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Summerall Aroused.

The court retired and when it returned it was announced that the vote had eliminated the general. Then the defense exercised its only premptory challenge to eliminate Gen. Sladen. He was removed because of his position as superintendent of the Military Academy, where he exmplifies discipline to the nth degree.

Gen. Summerall, after being ielminated from the court, reported back to the War Department before returning to his regular post as commander of the Second corps area at Governors Island, New York.

The general is one of the two war-time corps commanders now left on the active list, having been promoted from chief of the First division to the control of the Fifth army corps. He insisted that prior to entering the courtroom he had entertained the most friendly feelings toward Col. Mitchell. He was designated as president of the court by Secretary of War Dwight Davis because of his position on the seniority list of the army and because of his long term of military service. He made it plain that, even had the court sustained his remaining on the court he would have appealed to President Coolidge to relieve him because of what he insisted was a "personal attack" upon him.

Next Defense Move Veiled.
At the War Department Gen. Summerall stated later that if he had been left on the court he would have adjourned the proceedings until he could ask to be legally relieved, because he felt that his honor had been assailed. Suggestions that he might later ask for a court of inquiry to develop whether the charges made by Col. Mitchell actually were true were said to be without foundation.

The court, having been reduced to nine voting members, under the law it will require the votes of six members to find Col. Mitchell guilty of any of the charges brought against him. The next move of the defense, should the court accept jurisdiction, is withheld for the present. The attack on the ninety-sixth article of war was an unique move, but it was stated last night by men close to the Mitchell camp that it is but the opening of a barrage which they confidently expect will crumble the assault on the flying officer.

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AIDING AIRMAN. Military counsel for Colonel Mitchell is Colonel H. A. White, U. S. A.
-Herald Staff Photo

'Mrs. Billy' to Back Mate 'Tooth and Nail' in Trial

Herald-10/29/25.

Glad "This Thing is Being Threshed Out" and Regrets Only That It Keeps Her Away from Baby Daughter

By CORINNE RICH
Universal Service

If Colonel "Billy" Mitchell needs any moral support in this court-martial of his, he has an adequate supply in the presence of his charming wife. She's for him tooth and nail.

Mrs. Billy sat not two feet away from her husband in the stuffy old courtroom yesterday and beamed and beamed.

Afterwards, she intimated that she was glad of the trial. She said:

"This is the only way to get this thing thrashed out, you know. There have been letters galore and a lot of talk and news stories. But the whole matter is getting thoroughly aired now. Something is bound to happen at last."

BREEZY SORT OF PERSON

Mrs. Mitchell is one of those breezy persons you like to know. She is tall and light haired and animated. There is a certain aliveness to her whole person, particularly her blue eyes, that means a keen intelligence and a love of life.

Dressed inconspicuously in black with a small black hat, bright Persian silk scarf and black silk brocaded caracul-trimmed coat, she drew attention from the impressive array of generals' uniforms on the platform.

She occasionally spoke a whispered word to Colonel "Billy" and then laughed. Once or twice she leaned over a bit and patted him on the shoulder. Always there was good-humored laughter in her eyes.

Mrs. Mitchell was Miss Elizabeth Miller, a Detroit society girl. During the two or three years that she has been the colonel's wife she has had thrills aplenty. They began with a long honeymoon spent in big-game hunting in India. 

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

And since then she has made a place for herself in the hearts of the army men and women of the Capital. She said:

"Am I for Colonel Mitchell in this trial? You bet I am. I'm for him through thick and thin.

"But I'm awfully anxious to get to Detroit. My baby is there with my mother. Little Lucy is only three months old. I've an idea she would be glad to see her mother."

She was asked:

"Why didn't you bring her along?"

"Bring her along? Well, she might have added some more color to this trial, sitting here beside us. But you don't know Lucy. She has her father's big voice!"


-By ARTHUR BRISBANE-

PRESIDENT COOLIDGE does not believe in interfering with other men's jobs, so he allows distinguished incompetents to put Colonel Mitchell on trial merely for telling the truth.

It would be interesting to know the President's real opinion on this preposterous trial.

WHAT COLONEL MITCHELL said about the United States air fleet, its incompetent management and general worthlessness, was repeated, in substance, by every competent flyer testifying at the recent aircraft investigation.

IT DOESN'T SEEM PROBABLE that every man in the United States force, able to fly, knows less about flying than the desk-bound gentlemen that sent the Shenandoah to destruction.

And what about the constitutional guarantee of free speech? Does that not apply to army officers?

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Wash. Herald -10-29-25
EXCUSED FROM DUTY. On objection from Colonel Mitchell, Major General Summerall, chairman of the court, and Major General Fred W. Sladen were disqualified to act as members of the court.
-Underwood & Underwood