Kearny, on the occasion of the visit of the Arizona officials and while he was on liberty occupied room 136 at the Grant, which became the head quarters for certain State officials for the entertainment Of the soldiers. The State officials acting as hosts, meet ing Arizona men in the lobby, in- vited them to visit room 736 and par take of the refreshments being served there through their generosity. II was quite a party and the fact that the hosts were State officials and the occasion an unusual one was prob ably responsible for the Arizona boys stepping over the line of discipline when otherwise they would not have thought of doing so. Hospitality ran riot and when the party temper arily adjourned for dinner, three oi the men had to be left behind. Two of these were California men who were lying on the bed and another an Arizona man, Private Avery Corpstein of Phoenix, son of tho mayor. who was left lying on the floor. The California men were mem, bers of the officers training school.
 General Uncovers Offense
 It happened that General Strong occupied a room on the same fooi close by. As he was passing tho door of room 736, which had beer left ajar, he noticed the figure of { man clad in khaki prostrate on tho floor and suspecting foul play, en, tered the room only to find the Cali fornia man spread out on the beC asleep. The, Arizona man was in ; like condition on the floor. From the numerous empty bottles around he quickly sized up the situation anC summoning the house detective or dered that no man be permitted tC leave or enter the room until he could call the military police and make ar investigation.
 The inquiry developed that tn, room had been rented by Holiday The three men were awakened anC put under arrest In the lobby Ma jor Strong is said to have seen ont of the State officials, who had beer acting as host, with his arms around Robbie Baker of Phoenix, son O Judge A. C. Baker, also a member o .l,o ..f and aI,,,,f4a1 ys