Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-28
pERRY NE tiEATn.

tH GSsehGted dnd held board the United
states fTigdte Jucd, az the harbor Of PORT liz.
hon, upon the $50 Dig Of December, 1916. and
hsid ereiB dug gter,cardS Sundays erceDtcd)
unt" tie 9!h dayQf Jdaaary, 1917, iaciusiee.
PREsXNT.
Captain John Shaw president. William NJ
Crane, Jchn o. Creighton. John Downes
MAJOR John Hall, {mariRe corps Captain Geo
W; Rodgers, Thomas Gamble II. b. Brecken
riuSe, NJ. =. William Hall, NJ. c. Doctor Il. 5.
hch, ney,J Hdge aaracdte.
c,AH persons admitted, read the order of Isaac
S"dunceS, ESQ commodore and commander
Ia chiei OF the naval forces OF the United
Soates IN me Mediterranean Sea, dated the
9oth Gay OF December, 1916, directed to Cant
Johh ohaw, at Port Mahon, for the trial of
them. 'e
captain John Heath, of the marine corps,
appeaIea in court, aud being asked declared
ne had no objection to the members of the
Sonrt. he members OF the court and the
mage advocate were then duly sworn
t ne 'oilo"ihg charges and specifications wore
Charges and the spcciftatiorsof charges erhiJited
oy ORrer IA. Perry, Esq. captain IN The nary of
ns Ca"ed St%es, and commander Of the u.
>tueS JrtgUe J0rd, against captain JOHN
HEATH commanding he guard OF marines al.
tGched 10 sad saig.
Charge Isl. DnreSpectful, insolent, aud
contemptaons condmet 10 me, his superior
oil e..
Specification Isl. That lie lid OF or about The
I'D ofJnly, 1916, on board the United States
frigate Java, then standing into the bay of
Naples, on beng asked by me - why certain
marine was suffered 10 appear on deck in so
fiithy aud dirty dress :" rcply 30 me in an
lnseient, di'respectiul, ana contemptuou
manner.
Specification 3D. That he did. late in the
evening OF tie 18th of September lSIG, on
hoald the United States ship Java, then AZ
anchor ia tile harbor or MeSsna cause a letter
written Oy himself, and cOnched in iail~uaye
highly improper to be used towards his com
ll he tat ..lI
CABIN OF said shin.
Specification 3a. Tirat he did, when sent for
iaio the said cabiu, being asked WHY lie
took such time To write me a letter of ;I,nt
kind, assume department towards me higl,Iv
provoking ana disrespectiul. Tho aforesaid
charge and specifications being in violation Of
apart OF the 18th article and a part of the
18th article of rules and regulations for the
better government of the navy of the United
States.
Ch",gs "a. Neglect of duty and nnotTicerIke
conduct.
Specification Isl. That on or abpnt the even
Ing of the 10th of September, IsiG. on board
the United states ship Java, then AT ANCHOR in
the harb0r of Mcssina, he the said !ahp Heath.
di'l, on two marines jumping overheard to
swim from the ship, neglect To come on deck
although called and informed of this circum.
stance. alleging as reason therefor the suh.
tsrtnse Of his being sick
Spcc.fcetioa 2d That he did, when ordered
by ne az sad tiTe and place 10 come OH flec.
and muster the marines, execute that duty in
a careless aud Indifferent manner and when
the marines were mustered, did neglect TO
report TO me nntIi called aud directed so to do
Specification 81. That he did neglect on the
GcSertiOH of said marines from the shin 10
take those immediate steps for their recovery.
that became him as commanding officer OF tie
@iachnent 10 which they belonged, and were
required by the urgency OF the ease This
charge and specification being IN violation of
d part of the 10Th article aud the aSth article
ofrules aud regulations for the better govern.
memt OF the nayyyo the United States.
Charge Sd. Disobedience of orders.
Specification. That he did, ~ the lime and
place referred 10 in the So specification OF tic
Ut charge, though repeatedly ordered 10 be
silent, continue to speak, although warned of
the consequences, and in tie same Indigenous
and contemPtuous manner therein alleged
thereby violating part of the It'll article OF
rules and regulations for the better govern.
inent OF the navy of the United States.
(SjgnGd) OHPERRY.
L. s. slip .jGcd AfgierS Bar,
lft1 Oly5Cr, 1916.
Captain Heath being desired TO plead TO the
foregoing charges, pleaded - not guilty !"
WhereHpsn tue court proceeded t. triaI
The following witnesses were dniy sworn on
thc part OF the prosecution, 20 wit, lieutenant
J.seph Macpherson, lieutenant Edward H.
hFCal!, andlLentenant PaTke q. HOWE all IF
tHS iTi@ate Java. Tie two latter witnesses
we're directed 10 withdraw, and The court pro
ceeded 10 The examination of lieutenant Mac.
phersou, who states as follows:
= lECOticcts on etdDulng mo the Bay OF
Naples, captain Perry sent or called 10 captain
Heath, and spoke about marine who was on
deck very dirty. Captain Heath repiied the
marines wercn want OF clothing, or they had
80 clothes.
FITNESS qlesiioned by the court.
Qpestion. Was captain Heath's reply to
captain Perry, when he ask ed why the marine
was suffered to come on deck dirty, dlsrespcct.
tGl aud ins0lent, or otherwise un5ecooiuIS
iHswer. His manner Of reply 10 captain Perry
Sgas. thought, very tiiresi ,ectful.
Question. What dad captain Heath say; will
Seu describe his marners
AHIrcr. When le came no TO captziu Perry
lie had Isis hands IL his pockets aud his lat a
little 90 cue side Ofhis n.dd, with swa.ner
Il was tiiiS Circumstance which attracted my
notice J heard him make some remark about
tie mHtlne clothing, but do not distinctly
tpcOilect whatit was
1pestioa. Hkat uotice did captain Perry
take Of captain Heatlts conduct at this time
aud dit he appe1r 70 feel IL as ~ indirnitys
AlNrer Captain Perry told captain Heatl, A
he did not take better care Of Tie marines lac
should get someDDty that wOald. Captain
Perry then leipt over tie hammock cloths
evidently 10 restrain tie feelings excited b,
captain ueath's mauuer.
Question. isEst captain Heath in the habit o
wearing lass bat on OHe sidl and lis hands ii
a. pocketsl
4asr,r. stohd say that he was in Ia,
habit Of wearing his hat little ON one SIDE, a.
well as my recollection serves me. ! csnno
say that have ehserved that he has the haOi
of carrying his bands in his pYckcts
Question Is IT usual iOr captain Heath whcl
addressing captain Perry on duty, 10 Keep hi
hands in iIis pOckets2
aHaoer. No, never saw il.
Tie witness states n relation 10 the secon'
spcc.llcationOf tue arst charge, that be know