Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-16

Washington, comfnsndant of the 18th
naval district and president of the
court which Is trying Colonel VIII
| liams.
! General Butler himself took the
place and denied categorica1ly that he
had coerced or attempted to coerce his
! subordinates into making statements
that Colonel Williams was drunk. But
the general was followed by other Of
fcers who swore they had changed es-
sential portions of previous statements
as a result OF the generals warning
that they must come clean or you'll
all get into trouble"
| One of these officers was Captain
Clifton B. Gates, member Of Colonel
Williams staff, and the co1onePs de-
Tense counsel
Captain Gates said he made one
written statement of the Coronado
cocktail episode at the request of Gen.
eral Butler in which he asserted he
had seen nothing unusual In the COLI
onel's behavior except that he was
unsteady on his feet" but that after
having been reprimanded by the gem
eral for ''eauivocating" he had pre-
pared another statement containing
the phrase unsteady on his feet,
which was caused by being drunk, sick
or doped.'"
"The general called me into his
Office after reading by first state
ment," Gates testified, "and said:
"'Don't you know Colonel Williams
was drunk? Well know he was
drunk. / saw him take four or
drinks.
"'Now I want you to know you
youngsters will have to come clean
or you'll get into trouble also.
81 know you are trying to be
loyal 20 Colonel Williams and re-
spect you for it. But I want the
truth about this"
An officer, Second Lieutenant Bev-
erly S. Roberts, said he and several
General Butler and told their state |
ments were highly unsatisfactory.
$50, in my second statement" said |
Roberts. "instead Of saying the |
coloneps walk was unsteady l wrote |
the colonel had the appearance of |
being intoxicated or otherwise be- |
wildered.'"
General Butler did not deny In his |
testimony that he had rebuked his |
subordinates.
Il told them they were a lot Of |
boys running around in circles" he |
declared. II said TO them Go out !
now and tell the truth or you'll get |
into trouble, too"
Asked by Admiral Washington II |
he had used duress" in obtaining |
the second revised batch of state |
ments from his subordinates, the |
general shot back:
None whatever. I wanted no lies |
from them. I wanted the truth and !
! meant to get it,
AT one point in his testimony Cen
eral Butler seemed on the verge If |
hurting out something as yet unsus-
pected by those attending the court |
martial.
There is in my possession" he /
said, certain knowledge. and be- |
lieve 1t is now proper that / should |
inform the court.
I'm the first place, Sir, a lot Of |
these young officers are very greatly |
embarrassed.
"They have, of course, a very un-
usual hesitancy to speak, and there
Is in my possession -"
Hesitantly the general proceeded.
There is in my possession -"
Again he broke off his sentence.
Il waited to see if it would come
out naturally. 1t has not"
Here Admiral Washington inter-
rupted the witness.
General" he said, II think the
court naturally takes cognizance of
these matters. Conf1ne yourself to
the facts so far as you know them"
Just what the general was about to
say remained mystery.