Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-22
LIEUT.. BEVERLEY KENNON'S CASE.
TO The Editors of he Enquirer.

10 Me Editors Of The Enquirer
GENTLEMEN 81 have read, with attention
the proceedings Of the Court Martial in the
case Of Lieut.. Beverley Kennop, (which, at
length, though with great reluctance on the
part OF the Navy Department, have bren SUBJ
mitted TO the public "ye,) and am induced by
| sense of justice, TO declare, through the me-
dunn OF free press, my strong disapproba-
ton, not only of the oppressive, disingeniious
and pre,aricating conduct of the prosecutor,
Captain DAVID PonrER, but of the improper
lenity and indulgence manifested in his favor
ty the Court. A due regard for TRUTH, com
pels me to make these remarks which, not
wliistanding the high characters and impoi-
tant services of the parties concerned, will be
approved, | trust, by the general voice Of the
community. Every unprpj JUDGED man who
peruses that interesting trial. must be convinc-
ed, that the person accused was innocent of
any offence, and should have heen homo urabiy.
as well as fully" acquitted; that the Court
ought to have pronounced the prosecution
groundless, false and malicious and also, TO
have censured Captain Porter, for endea,ou
ing as witness, To Withhold "A very impor-
tant part of the Truth, To the injury ofthe de-
fendaHt. With heartfelt concern it must be
perceived by the friends ofthe Navy, that the
Scales OfJustice are not fairly poised between
lordly posi-coptain, respectfully if he be one Of
the Nary Board and poor, though upright
and mciitorious hthtenunt; that the Captain
may, under mask, insert 10 the newspapers
an Infamous lampoon against the lieutenant,
and then bring him TO trial before a Couri
Marital, for defending himsey against that very
lampoon; and thar the Court, consisting
chiefly of Captains, although they acqut the
innossnt Lieutenant, will not utter IA word
against his guilty prosecutor, but, on the con-
fb,rs Al hcA Hico
baton" of the defence of the accused, as
"cafc's!a'sa 10 di6use principles Of insutordi-
nation an The Navy" il, instead of being ex-
pressed with the tinsd caution of a slave, it
contain the language of truth and justice,
spoken with the manly and dignifed spirit Of
a ee-borH American
The regret excited by all this, will be high
y aggravated ;-indeed, the blush of shame
must deeply tinge our cheeks, when we are
told that these things are better ordered. even
under the 'nonGrchicdt government Of Great
Britain, than III our own republican country.
To demonstrate this unpleasant fact, ] send you
herewith, copy (taken from the acyat Ga
sefte", publichrd at Kingston, Jamaica,j of the
proceedings of a General Court Martial, held
at that place in May, 1928, and will thank you
to insert IT In your paper. That copy
will exhibit the audable impariicHiy of Bri-
tiSh Court Martial, and of the British King, by
whom their sentence was approved, notwth
standing il censured SUPERIOR lCho ,cas The
prosecutor Of an inferior officer, 6. for the reiuc-
lance toiM ,chch he he prosecutor anscered'' AS
P"rterdid) many pntsof his cross tramination;
and Notwithstanding Captain Fogo, the person
accused, lcas found guilty. whereas, in our
case, the innocence of LieHtenant Kennon was
uneques,iohably established w efuI indeed
i fheraforo ~. cnnt,,et., On H. a;.i., ~
~, "'''' WV we C"''ds' I'D lhe uisau'aptaSc
of our .9,nerienu COurt Martial
Wihout further cor,m.nt I s,b,,;, H.
$500 ~'ie"', S"otHit tiie GU
py IN question, TO the consideration of the
public ARISVInES
. i1''
HoRsE-GuARDS Nov. 6. 1929
Al General oouIfMsruai held al Kingston Barracks
surnHeni to the 25 OF the same month. Captain James
fogo of the Royal artillery, aragned upon The n.
dermeniioned charge viz:
For conduct unbecomins The character of m Officer
and Geniieman, IN drawing his sword and violently as
aung ana Striking Lieut. cookson OF the loyal Artillery,
on me 2'h Nay 1873 such conduct being much aggrava-
ed 10y us having taken place at the headquarters OF the
J"r us'sai COMMANDING Ine forces and in preseRce
ms Capt rogrO commanding officer Brevet lieutenant.
Colonel oIcombe commanding the artillery, beine
@ % Mn. ,,e IN pursuance of his orders
rom me MJor GENERAL commanding, 70 effect amioal,
; ~ - eoiIus "suhdersianding between the
uon which charge the Court the following de-
cis'9 ri,
-. , "nsn"g pse",iy aho maure'y weighed and
co"s"eren the prosecution and evidence offered
o, s;,, oe psonel, oapli James Fogo, of the
oy ~ . - % " as wha' ne mas acknowledged al
egeo a.u proved ~ o's deenee Is OF opinion that he is
"enins' MN, winch, being
W u,e'Sn VI OF war; the Court doth sentence
h',l 10 ne casu~rru
aNs ",s a"a''eu ,ne speehc punishment which the
ArcIes o. W." prescribe, lbe Court cannot but feel n
s,rohs anu ' ihey trust pardonabe, impulse to interest
'hon 1,s W ,ne PIisonrr favour.
e"cumsulcss nave appeared 10 The Court, in addition
70 nose Iecoueu on ne proceedings, amounting
VicHon n"t ,e ps"ne "noure under considerable irr
@uV OF rnI' an snoush II Is the duty of tue Court To
'e 70 me utmost extent, for the act
mIi,n i'Duaesu' lhey are satisfied that 1t
c a J nmee, '"' "e s"ooen paroSjsni OF dis
"a az ,. , n'oni.il,' 49, . ..