Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-24

Proceedings efa Gsneral Napal Cont 1Iar-
tial, held at the Nary Yard ia Philadel-
phia, on the eleventh. day Of february,
1918, for the h1at IF Doctor William II.
e. Bdrton, Of tie u. s. Nary, upon a
charge exhibited against Mm By Doctor
Thomas Harris, also Of said Nary.
After long and mature deliberate upon the
evidence addnced. the Court are of opinion
that the specification of the charge which has
been under Their examination has been susta
ed TO certain extent only. They find that
Doctor Wm. T.. &. Barton is guilty of having,
on or about the Tih of November 1877 solicit
ted and procuted Doctor Thomas Harris to be
superseded aud removed from the appoint
nieht OF surgeon 10 the Naval Hospital at Phi
ladelpha, ny making certain representations
not fully founded in fact to the Secretary of
the Navy, 10 the following tenor and effect.
VIZ L hat the said Doct. Tho. Harris did not ex.
pect TO Obtain the appointment when he sol-
Gated icT Ii, and that the said Doctor Thomas
Harris was prvy 10 his, Doctor William ~
CHBait ton S, application, and concurred in the
proposal for mutual exchange of their re-
| spective situations.
Bat. taking into their candid consideration
| Tue peculiar circumstances which attended
| the whole transaction, the knowledge ohvi-
| ouSiy possessed by many living III the same CT
| ~ with the parties. of DIR. Barion's intended
| application 10 supcrsede Doctor Harris and of
/ ms journey TO Washington; that conversations
! relating thereto had taken place between the
| prosecutor aud the accused, prior to the said
| journey, wherein Doctor Barton had, at least
| conveyed aniutimati0n of his design that ID
! Harris, as junior surgeon i'm the navy of the
| United States, might be presumed conscious
| thai his senior would strive to dislodge him
| from lucrative post, which he himself had
| obtained by dislodgng another and that DIR.
| Harris bad 90 former occasion, expressed
| MS satisfaction at the prospect of obtaining
the Subordinate station Of surgeon to the ma.
| riue barracks: mindful, also, of the fatal q.
! Emergency which suddenly carried Dr. Barton
! from his home, and subsequently, to Washing.
ton. IN alarm at the depiordbIe state of his IA.
| miiy, and perhaps over anxious TO redeem il
| by his eXeTtiOus. and deeming il proba.
| Die That the vehemence OF his manner inpar
| ted Impressions which his language and
intentions would not warrant, the Court do ac-
! quit the said DIR. VIM. y. {. Barton of hayinn
| uttered a wilful and deliberate faIsehoo.I, ac.
cordmg 10 the meaning Of the said specifiea.
| ton.
Nevertheless The court avail themselves of
| this first opportunity, TO reprobate decidedly
| and warmly the course of conduct which has
| been pursued in relation to the aforesaid ap
| pOIntmeEt OF surgeon TO the naval hospital, by
| both prosecutor aud accused. However us;Ia
| II may be, and the court feel unwilling TO ad
| NIT That II is at all so, they esteem it derogato
| ry to the honor Ofthe service 10 which they
| belong This sbufiling for particular places
| however profitable, which are presumed al
| ways 10 be given according To the claims OF
| VI Uctil. hUu WHICH SuOul0 ever Df
| ieit TO How from the spontaneous choice Of tIC
| guardians OF our Interests aud our rights, the
| court cdunOt aud neyerwiIi countendtIee or 10
| prove. In the distinguished officer with whom
| our country hai placed the care and regulation
OF IT'S navy, we cheerlully centde regarding
! every effort TO influence him, by intrigue or o
therwiSe, as unworthy as il must certainly be
| vain.
The court, in passing censnre npon the &C
| cuSed, consider themselves bound 10 mark tho
| improperly of which the prosecutor las beeI
guilty. an his harsh elimination of his ouno
| neDt, by letter 10 the secretary Of the navy
| DefdmationOfa brother officer whether secre
| or open, must ever be productive of couse
duences highiypreJud!cIal to the service. anc
| destructive 10 tbat security which an Officer
Ought to find in his profession, against calum
ny and uinierited allegation.
With these impressions, and presuming the
| have not the power 10 extend their sentence
beyond the inditidu actually upon lis trial
and being OF opinion, titat widf was stated b,
the accused TO the honorable the secretary o
the navy wa, IN accordance with conduct the'
so strongly condemn, and not adequately sus
tanned by fact, the court award the loil0win.
SENTENCE:
That Doctor Wiliiam p. G.. Barton surgeon
IN the navy OF the United States, he repfiman
died By tie honorable the secretary Ut the ma
Wy, ia the words following, 10 Wit
"SiR-Ihc court inariial lately convened
for your trial, upon 4 charge exhibited By Doc
tor Thomas Harris, were pecuiariy slrucl
with the number and weight OF tes,imomai
adducca 10 relation 20 yOar talents your use
| tnincss, aud heretofore honorable depor
meni. "a was, therefore, with a deep sense q
| regret, tbatthey ere compelled By the weigh
evidence exhibited, 20 declare that, in tn
TRANSACTION submitted Too their investigation