The Arizona copper camp. [volume] (Ray, Ariz.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-23
MEMBERS Of
HUNT PARTY
LEAD KEARNY
MEN ASTRAY
Arizona Men in 158th Infan-
try Denoted Following
Affair in San Diego Hotel
While Prominent State
Officials Escape Punish
ment.

PHOENIX, Ariz., March 22.-Fol-
lowing the receipt by certain state Of
ficials who accompanied Governor
Hunt on his first trip to Camp Kear-
ny in February, of request signed
by Arizona men connected with the
1bSth infantry, that they send for
NAL apology for their conduct on the
occasion 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 Cal
ifornia men from the officers train
ing school, have come to light.
The two state officials, who are said
to have received this request, will
probably not comply with the same as
it would probably constitute an admis-
sion of guilt of grave federal of
Tense. They did not accompany Gov
ernor Hunt on his second trip to
Camp Kearney March 9Th, and had
they done So it is quite probable that
they would have been taken into GUS
tody by the military authorities.
Would Clear Regiment
The Arizona officials were asked to
direct their apology to Major General
Strong, commander of the 10th divis-
ion, who 'curiously was the officer who
uncovered the offense. The idea of
the Arizona men in requesting the
apology was to fix the responsibility
where it belonged and clear the Ari-
zona regiment of the stain and uphold
the enviable reputation 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 inclement
weather
Story of the Affair.
The trouble occurred at the U. 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 Phoenix
newspaper man who has been regi-
mental supply sergeant of the 158th
infantry, having volunteered in the
First Arizona shortly after the war
broke out, had been selected on ac-
count of his competency to attend the
officers training school at Camp
Kearney. On the occasion of the
visit of the Arizona officials and while
he was on liberty, he occupied room
736 at the Grant, which became the
headquarters for certain state officials
for the entertainment of the soldiers.
The state officials acting as hosts,
meeting Arizona men in the lobby, in
vited them to visit room 1856 and par
take of the refreshments being served
quite party and the fact that the
hosts were state officials and the Oc-
casion an unusual one was probably
responsible for the Arizona boys STEP
ping over the line of discipline when
otherwise they would not have thought
of doing so. Hospitality ran riot and
when the party temporarily adjourned
for dinner, three of the men had to be
left behind Two of these were Cali
fornia men who were lying on the
bed and another, an Arizona man, Pri-
vate Avery Corpstein of Phoenix, son
of the mayor, who was left lying on
the floor. The California men were
members of the officers training
school.
General UncoVers Offense.
1t happened that General Strong oc-
cupied room on the same floor, close
by. AS he was passing the door of
of room 1856, which had been left ajar,
he noticed the figure of man clad
in khaki PROSTATE on the floor and
suspecting foul play, entered the room
only to find the California man spread
out on the bed asleep. The Arizona
man was in a like condition on the
floor. From the numerous empty bot