Show WEIRS CHARGES HARGES C ARE UNFOUNDED t 4 Crowders Crowder Investigation Results In Acquittal of Arnold r CENSURED BY DEPARTMENT TESTIMONY IMPLICATES SEP SEE GEANT GE EDWARDS ASHINGTON AH July 5 The war ar de d W V Y today gave out the re results suits suIt of the Inquiry made by b Colonel Crowder into the case of r Lieu Lieutenant tenant Frederick T Arnold Anold Fourth cavalry acquitting him of direct knowledge of or o complicity in tn the the ill UI i treatment of at Filipinos by United States soldiers r This ThiR Is the case referred re ere to by Sent Sen Senator Se ator Culberson on the te floor for of or the te sea ate some time ago The case ce grew g out if t charges made by tEy I Weir against agit Lieutenant Leuten nt Arnold alleging cruel ruel treatment of or prisoners of war wa oc occurring occurrIng occurring within his command omand white while serving erving se ing Jn in JJ the te Philippines It I was understood that General Genera Mites nes had said that tat the charges were of a Character to justify a The e action acton of the he war department is i embodied in jn the following extract of ff a aletter l letter etter te to t Lieutenant A Arnold old through be the Hie commanding general generl of ofte the depart depari department ment meet ThU Th secretary 5 ret of or var while concur concurring ring in the conclusion cn expressed e by the inspector that tbt t the evidence n e acquits you of direct ledge ot o or or complicity In In n the te infliction n of 0 t the punishments nt shown sh n to o have ha f been I practiced by y mem members berof bers ers of your command is of ot the t l h t these Le L b were preventable and could scarcely have havet I occurred had hd hid yOU rou exercised that thai high degree of ot o lance ilance which was wa imperatively demand demanded demind ed by the unusual conditions under i which your command was Wa operating oper ng that tt your failure to do this is i only measurably excused by the numerous and exacting civil cIvi duties dutes imposed upon you and justly justy exposes you ou to official censure for neglect of duty the th direct result r sult of which has ha beep that because i of at the few tew instances beep of ot o cruel treatment of prisoners prisoner which were of ot undoubted occurrence within in your command romi nd the I I military m service generally gene raly has Incurred unjust criticism I That such neglect ct has n gl not been 1 made e the te subject of charges is due to te the considerations above noted and to the further fact shown In evidence that In your personal and official reli re tons with witt wih the natives you uniformly exhibited kindness and consideration for them and worked assiduously aha with Wih excellent results for the te better betterment ment of oC conditions among then them par particularly j in jn the establishment es a among Ush of Par mu municipal u government and in the tle maintenance maintenance maintenance ance of public schools Praised Tor F Piea r Gallantry Glant In this connection and as a further Influencing in g the action taken en the secre seere secretary secre secret taxi tary t of ot war is pleased plea d to t recognize the theL i special commendation ett gallantry In Inaction InactIon L action acton extended y your oUt regiment regimental al l and division commanders The war department also furnishes I the following foRo wing t statement nt a of the tacIt facts ct I developed velo d dhe The he evidence eId nce taken t in the course coue of the investigations shows that the punishment Pent charged Private t Weir Web V Ir of of o the native nathe prison at was I administered by native policemen I of oC f the town of directed ired nd as assisted slated sit by Sergeant James mes C Edwards Edward troop H Fourth rt Ut ates cavalry in the quarters qua r ot of t th detachment six si of whom testify in Itt in substantial corroboration corob corroboration oration oraton of or the more Joi material allega allegations Lions ton preferred by Weir but state elate that thai no punishment serious injury resulted from froni trin this thI I It I appears appear that tat with the exception I of or Sergeant Edwards Edw none of these thee t tInca men Inca ten had bad anything to do with the ad administration d ministration of the punishment ment all al ex ox except e him being spectators Private Weirs allegations of severe seere punishments punishment resorted r to 4 by y members of Lieutenant Arnolds command at Calaca Calc Luzon Luon were sere stated by him upon hearsay evidence e he disclaiming all al direct knowledge as to these thes pun The Th evidence taken corn com completely p refutes the tita charges harges but doea do establish the fact the punishments doe s of ol ofa ola ofa a lesser Je er degree ot of cruelty but unjustifiable were secretly inflicted indIcted by b Sergeant Edwards and an the native scouts scout In the quarters separately o occupied u pled plea by there them t emt at Calaca Ca and nf behind I closed doors dor The evidence eIden of o guilt gi against Ser Sergeant Sere I geant Edwards Edward and the native nate scouts scout J Who under his direction unde hi dI t n administered in greater gr te part rt t 4 all t the e punishments p 1 above referred tre to Is is reported po p as E eon con Cn elusive by Colonel Crowder who ex expressed x pressed the view v w that th their d dr tr trial tri there th fore fore if j now possible v ouia of necessity sity s1 be i followed oll e by by b convection COt and an J J 5 e vere Ye ep punishment is me t Ife H tiso reports that tha action toi in t tto fie case against er Edwards Eward lid had for th the he her reason r on that upon upon publication pU jhn ju the t daily press pre of or tJ the fad fac ta that tt j S such charges had ia beep ie n made l J against aga him and nd that an c investigation h d been In n s n nd U looking tp t his nis trial ra ordered orere by b h cr t o or of orr war r he e erl d the t e service on May Maj y 9 at San Sa Francisco C CaL c ld nd has ha no nt not since inc been n apprehended d |