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UNAWED WIDOW OF LANSDOWNE DEFENDS HERO Herald - 11/13/25 Court Comes to Feet as She Enters Mitchell Case to "Carry On" for Dead Mate By DIXIE TIGHE Nearly three months ago Commander Zachary Lansdowne, leaving on the Shenandoah's last flight, said to his wife: "Carry on." Yesterday his widow appeared at the court-martial of Colonel "Billy" Mitchell to give testimony as a defense witness—to "carry on." Compelling, poised, beautiful, Mrs. Lansdowne smiled her recognition of the honor. HER HAND TREMBLED Slender and graceful, she raised her right hand to take the witness oath. The hand trembled visibly — her only expression of nervousness. Mrs. Lansdowne, in a clear, well-carrying voice, began her testimony. The judge advocate, Colonel Moreland, objected. He objected many times. Large blue eyes fringed with long black lashes followed the judge advocate with a hint of disdain. Without turning her head, Mrs. Lansdowne shifted her eyes from the judge advocate to the law court member, Colonel Winship. "Objection overruled." Mrs. Lansdowne smiled and twisted her well-shaped mouth into a charmingly impudent pucker at the trial judge advocate. During one part of her testimony, Colonel Moreland bulked darkly over the witness chair. IN CHAIR AGAIN Representative Frank Reid, civilian defense counsel, asked if he objected, for the judge advocate's rising usually means an objection. Colonel Moreland sat down. Throughout the dramatic testimony, Mrs. Lansdowne rarely varied her tone. When she mentioned her husband's name, a warmth shaded her voice. Her eyes, too, lost their smile. Frequent interruptions gave Mrs. Lansdowne opportunity to "inspect" the court and the spectators. She glanced pleasantly at both, a little quizzically, perhaps, at the court. Her eyes unwavering, her voice steady, the widow testified that Captain Foley, U. S. N., urged her to give false testimony when she appeared before the board. Once, she turned appealing eyes to the court when Colonel Moreland asked her to tell by whom Captain Foley's letter was delivered. "By the wife of a naval officer." The court nodded. Moreland said: "I insist on the name." Mrs. Lansdowne protested and leveled her eyes on the law member: "I don't like to give it." But the court sustained the insistence of the judge advocate. Clearly, slowly and reluctantly the widow answered: "Mrs. George W. Steele." The court rose as she smiled and left with Mrs. W. Beverly Mason, with whom she is staying. MRS MITCHELL OUSTED When Major Raycroft Walsh was questioned on the joint army and navy Panama war maneuvers of 1924, Colonel Sherman Moreland demanded a "star chamber" session. Spectators, including Mrs. William Mitchell, were asked to leave the courtroom. Soldiers guarded the closed doors and the crowd swarmed through the halls voicing their opinions of Colonel Mitchell's "public trial." Mrs. Mitchell chatted by the press room door with Mrs. Douglas MacArthur, wife of Major General MacArthur. The men from the courtroom welcomed the opportunity for a cigarette. The hall was cloudy with smoke. The women gathered in groups and occasionally a shrill voice could be heard declaring: "Why it's perfectly outrageous" —or, "I don't see why we can't hear." Even Baby Smiles [[image]] COPYRIGHT BY HARRIS & EWING Herald - 11 - 20 - 25 MRS. MARGARET ROSS LANSDOWNE showed no sign of the terrific strain she has gone through in the hearings of the last week as she smilingly posed with her daughter yesterday. MITCHELL TRIAL HALTS TO MARK ARMISTICE DAY Herald - 11/12/25 Court-Martial Silent for Two Minutes in Tribute to Hero Dead; Mrs. Howze Faints By DIXIE TIGHE The tinge of bitterness and the blare of martial discord faded yesterday in the silence of remembrance, offered yesterday in tribute to the world war dead by those assembled in the courtroom where Colonel William Mitchell is on trial. Three minutes before the moments of commemoration, Major General Robert L. Howze rose and paid verbal honor to "those immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence." Facing the East - the land of Flanders Field - a courtroom stood in silence for two minutes and gravely honored those who died in the service of their country. MRS. MITCHELL ABSENT The sharp click of a telegraph instrument in an adjoining room, the murmuring reverberation of Fort Meyer's salute—the only invasion of the silence. When the morning session convened, the courtroom hummed with "Where is Mrs. Mitchell?" It was the first time since the opening of the trial that the flying colonel's wife has missed a moment of the long sessions. Her absence was explained by Colonel "Billy," who answered that it was a brief one. At noon Mrs. Mitchell was there. FAINTS UNDER STRAIN The strain of the trial's tense session made its first visible impression yesterday. As General Howze, president of the court, launched on an explanation of his ruling in a previous session, his wife, who also has been present at every session, fainted. In a second every window in the courtroom was thrown wide open, General Howze snapped out "recess," and went to his wife. Colonel Billy Mitchell leaped to his feet, and, snatching a glass of water, made his way through the two-deep group of solicitous army women that had rushed to Mrs. Howze.
