Sergeant Rutledge

There's young Cantrell.

He's a day late.

Right.

Ah, Dickinson. Hold that, will you?

That's my whole case in there...

evidence, affidavits, everything.

Try dressing in the front seat at a gallop.

How do I look?

That's how you look. Turn around.

I expected you yesterday.

I know.

Any luck at the Jorgenson ranch?

No, not yet.

Uh, Hightower,

take the rest of this gear to adjutants' quarters.

How much time we got?

None. Come on.

All my buttons buttoned?

Yeah.

Officers' wives?

They're not gonna let the women sit in on this.

Spicy case like yours?

Try and keep 'em out, they'd have your scalp.

Trying to make it into a Roman circus, huh?

Tom, they want to see a hangin'.

President of the court-martial is Colonel Otis Fosgate.

I know, I know... "Old Stone Face."

Tom, I admire you for defending Rutledge,

but you might as well know,

I think he's as guilty as hell.

You might as well know, I don't.

You put that chair right there. That's it.

It's going to be like a box in the opera.

Is Mary Beecher here?

Dickinson: Not too friendly.

I'm not calling her as a friend.

I'm calling her as a witness.

Good luck, Tom.

Mary, I know this is gonna be an ordeal for you,

but I had to call on you.

Rutledge needs all the help he can get.

And whose fault is that?

What is done is done.

We're in the hands of the court now.

But you're defending him. You... you of all men.

Well, if you had some knowledge of the facts...

Man: Ten-hut!

Silence, silence!

Quiet!

You civilians, get those hats off!

Put out those cigars!

Sergeant, see that they do it,

and if they don't, throw them out!

Yes, sir.

Otis isn't feeling very well this morning.

He had a little glass of... wine last night.

I want something understood right here and now!

This is a court-martial. It is not a quilting bee.

It's not a quilting bee.

Now, if there is any further disturbance

or undue chatter,

I am going to clear this court at once!

Cordelia, your husband's going to put us out!

Ho ho! He wouldn't dare! Just let him try!

The court is ready, sir.

Very good, Captain.

Now, I have been told that counsel for the defense

is not on the post.

Lieutenant Cantrell is present, sir.

My apologies if my last-minute arrival

has inconvenienced the court.

Very good, Cantrell.

Now, is trial-judge advocate ready to prosecute this case?

Captain Shattuck, sir, ready for the prosecution.

Oh, yes, yes.

You're the officer sent down

from General Nelson Miles' headquarters, aren't you?

I see you wear the 14th-Infantry insignia.

I've been away from the regiment, sir...

detailed to the Judge Advocate General's department

for 10 years.

Ah, yes.

Lawyer, eh? Lawyer.

Sent down here to keep a staff eye on field-soldier justice?

On the contrary, sir...

justice was guaranteed the accused

when you were detailed as president of this court.

Heh!

Now, counsel being ready and present,

as general court appointed

by departmental special order 104,

August 8, 1881, is now in session.

All right, Sergeant, the accused, Sergeant Rutledge,

will be brought in.

Yes, sir.

First Sergeant Braxton Rutledge, "C" Troop,

Ninth United States Cavalry.

Hang him! Hang him! Hang him! Hang him!

Fosgate: Quiet! Quiet!

Order!

Mr. President,

I request this courtroom be cleared of all spectators.

This is not a public show.

A soldier is on trial for his life before this court.

And furthermore, by the very nature of the charges alone,

this is certainly no place for ladies.

Request granted.

Dickinson, clear this courtroom

of everybody not directly connected with this case!

Fosgate: Clear out!

Everybody!

Out!

Otis, Otis, tell this person you don't mean me!

Out, Cordelia!

Escort Mrs. Fosgate and her friends to the door.

Oh! Really!

This is the most absurd thing I've ever heard in my life!

Otis Fosgate, wait till I get you home

and really tell you what I think!

Now, gentlemen,

I want counsel for both sides to understand

that this court-martial is being held behind closed doors

with no prejudice toward the accused.

And solely because of the scandalous nature of the charges

and to avoid offense to public decency.

Mulqueen, read the charge sheet.

Sir, since the court acknowledges

the unspeakable nature of the charges,

I would like to suggest

that, out of deference to the young lady

whose presence is necessary as a witness,

that the court omit reading of the charges

and specifications in detail

and simply cite the accused as charged

with violation of the 92nd Article of War

on both counts.

Defense counsel, any objections?

As long as the court is aware

of Captain Shattuck's sly attempt to create prejudice,

no objections.

The accused stands charged with violation

of the 92nd Article of War on both counts.

Sergeant Rutledge, how do you plead?

Guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty to both charges, sir.

Not guilty?

Lieutenant Cantrell, is this prisoner's plea

made on advice of counsel?

Yes, sir. Not guilty on both charges

and not guilty on all specifications, sir.

Proceed, proceed.

All right, Captain Shattuck,

call your first witness.

I call Miss Mary Beecher to the stand.

Sir, I appeal of the court.

Captain Shattuck knows very well.

Miss Beecher is here as witness for the defense.

Sir, I know of no rule

which says prosecution may not call a defense witness,

so long as it does not later impeach her testimony.

Miss Beecher, please?

Do you swear the evidence you're about to give

is the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth, so help you God, ma'am?

I do.

Thank you, ma'am.

And now, Miss Beecher, in your own words,

will you kindly acquaint the court

with all the circumstances

that led up to your first meeting

with the accused, Sergeant Rutledge,

and everything that transpired thereafter?

Well, I... I was returning to Arizona

after an absence of 12 years in the East.

And when I arrived at Junction City,

I discovered that there were no longer any passenger trains

running through the Spindle Station into Fort Linton.

And through the friendship of a conductor, Mr. Owens,

whom I'd know since I was a little girl,

I managed to get a ride

in the caboose of his freight train.