New-York tribune., 1918-02-28
J. A. FishHeld
For Wearing
Army. Uniform
Scion of Wealthy Family
Charges Persecution Before
u. S. Commissioner


Yacht Club, cousin of Stuyvesant Fish
and member of one of the oldest fami-
lies in the Social Register, had not
given all his clothes except one suit to
the Red Cross, or if his $4,000 yacht
had not burned off the Massachusetts
coast. he would not have stood as he
did yesterday. he is assured, before
United States Commissioner Hitchcock,
charged with unlawfully wearing the
uniform of a second lieutenant in the
United States army.
The whole thing, he told the commits
sioner, was "demnition outrage, Sin"
which dated right back to 1910, when
the yacht sank in Edgartown Bay. By
parting with his civilian wardrobe, "in
the interest of democracy" he had
merely brought the matter to a head.
MY one suit required pressing
Other suits ordered remained uniin-
ished. | was. therefore, compelled this
morning to don my uniform. l am
walking near the Singer Building, sir,
when | am summarily halted and
placed under arrest. Persecution, sir
plain persecution. By God, sir-this
is what get for trying to fight for my
country."
Discharged From Army
Between indignant gasps, Mr.-or
as ne declares he should be entitled,
"I.ieutenant"- said he had been
discharged from the United States
army on November 3, 1917, on the eve.of
his departure to France as an officer
attached to the Pershing expedition
ary force He had appealed for rein
statement on February 7, and under
stood he had right to wear his uni
form until his appeal had been acted
upon.
Il have served ten years as an officer
in the British army, serving in three
South African campaigns and being
wounded five times" he told Commis-
sioner Hitchcock II have offered my
self to my country and in return have
been prosecuted and Inundated"
Mr.. Fish told the commissioner that
Henry A. Wise, former Assistant Unit
ed States Attorney. would vouch for
him if he was communicated with. This
was done, and Mr.. Fish was released in
pear this morning for examination.
81 will tell you the most sensational
story Of persecution you have ever
heard" said Mr.. Fish to newspaper
men after he had been dismissed until
tomorrow. 81 have been bounded out
of the army all on account of my legal
fight against the one hundred million
aires who constitute the United States
Lloyds. In 1910 my yacht, the Senta,
h.,,. ii | tlNc tny
the charge Of burning it. I was found
guilty and sentenced to five years i'm
prisonment, but the higher court re
versed the finding and liberated me.
Then | sued each individual stock
holder in the United States Lloyds, be-
ginning with Adrian Iselin. for $3.50
apiece-Sl5, 900 in all, the sum Of the
policy on my yacht I won verdict,
and since then have been prosecuted"
Served in South Africa
MIR. Fish, who is forty years old
and widower, said he was born in
New London, Conn, but went to South
Africa in 1895. where he Joined the
British army finally attaining a cap
taincy in the Imperial Light Horse and
gaining distinction for gallantry at the
siege. of Ladysmith and the relief of
Mafeking. In 1908 the then Captain
flSH OF tne lmpcIlal Ilght Horse was
retired for wounds and returned to
this city, where. he said, he engaged in
the insurance business at 1923 William
Street.
But he yearned to return to mill
tary service, he said. and when the
American troops were mobilized on
the Mexican border in 1916 he ap-
piled to General Wood for commits
sion but was told that he would have
to join the officers reserve corps.
II was notified to appear before the
board at Governors Island" explained
Mr. Fish. "but before could do so
was ordered to report at Plattsburg
for the officers training camp. On
August 10. 1917. | was commissioned
and ordered to report at Hoboken,
equipped for field service. | bought
q $500 outfit. reported and was or
dered to sail for France on October
as an officer of the infantry of the
National Army with General PERISH
ing's foyce On October 3, while
was embarking troops, was suddenly
honorably discharged.'
Mr. Fish said he appealed to Secre-
tary Of War Baker to know on what
grounds he had been discharged and
was told that it was on account Of his
record in civil life"