Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27

Although five months have elapsed
since the appointment of a general
court-martial for the trial of an enlisted
man of the 121st Regiment of Engineers
OF the National Guard of the District
IF Columbia as a result of his arrest by
the Pennsylvania authorities on
charge Of transportation of intoxicating
liquor during the encampment of the
Guard at Camp Albert c. Richie at
Cascade, Md, no active steps have yet
hsen taken to give the man hearing.
Guard officials obtained his release from
the civil authorities at the time under
the promise that they would give the
ran a trial and report the result to
the Pennsylvania court which had jur-
i5diction over him at the time.
Although officers at the Brigade
Headquarters plead ignorance of the
status of the case, ii Is known that
there has been much correspondence in
the matter with officials Of Waynesboro,
IA, and officers have been dispatched
there to conduct Investigations for the
purpose of bringing the case to trial.
1t was pointed out by officers and
men who have been watching the case
that the man is entitled to an oppor-
unity to appear before the court and
free himself, as 1t is commended that he
-
rourt has been waiting for the case
snce it was organized, but it is under
stood that 1t has never received the
rapers containing the charges. Even
some officers high in the council of the
Guard admit that the case should have
been brought to trial before the organ
ration embarked for its home station
rpon completion of the annual period of
field training. The difficulty appears to
re, according to those who know, that
tie investigating officers have been I'M
7ble to get sufficient evidence. and If
this is so, according to friends of the
soldier, the case should be wiped off and
he Pennsylvania court so informed al
though trial was promised.
Capt. William F. Jergensen. COM
handing Company F. 121st Engineers,
vas named as military defense counsel
for the man and Capt. Robert T.
Walker assistant defense counsel, and
50 far as can be learned, no steps have
been taken by these officers to force the
military authorities to trial so that the
man can be freed If there is no evidence
against him.
The court which was named last
August to sit in the case is composed of
Maj. Julian S. diff, commanding the
ID Battalion of the Engineer Regi-
rlent: Maj. Edward H. Grove, COM
manding the division headquarters
troops: Maj. Ralph S. Childs, command
ing the 1st Engineer Battalion, law
member; Capt. James D. Eggleston,
2S0th Coast Artillery Battalion Capt.
Charles E. SmNhson, adjutant of the En-
gineer Regiment; Capt. George L. Evans,
121St Engineers; Second Lieut.. James
n. Votava, 260th Coast Artillery Bat
talon; Capt. Walter S. Welsh, COM
handing the Headquarters and Service
Company, 121st Engineers, Judge advo-
cate; Second Lieut.. Willard Lee Ham,
lner, assistant judge advocate.
While an increase in the numerical
strength of the National Guard of the
country Is being recommended by the
Militia Bureau of the War Depart
ment In an effort to perfect the organ
ization for field service by establish
ment OF needed tactical. units, there ap-
pears to be now little likelihood that
the local Guard will be able to benefit
by any increase because of the total
lack OF suitable armory facilities for
these additional units which are on the
program as having been assigned to the
District of Columbia. The local Guard
has not even satisfactory arrnory facili-
ties for the proper training of the
aroops already in existence. They are