The Ely miner., 1930-02-14
Gen Mlkinsons Prohibition Order
FacslmIles of Manuscripts, Courtesy
United States Military Academy, West
Point.

guard house and the sentence of gen.
eral court martial.
Within the last year or so the state
Of Michigan has received widespread
publicity because of it's famous "life-
for-a-pint" liquor law. especially when
several women were convicted under
that law. And these convictions were
another example of "history repeating
ITSELF" for the first conviction and
punishment of woman liquor seller
was the result of Wilkinson's order
of July II, 1897. The woman was Lydia
Connor. described as follower of
the army" in the report of the court
martial at which she and two men
were tried. All three were found guilty
but only the woman was punished
What her punishment was is recorded
thus In the orderly books:
The court finds the prisoner guilty
of the charge exhibited against her,
and sentences her, under the General
Order of the 18th. Instant, and the
23rd. Article of the 18th. Section of
the rules and articles of war, to be
drummed with bottle suspended about
her neck, with the Rogues March, to-
gether with William Mitchell, a pris-
oner convicted of the like offense, her
right hand tied to his left, through
the Citadel in front of the troops,
paraded, thence through the streets
of the town, thence to and around the
front of the Barracks of the soldiery
in Fort Lernault, thence out of the
fort to and along the main street, and
out of the west or southwest gate of
the town not to return therein or
within the lines and fortifcations of
the troops of the United States, on
penalty of receiving such punishment
as may be inflicted upon her. by sem
tence of a court martial.
William Mitchell, who was tried
with Lydia, found guilty and sentenced
to suffer the same penalty was suit
tier, 1. e., a person licensed to sell
to the soldiers. The other man was
James Frazer, a merchant of Detroit,
who was also found guilty. However
the court martial, in finding him guilty
stated that "as there is a possibility
(from the words ardent spirits be-
ing included in the proclamation and
not in the general order) that he might
have misconceived the latitude of the
order" So. they only sentenced him,
ito be repremanded by the command
er-in-chief in such manner as he may
think proper"
When these sentences were pre-
sented to General Wilkinson, he acted
upon them thus. 1.-The sentence passed
upon Lydia Connor, notorious Of
fender, is to be carried into execu-
tion at six o'clock this afternoon.
However highly merited. he RENTS so
much of the sentence passed upon
Mitchell as relates to drumming and
he fiatters himself that this instance
of his clemency may not be misap-
must be expected"
In the case of Frazer, Wilkinson
was even more lenient probably be-
cause Frazer was a prominent mer-
chant in the little town Of Detroit,
and by dealing lightly with him the
general may have hoped to curry favor
with the citizens. This Wilkinson was
not an admirable character. 1t will be
remembered. for later in his career
while communicating chief of the Amer
lean army. he was guilty of what
closely bordered upon treason, more
so even than Aaron Burr, upon whom
the greater odium of the conspiracy
with the Spaniards in the Southwest
fell. So there is reason for reading In
cynical frame Of mind the following
unctuous words:
With respect to William Frazer the
n-chief will observe that.
as he can never be Indifferent to the
feelings of any person, should the
transgression have originated in mis-
apprehension, he regrets the occasion:
otherwise. he hopes the process may
be received as evidence of the Impair
tiality of his administration, and of the
duty of the court. and that 1t will have
the effect to prevent repetition OF
the offense which cannot be permit
ted or pardoned.
The measures of the general since
he took command of the post have
been directed by motives of public
utility. and the effects are visible to
all. Acting above personal considera-
tion-he abhors every emotion of a
vindictive spirit and disdains the
principles of narrow and insidious
policy-bound by the solemn obliga-
tions of public trust, and personal
honor. he will sedulously guard the in
terests confided to his charge. And il
will be source of pleasure to him.
should he, in the discharge of his duty
give satisfaction to citizens and Aliens
but this is secondary object The
first is the promotion of the national
interests and the appreciation of his
superiors The comma nder-in- chief is
here to render public service. not t.
court popularity. or subserve the az
commodation of individuals.