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[[Newspaper article]]
Mitchell Sentence Scored in House as Unusual and Cruel
[[handwritten entry]] Star 12-19-25 [[/handwritten entry]]
By the Associated Press
The Mitchell court-martial case came to the floor of the House for the first time today when Representative Tillman, Democrat, Arkansas, charged that the court was organized to "get the colonel," and that its verdict "insults free America."
"I call upon the granite-faced and granite-souled President of this justice-loving Nation," he said, "to mitigate or quash this harsh sentence."
The court's edict suspending the air officer from rank and pay for five years because of this attack on Government aviation policies, Mr. Tillman continued, was "shameless, unusual and cruel."
[[/Newspaper article]]

[[Newspaper article]]
Mitchell Trial Result of Criticism of Service
[[handwritten entry]] Herald - 12/18/25 [[/handwritten entry]]
War Department Institutes Inquiry Resulting in Court-Martial After Colonel Broadcast Charges of Incompetency
By Universal Service
Col. William Mitchell, of the Army Air Service, was brought to trial on charges of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline immediately following his action in issuing a formal statement charging aircraft accidents were "the direct result of the incompetency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of defense by the Navy and War Departments."
The colonel declared "the conduct of these departments has been so disgusting as to make any self-respecting person ashamed of the uniform he wears."
INQUIRY STARTED AT ONCE
Col. Mitchell's stinging attack was issued at San Antonio, Tex., on September 5 and was published broadcast throughout the country.
The War Department immediately instituted an inquiry through the customary military channels.
Maj. Gen. Ernest Hinds, commanding the Eighth Corps Area, with headquarters at San Antonio, was directed by telegraph to ascertain just what Colonel Mitchell had said.
Maj. Gen. Eli A. Helmick, inspector general of the army, ordered one of his staff to proceed at once to San Antonio to make a full inquiry into the character of the statement and the circumstances surrounding its publication.
MITCHELL AIDS PROBE
Much of the preliminary work on inquiry was obviated almost immediately by Colonel Mitchell's blunt admission that he had issued the statement and had given it to the press.
The next step was the preparation of the charges by the judge advocate general of the army, and Colonel Mitchell shortly was accused of violating the ninety-sixth article of war. The judge advocate general recommended a trial by court-martial.
By direction of President Coolidge, the court-martial, with Maj. Gen. Charles P. Summerall, of the Second Corps Area, New York, as its ranking member, assembled in Washington on October 28 for the trial.
SERIES OF SENSATIONS
From the first day, when Colonel Mitchell challenged the eligibility of General Summerall and two others to serve as members of the court, the trial was a series of sensations.
The prosecution endeavored to confine the evidence to the statement itself, seeking to exclude masses of testimony which Colonel Mitchell wished to introduce in support of his accusations against the War and Navy Departments.
The court overruled the prosecution, and Colonel Mitchell presented detailed evidence to substantiate his charges. Confronted by this situation, the prosecution in rebuttal endeavored to show the conduct of the War and Navy Departments had not been such as to warrant the Mitchell accusations.
[[/Newspaper article]]

[[Printed note]]
While Major Guillon was in the midst of his most fiery eloquence in his speech for the prosecution against the erstwhile Colonel Mitchell, in the heat and excitement of the court room, his clothing became a little disarrayed. A stage whisper came from the press box from one of the six small Gullions. "Mamma, tell papa to fasten his collar." [[Handwritten entry]] Boston Post [[/handwritten note]]
[[/Printed note]]

[[Photograph]]
[[Caption]]
[[Handwritten entry]] Star - Dec. 18-1925 [[/Handwritten entry]]
THE MITCHELL COURT-MARTIAL IN THE FILES OF HISTORY. The above exclusive photograph was taken at the Emory Building last night five minutes after the close of the trial of Col. Mitchell. Gen. Robert Howze is shaking hands with Representative Frank R. Reid, Mitchell's counsel. Col. Mitchell in center. Copyright by P. & A. Photos. 
[[/Caption]]
[[/Photograph]]

[[Newspaper article]]
MITCHELL DENIED ENRIGHT'S POST
Representative Bloom's Proposal Finds No Sympathy With City Officials
[[Handwritten entry]] Star 12/21/25 [[/Handwritten entry]]
By the Associated Press
NEW YORK - December 21 - Although Mayor-elect Walker has made no official announcement concerning the proposal of Representative Sol Bloom that Col. William Mitchell be appointed police commissioner of New York, it was learned from persons close to Mr. Walker that under no conditions would the suspended Army officer be considered for the post. 
Col. Mitchell, it was pointed out, is not a resident of New York City, a qualification which Mr. Walker has announced necessary for the new police department's head.
The mayor-elect has also stated previously that he would not appoint a professional soldier to the post.
Gov. Smith, Mr. Walker and George W. Olvany, Tammany leader, met at a luncheon in the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt yesterday and discussed the names suggested for the important offices in the gift of the mayor-elect. Mr. Walker and Mr. Olvany were said to have solicited the governor's advice, although he has said he would not interfere with the distribution of city patronage. 
BLOOM BACKS MITCHELL
Thinks Col. Would Make Ideal New York Police Head.
The appointment of Col. Mitchell to the post of police commissioner in New York City was proposed yesterday to Mayor-elect Walker by Represetative [[misspelled]] Sol Bloom, Democrat, New York. In recommending the airman for the office, Mr. Bloom said he had no doubt Congress would enact any legislation necessary to make the appointment possible if the former Army Air Service assistant chief is acceptable.
"The name of Col. William Mitchell is presented to you for the office of police commissioner of New York City," Mr. Bloom informed Mr. Walker. "If he should meet your approval, I have no doubt that legislative authority could be enacted here premitting [[misspelled]] his employment by the City of New York. I believe this would be an eminently fitting appointment and give our city an able executive who has in war and in peace shown himself to be a fearless and able man at every difficult task that has come to his hands."
[[/Newspaper article]]

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