FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179  
180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   >>   >|  
, the Judge Advocate proceeded to call the next witness, Colonel Le Noir. Here, then, was a gentleman of most prepossessing exterior, as well as of most irreproachable reputation. In brief, his testimony corroborated that of the foregoing witness, as to the finding of the prisoner asleep on his post at the time and place specified. In honor of his high social and military standing, this witness was not cross-examined. The next called was Lieutenant Adams, who corroborated the evidence of former witnesses. The last person examined was Ensign Baker, whose testimony corresponded exactly to that of all who had gone before him. The Judge Advocate then briefly summed up the case on the part of the United States--first by reading the 46th Article of War, to wit, that: "Any sentinel who shall be found sleeping on his post, or shall leave it before he shall be regularly relieved, shall suffer death," etc., etc., etc. And secondly, by reading the recorded evidence to the effect that: Traverse Rocke had been found by competent witnesses sleeping on his post. And concluded by saying: "Gentlemen, officers of the court-martial, here is the law and here is the fact both proven, and it remains for the court to find a verdict in accordance with both." The prisoner was then put upon his defence. Traverse Rocke drew himself up and said, that the truth, like the blessed sun, must, on its shining forth, dispel all clouds of error; that, trusting in the power of truth, he should briefly relate the history of the preceding seven days. And then he commenced and narrated the facts with which the reader is, already acquainted. Traverse was interrupted several times in the course of his narrative by the President, General W., a severe martinet, who reminded him that an attempt to criminate his superior Officers would only injure his cause before the court. Traverse, bowing, as in duty bound to the President at every fresh interruption, nevertheless proceeded straight on with his narrative to its conclusion. The defence being closed, the Judge Advocate arose, as was his privilege, to have the last word. He stated that if the prisoner had been oppressed or aggrieved by his superior officer, his remedy lay in the 35th of the Articles of War, providing that any soldier who shall feel himself wronged by his captain shall complain thereof to the Colonel of his Regiment. To this the prisoner begged to reply that he had
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179  
180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   189   190   191   192   193   194   195   196   197   198   199   200   201   202   203   204   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Traverse

 

prisoner

 

witness

 

Advocate

 

evidence

 

witnesses

 
narrative
 
sleeping
 

superior

 

reading


briefly

 

examined

 

President

 

testimony

 

corroborated

 

defence

 

proceeded

 

Colonel

 

General

 
trusting

clouds

 

dispel

 

martinet

 

severe

 

commenced

 

acquainted

 

narrated

 

reader

 
interrupted
 

relate


history

 

preceding

 

remedy

 

Articles

 

officer

 
aggrieved
 

stated

 

oppressed

 

providing

 

Regiment


begged

 
thereof
 

complain

 

soldier

 

wronged

 

captain

 
injure
 

bowing

 

attempt

 
criminate