Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-05

the whole, on the bill making appropriations
for the support of government for the year
1922, (Dlr. TOMLrNsoN in the chair.)
CASE OF CAPTAIN BARRON.
The Proceedings Of Court of Enquiry, held at
the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York upon Captain
JAMES BARRON, ofthe United States Navy, in 1884,
have been recently published, by the authority OF the
Navy Department..
To Hereunder Murray, ESqui,s, Captain ia Tie .Na-
ny Of d,e United States.
Whereas James Barron, Esquire, Captain in the
Navy OF the United States, was, by sentence of
Court Martial, bearing date the eighth day OF Febru-
AIRY, IN the year of our Lord thousand eight hum
sTet and eight, suspended for The term of FIVE years
And whereas II IS alleged, that the said James Bar
ron, during his said supension being at Pernambuco
did make TO MIR. Lyon, British Consul at that place,
certain declarations and representations, respecting
the President and government of the United States,
niShiy lInproper, and unbecoming officer of the
Navy OF the United States, will appear by the ac-
companying letters; which have, heretofore, been
submitted to the said James Barron for explanations
ana copies thereof delivered to him, TO wit:
A. Being letter from William Lewis to Charles
w. Goldsborough, esquire dated at Pernambu-
co, September the 7th, 1911.
b. Being letter from Thomas p. Goodwin, bear
ing date the 4th Of March, 1919, to the Secre-
iary OF the Navy.
And whereas Al the expiration OF the said term Of
suspension of the said James Barron to wit on the
eighth day OF February, 1873, the States being
at war with Great Britain, he, the said James Barron
was IN foreign country and continued to absent him
self from the United States, until the conclusion of
me war, and Tor long time thereafter contrary TO
his duty as officer of the Navy Of the o. States
And whereas the said James Barron, now requests
active employment, and the command of vessel in
the Navy. And the President of the United States
deeming an explanation OF the matters aforesaid me-
cessary, before decision upon such request can he
made on being notified thereof, the said James Bar
ron has asked for court of enquiry TO tnvesignte
The same The President Of the United States has in
compliance with the request of the said james Bar
ron, charged me to call court OF enquiry, for the
purposes aforesaid \ on are hereby accordingly
ordered 10 proceedto the Navy Yard ut BROOKLYN,
~ the stale OF New York, or before the 10Th day
OF May next, TO act as member Of the said court :;
ana being the senior officer called, you will be the
president oil SAID court. Notific atoms are also
transmitted to Captains Charles Stewart and
Charles Morris, with orders appear az The time and
pace aforesaid, as members Of the said court And
the court is hereby din ccted aud empo were TO SUM
inon suchpesons may be necessary To give in(orma
'on touching the said matters is moreover aullo
rsed empowered, and required, strictly to examine
mo me matters heiore mentioned, and 10 report a
statement thereof, as IT shall appear TO the said court
together with ITS opinion in relation To the same All
Wnch you VIII transmit 10 me, 10 he laid before the
President Of the United States for his consideration
Al for so doing, this shall be to ou aud our other
sad officers, and all others concerned suaicien,
warrant.
Given under my hand, and the seal OF the Navy de.
partncni oi the United States, M the CITY of Wash
,nglon, this 10Th day of March, in the wear of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-oue
ana IN The forty fifth year of the Independence OF the
Osl'ed states SMITH THOMPSON.
Transferred to Captain Charles Stewart bv order
a. MURRAY.
The Court Of Enquiry was CONFUSED of Canaan
Stewart, Capt Evans aud Cant Morris The Ju,ee
Advocate was H. Wheaton, ESQ
III We are compelled 10 omit all the TESTIMONY
." "'' N''se' E'sg0ireT.l
FRIDAY, 18th, 1891
PRESENT y
Captain Charles Stewart, President
Caplan Samuel Evans, u,.
Captain Charles Morris 'He"t0eT@'
Henry WHEATON, Esq. .Judge advocate
he minutes OF the proceedings, and the evidence
WIN the accompanying documents were read by the
Judge Advocate, and the Court proceeded to delibe-
rate on the ease, and, after carefully CONSIDERING the
testimony, agreed upon the following
STATEMENT
he Court having proceeded 10 examine into the
matters stated in the from the hononr,lie the
Secretary of the Navy dated the twent;,ii, d,V nf
March, one thousand eight hundred and twenty one
10 report the following statement thereof as i, ap
pears 10 them
ltappears TO the Court, that Captain James Barron
was, by sentence OF Court Martial, bearing date
the 9TH day oil February, thousand pht hundred
ana eIgh suspended for five years from his paw and
eWoiuments, ana from the service of the United
States. That the two letters accompanyiny the said
warran and annexed To their proceedings being a
letter rom William Lewis esqr. to CharIosW Colds
oorousli,eslr dated Pernamhuco Sepiemie C. TIL 1911
marked A. and aletter from Mr. Thomas p GonJ,vin
dated March 4lh l69 the Secretary of the Nav
marked b. were writtenby the persons whose sigma.
~ ,,f,n
they were addressed. That the said William Lewis
'ssince deceased being supposed TO ha We been lost
IN the onned States brig Eprrvicr, on her return
nome from ne Mediterranean, in the year 1878 and
that the said Thomas T. Goodwin also died some time
IN the month OF january, 1920, nj the Uayan, That
he sad letters containing allegations that the said
Cahta'n James BarionJ during his suspenson being
&fernambuco, did make to- Mr.. LYON British consul
that place. certain declarations and reuresent,;on
respecting The President and government of the
Cm'eu 2lates hIghy improper and nnbecoming u
onetr OF inc Onitei otates,) were communicated by
me Navy Department. to the said CAPTAIN James
barron Tor explanation, and copies thereof delivered
10 him IN loiJ, soon after his return TO the United
atates: ihat Captain Barron passed though Balti.
more IN the spring OF The year 1919 where The said
Goodwin then was bur whether Cnpi.,in Barron
saw the said Goodwin, does appear 10 the ConrI
Wy Tue testimony and it is stated by Captain Barron
that he did not w
That appears to the Court that the sa id William
Lewis was than OF the strctest honour and inter-
~, aud an officer OF distinguished merit and tia, e
cInrac,er OF me sd'd Goodwin for truth and yeraciy
was hIghy respectable, but that he was of a very
ardent temper, which was particularly maniCcsted
WHeh eNciied ny conversation ON political Subjects
AUD that the SAID Lyon also a man of respectable
character.
further appears to the Court that Captau Barror
did not, during his residence AT Pernaml,nco in the
year 1909, lire with Mr.. Lyon, the British consul
there stated in said Go0,l,yin's leuer I,t e.,
the sad Captain Barron lodged part of the Jim. IN
tavern, and the remainder OF the time in a house
winch he rented Jointly with one Fernandez vbo
was inc supercdrgo OF the vessel IN which Captain
Barron went out TO Brazil master and that II an.
pcaFs TO the curt by testimony of two respectable
Witnesses, who were ia Pernanbuco in the wear 1911
ana h'd frequent conversations with the said Good
WIN at that place, and with The said Lewis and / ION
that said witnesses never heard from any of these
persons any tng respecting the facts stated in said
Goodwtns letter to the Secretary of the Navy nor
oid they hear from any other persons at that place
any reports or rumours Of such conversations having
taken place between Captain Barron and said Lyon.
as are siaied IN SAID letter and legal evidence
has been produced TO the Court tending TO prove tbe