Show COURT MARTIAL IN MAHILA COL PETTIT IS exonerated OF WRONG DOING washington july 7 the following was received at the war department from gen macarthur at manila dated july 7 col J S pettit thirty first infantry acquitted by general court martial ool pettit was tried on charge ot having turned over a native prisoner to a dato da to in mindanao who cruelly executed the man the court martial was founded upon a charge that col pettits Pet tits conduct was and tended to bring the american arms into contempt it was at one time reported that webb hays a lieutenant colonel of the same regiment had thrown up his commission because of dissatisfaction with colonel pettits Pet tits conduct in this affair upon his arrival in this country however major harrison contradicted this statement and came out in a strong defense of col pettits Pet tits course the verdict of the court martial meets with the unqualified approval of the war department authorities and of col pettits Pet tits brother officers here manila july 7 the court martial convened for the purpose of hearing the charges against col james S pettit of the thirty first volunteer infantry who was accused of violating ahe sixty second article of war in making an arrangement with president medell of ango for the capture of juan ramos and who was afterwards ter wards transferred to medell and billed has brought in a verdict of acquittal quit tal gen macarthur in reviewing the evidence disapproved of the of tee court martial the ac it Is announced restored col pettit to duty in his regiment gen james bell it is announced will succeed brigadier general E B williston the provost marshal at manila gen bell win enter upon his antles july 15 general will return home |