Private James Williams
Kentucky Post, Monday, 16 May 1904, page 3
In the guardhouse at Ft Thomas awaiting trial for desertion is
Private James Williams of Company I. He is the son of a prominent St Louis
physician and prior to the outbreak of the Spanish American War was desperately
in love with a pretty girl at Louisville Ky. Then he and his sweetheart
quarreled. He enlisted.
The rough routine of an army life did not prove nearly so alluring as he had pictured, so he deserted. He joined the girl in New York and they were married Sept. 13, 1902. Then the lovers went to Bloomfield Ky. where Williams was shortly afterward captured and at a court martial at Ft Thomas was sentenced to eight months at hard labor and ordered to pay a forfeit of $80. He served the sentence and was then returned to duty at Ft De Soto.
Desperate at the separation from his wife, he deserted once more and on March 6, 1904, was with his wife once more. They were living happily again at Bloomfield, when the exorable servants of Uncle Sam got on the trail and ran him down. Now he is at Ft Thomas with an armed guard at his door and the prospect of a long term of five years before him.
His young wife is broken hearted and has pleaded with the authorities to treat him with leniency, but as it is his second offense he can expect but scant mercy.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 11 July 1904, page 7
Private James Williams, First Company, Coast Artillery, tried here by General Court martial, was found not guilty of desertion as charged, but guilty of absence without leave, and sentenced to forfeit $30 of his pay and to serve under guard at hard labor for 30 days.