The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-03-01
CAPTAIN HENKEs GIVEN
25 YEARS IN THE PEN

Captain David A. Hcnkcs. Six
tcenth Infantry. 4. :. A. has been
sentenced TO dismissal from the
service aud confinement at hard
labor for twenty-five years by
general court martial at Governors
Island.
Henkcs, who is of German de-
scent, endeayored to resign his conn
mission, saying he did not care Ia
llght against relatives and friends.
Captain Hcnkcs. who was sta
toned at san Antonio. Texas. last
May wrote To the secretary Of war.
urging him Ia accept the rcsiguu-
ton, which be- had already sub
mitted, and giving reasons which.
hc declared would mo- longer allow
him to serve a. am officer of the
American army
Further service ~ a commits
stoned officer must sooner ur later
take me to Europe, and there hiring
me m conflict with my relatives and
friends. although for the time boiu.
my legal enemies. Captain Hrnkrs
wrote. My father came from Ger
many My mother was born here
shortly after the arrival uf her par
rnis We have many other relatives
aud friends there.
4 cannot force myself tu the con-
NlctlUn that ! am capable uf making
war on my kindred upon their soil
iu manner that would become ny
duty aud station"
Captain Henkcs. soon after he
submitted his resignation. was orr
dcrcd to France with the American
eXprditionary forces and from his
quarters there. June ~. 1917. wrote
Ia the adiutaut general In Washing
ton, calling attention to the fact
that he had resigned and declaring
that his battalion commander. the
department quartcrmastcr and the
commanding officer of the southern
department had approved his ac-
ton.
On October lO. while still ON duty
IN France, Captain Hcnkes wrote
again to the adiutanl general. urg-
ing acceptance of the resignation.
Captain Henkcs was then SUM
m0ned before a general rourt-mar-
tlal at Governors Island. where hc
was formally charged with violation
of the p5th article Of war This
charge recited that having taken
an oath of office, IN which. among
other things, hc sworc 10 support
and defend the constitution of the
United states against all enemies.
foreign aud domestic. and that he
would bear true faith and allegi-
ance to the same, had written the
letter concerning his resignation.
On landing on United States soil
he asked 10 be- allowed to see his
wife. This was denied. but he was
permitted To telephone and officers
listening in" heard him instruct his
wife to burn his papers.
Before Mrs, Henkes could carry
out the order her home was entered
and discriminating letters and papers
seized. According to the officers of
the Judge advocate generals depart
ment these proved that Henkes not
Qn.y had been In communication
with Count Won Bernst0rn. then
German ambassador To the United
States. but had contributed 10 Ger
man. Austrian and Turkish funds
and had been an active propagan-
dist
Benkes was born In Iowa In 1875
and entered the army at the out
break Of the Spanish-American war
AS private In Company q, First
Wisconsin Infantry. he was made
corporal and then a sergeant lie
became a second lieutenant in Feb
ruary, iaO'. and In 1907 graduated
from the infantry and cavalry
school Of the army
Well known In Columbus.
Captain Henkes was well known
I here, having resided In Columbus
p for several months. He came here
b with the sixteenth Infantry and
was assigned 10 a truck company
b He purchased a house and lot from
Alfred Lucdtke, just east of III,
= residence Of J. + White. which hC
still owns. Mrs. henkes resided her,
with her husband Rnd was held r
high esteem by thnse who made her
r acquaintance.
/
IA IA. I"u.l.l gN.a.. -. - . -.