The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1823-08-14
COURT ON CAPT. EY.7.yS.

The Ihtelligencer has published the pro-
cesdings OF Couft Manisl held at the Navy
Yard st NewYoik, June 10, 1928, for the
teal OF Capt Evans, 90 charge Of miscoo.
duct, specified in alleged appropriations Of
public properly to his own u.e, and employ
men,, for hi, ewn beoe6,, Of persons 10 tho
public service. He has been scquiued Of sll
criminslify, bot =, ntenced TO be repimsnded
by The Secretary Of the Navy for wsn, OF due
care and attention, in not keeping separate his
public sod private concerns. The following
letter fom the Secretary Of tho Navy will sx.
plain:
BY me Secretary Of tie Macy.
Although the Court has pronounced Capt.
Evsns guilty Of tho charge of misconduct, yol
by the special fndiog applicable TO the seve.
raj specifications, il sppesrs, that in every ma.
iefisl instance where public materials or pub.
lie labor has been applied to his private bene-
tit, Il has been done without bis knowledge.
And the proceedings shew that even In these
cases, an equivalen, or o supposed equivalent,
was returned 90 that il could not, even by
The persons who directed the same, have been
q nisapplicaIion Of public materials or public
labor, 10 his private benefit, with any faudu-
lent intent. IL is not, therefore, 10 be inferred
tom the judgment OF tho Court, that the
mi.eonducl OF which Capt. Evans is found
guilty, implies criminsii,y--and that such
must bave been the understanding Of the
Couet, is evident, because they say expressly,
ha. ho has been subjected TO this charge by
want of due care, crcum.pection end auen-
lion, and DOT by having acted from cupidliy or
oulpabie motives. And This construction OF
h. aoA .o,> 1f. .ta s.f
'Ihed by tho consider stiou that even admitting
fraud 10 tho agents Of Capt. Evsns, this could
so, subjec, him TO soy crimioa, charge. He
would DO 80 far responsible for their aclsss 10
be bound to tes,oro an equivalent for the ma
terisis or labor applied TO his benefit but If
he vas ignorant OF The fact, or disappro,ed Of
IT, und forbade repetition, when known,<ss it
spposrs he did 10 The only case that came TO
his koowledse,) no crime could be imputed
10 him. Tue only misconduct, then imputed
10 Cap, Evans by the ju6g Of the Court,
and which, IN my opinion, IS all the testimony
would wsrran,, is the want OF due care, cir.
cuRspsction end attention TO prevent the ep-
piics,ion Of public materials and labor to hi,
private benefit. ! bsvo thought proper 70
give this explsnsti0n Of my understanding of
tho judgment Of the Cour, 10 my approval Of
the proceedings, and which becomes neces.
sary for the pu, pose ofde'er mining he nature
and extent Of tho reprimsud, which, by the
sentence OF the Court, am required to give
Capt. Evans. Believing, as l do, that no un.
worthy or dishonoreble motive il impu:able
TO rim, nor that he has done any act tbst
ought to impeach bic honor or integrity Is en-
officer, the only sdmonllion called for by tho
case, is, think, ihst he be more cautious g.
bout blending his public and private Concerns.
l take this occasion, however, to observe, ., a
general rule. thai / canno, approve Of tho
Commsndants Of our Navy Yatds being en-.
gsged IL priva'e business ,ha, leads IN any
mes'ure 10 blending Of pablic with private
concerns: for with the most scfupu!ous hon.
esty and s,ern in,egri,y, i, is difficult, if no,
imprccticable TO guard agains, unworthy jesl
ousies sud suspicious, which may prove inju
ries both TO the character Of tho officer and
tho service.
SMITH THOMPSON.
Nopo Dehsrtmeni, ga July, 1929.