Scrapbook of 1903 Court Martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase

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Item Number0599-1Date1903DescriptionThis impressive and well-preserved scrapbook, compiled by an unidentified individual, assembles newspaper articles and political cartoons published during the highly publicized court martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase that took place in October and November 1903. The charges revolved around “irregularities” in National Guard operations under his command while deployed to the Cripple Creek Mining District to assist mine operators throughout the ongoing violent miners’ strike and tumultuous labor wars of that time. By all accounts, this was a political battle between Colorado Governor James H. Peabody, Colorado National Guard Adjutant General Sherman M. Bell and Brigadier General Chase that took place in the Senate Chamber of the Colorado Capitol and was considered a farce. In the end, the governor acquitted Chase of all charges after a month of being the center of attention in the news. (Note: for an excellent overview of the of the events reported in this scrapbook’s newspaper clippings, Emma Florence Langdon (1875–1937, Cripple Creek Mining District linotype operator, historian, and labor leader) reported on these proceedings in her book "The Cripple Creek Strike: A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado, 1903-4-5", pp. 153-160 (Denver: Great Western Publishing Co., 1904-6) which is provided as an attachment in this collection.)LocationDenver (Colo.)SubjectColorado National GuardCourt MartialsCripple Creek Strike, Cripple Creek, Colo., 1903-1904CollectionScrapbook of 1903 Court Martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase Language enOriginal FormattextPhysical Description10.5 in x 12.5 in scrapbookNotesThe following excerpts from "The Cripple Creek Strike: A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado, 1903-4-5", pp. 153-160 (Denver: Great Western Publishing Co., 1904-6) by Emma Florence Langdon (1875–1937, Cripple Creek Mining District linotype operator, historian, and labor leader) provide a contemporaneous view of the events chronicled in the “Scrapbook of 1903 Court Martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase”: Farcial [sic] Court Martial Maneuvers “October 3 (Brigadier General) Chase was summoned to Denver to appear before the "Czar of Colorado." At once there were rumors of court martials and denials of the same. There were rumors to the effect that Chase was to be superseded, that he would return and that he would not return. Statements that there was friction between him and some of the subordinate officers, against whom, it was alleged, he made charges of irregularities. Hints of padded pay rolls were brought out, also intimations made that women were mixed up in the case, and various other matters came before the public in connection with the affair. The officers were "gagged" when asked questions, no one in camp seemed to know why Chase was called to Denver. Scandals were made public, which neither the officers nor the mine owners appreciated; the officers did not relish the publicity given the scandals, while the mine owners hated to lose a subservient tool. Peabody and the mine owners, it was said, did their best to keep peace between the '' tinsel ornaments'' but failed. It was said by many that had it been possible to keep the "czar" of the "empire" of Colorado in the same mind forty-eight hours, the trouble might have been avoided. Close friends of the governor labored with him to help him to "release the tail of the bear," but to no avail. However, that may be, detailed charges and specifications were filed with Governor Peabody against practically all heads of departments of the Colorado National guard. The military court was to act as a kind of state grand jury and all charges that were made against the men and officers and all allegations that were made were to be considered by the court. On October 10, Governor Peabody appointed a general court martial to convene at the capitol building at 10:00 a. m., October 19, 1903, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the trial of such persons as might properly be brought before it. October 19 the court martial began to grind and it continued until October 31. It is useless to waste space to go into detail in regard to that ridiculous farce played by the officers of the National guard, with Peabody, Bell and Chase in the leading roles. It was a very exhilarating performance in which the governor acted as director. Bell aspired to the role of heavy villain and Chase the martyr (?). The majority of the officers in the field including the "parlor" colonels were all given minor parts. The only points brought out in the trial, which lasted twelve days, was that there were certain jealousies existing between the officers in Camp Goldfield. That Bell disliked Chase from his hat to his shoes, although he had publicly stated what a "warm" friendship existed between him and Chase. At the court martial it developed that they had had trouble in regard to which was superior from the very first. The public became aware of this fact when Bell charged Chase with perjury. There were many disgraceful acts that had taken place at Camp Goldfield brought to light that otherwise would not have become public property, had not Bell and the other officers tried to give Chase the worst of it. He (Chase) refused to resign and was acquitted of the charge of perjury. Then came the other charges of disobedience and many other allegations. It was believed that the court would find a verdict of guilty on the specifications, but not the charge of disobeying orders. In other words, he was technically guilty, but not willfully so. While the trial for other charges than perjury was being continued, Bell left no stone unturned to convict General Chase, and in his attempt to do so, a few little things much like the following were charged against Bell by the press of the state: That General Bell violated his oath of office and the orders of Governor Peabody in going to the Cripple Creek district. That he issued executive orders without the sanction or knowledge of the governor. That he exceeded his authority by issuing commands to the brigade of General Chase. That he issued orders direct to officers without sending them through brigade headquarters. That he forged the name of General Chase to passes through the lines. That he removed Colonel Louis Barnum from the court martial because he would not agree to vote for a conviction of General Chase. That he coerced and rewarded witnesses in the case of General Chase. That he approached members of the court martial to influence them to vote against Chase. That he destroyed important records that would have vindicated Chase and substituted incorrect copies to be introduced as evidence. After spending the entire day of November 2 in secret session, reviewing the evidence in the charge of disobedience of orders of the governor, the court martial announced that General Chase had been found guilty of disobedience by a vote of four to six. The punishment was not fixed. The arguments still went on for several days. There were many scenes during the trial, blows being threatened, and many times the court room was cleared to avoid the crisis being reached. The lie was passed by the gold lace followers of Bell. Men were called scoundrels and curs and other names for which men used to kill. Finally, after the trial had absorbed the public attention for nearly thirty days, the verdict was announced and turned over to Governor Peabody to fix sentence. General Bell and his followers used every power possible to influence Peabody to give Chase a dishonorable discharge. Public sentiment was with Chase, for the reason that it was plain to be seen that the whole affair was a matter of jealousy and supposed to be a plot to dispose of Chase. Prejudice predominated in the court martial and public sentiment naturally grew in favor of Chase. Attorney Elliot worked very hard for Chase, and more than once held Bell up to ridicule. Once, in the heat of argument, he called Bell a cowardly cur. He was ever ready to correct and defy the opposition to Chase. November 7 the controversy came to an end, so far as the public was concerned. The news of the acquittal of General Chase of the charges preferred against him, for which he was tried, rather amused the citizens of this district. The people were eagerly waiting to see what the governor would do with the proposition passed up to him by the military board. They heard from him and noted that he made a bold straddle of the proposition. Public opinion was too strong to "fire" Chase from the National Guard, so the governor, in order to pacify Bell, approved of the verdict but did not discharge Chase from the guard. Governor Peabody's decision was typewritten, covering some four pages. He agreed with the court that General Chase had disobeyed executive orders, but, "in view of the fact of his long and honorable service, in the militia of both Colorado and Michigan, the verdict of the court was set aside.'' The ruling of the governor was in every way a vindication for General Chase. His handling of the court's verdict was done in complete detail, every point raised by the defense and prosecution being covered. The verdict amounted to this: ''Mr. Chase, you disobeyed an executive order. My dear sir, never let this occur again. You will remain in command, because I have confidence in you." Apparently, it appears that the governor refused to be dictated to by Adjutant General Sherman Bell. The governor did not make up his mind as to what the verdict would be until November 7. He spent the evening in going over the evidence and conferring with friends of both factions. "I am going to return this verdict in accordance with the law and facts, no matter who it hits," said the governor. Early in the morning he was at his office in the capitol building, and, calling his stenographer into his room, started the task of dictating his opinion as to the finding of the court. The governor called attention to the law and commented to some length on all points. In closing, his decision, which was signed "James H. Peabody, governor and commander in chief," set forth the different charges. "The charge of perjury. Charge, not guilty. Specifications, not guilty." "Charge No. 2. - Disobedience of orders. Charge, guilty. Sentence, dismissal. The sentence is set aside." And the governor wound it up with a comment on the bravery of General John C. Chase. So, after nearly thirty days consumed by the court martial, the result (aside from the amusement it furnished the public, which by the way will cost the taxpayers dear, as shown by one item alone, which I hereafter cite), nothing was really accomplished. The striking miners, however, were benefited as it gave them temporary respite from military persecution as General Bell's attention was given to trying to convict General Chase in the hope that he would be dismissed from the service. There was much conjecture as to what was the real cause for the enmity of Bell against Chase. Some claimed it was jealousy, because Bell recognized Chase's superiority as a commanding officer, and therefore wanted him out of the way as Bell himself desired to be the "whole thing." My personal opinion for the cause of the court martial is that General Bell, being desirous that in his war (mimic), which he considered of even greater importance than the war for Independence, and himself the Washington, desired that nothing be overlooked that usually goes with real war, consequently deemed a court martial a necessity. Trust General Bell not to overlook anything in connection with military affairs. The court martial was a thirty days' picnic for those participating, the amount of champagne and high-priced cigars consumed, at the expense of the state, not to mention luncheons, was something astonishing. Here is the amount of one voucher alone, being bill presented by the Brown Palace Hotel Co. for luxuries furnished members of the court martial: "Voucher No. 4,987, $1,930.60." The press of Colorado contained daily comment and amusing criticism upon the court martial. These conditions the miners enjoyed. They made the best of them as a means of amusement, and the question of moment each day was inquiring for the last sensation among the soldiers. The miners cared little about going to work while they could enjoy such high-class entertainment without cost.”

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Scrapbook of 1903 Court Martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase

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Scrapbook of 1903 Court Martial of Colorado National Guard Brigadier General John Chase