Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-08-28
DOMESTIC.
TRIAL OF CAPTAIN GEORGE &. READ-fCssclrpHD.l
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 18th 1885
From the II. u. Evening Post.
NAVAL COURT MARITAL,

BALTIMORE Maryland, June 18th, 1886.
The Court met according to adjournment; present
yesterday The last days proceedings were read.
Lieutenant jenkins was again called.
Question BY the Court. You said yesterday that your
opinion of Captain Reads general conduct was that
was UNJUST oyerbearing and unoiccr like far your
observation extended Upon what facts hat you
cd this opinion: State them particularly
Answer. The case immediately before the Court is
one instance, wherein think Captain Reads conduct
was as stated yesterday. will cite the instance of
Captain Reads department to the particular
cnsion Captain Read touyh proper when was officer
of The deck of the Constellation shake his finger at
me in what conceived to be very insulting manner
These are the only two particular instances within my
own observation. But Captain Reads general dcport-
mcn In receiving the reports Of the officers was over
bearing will name another instance. When in the
Chesapeake bay lost an anchor and in attenpting
To weigh 1t with bnoy rope, his language Lieutenant
Rudd was, think, unotiicerike He told Mr. Rudd
thatit was owing to his neglect and of judgment
mat the loss OF the anchor might be at,rbuted but in
such manner as to convey the idea before mentioned
OF insult and indignity. Ii was more the manner,
might add, in this last instance than the language.
Question. What led to Captain Read shaking his
finger at you?
Answer. | officer of The deck, attending to the
discharge of lighter of water at Gibraltar when i'm
qgarantne Captain Read expressed his wish that the
men should work smarter aud directed me To hasten
them; did SO, but it did not please him; he assembled
horse block aud Observed shore boat approaching
the ship The boat had been reported to me and d.
rcced one OF the mdshipmen what the boat re
CURED Captain Read observed to me, that ought 10
look out for the boat" told him, had directed an
officer to look out for her and ready meet its de-
Ilnds also knew this boat 10 be ono which had hoo,
commissioned by the officers to purchase provisions Cor
thelr mess lie said 1t was my duty attend ,kat
boat myself and that should go 10 the gangway for
That purpose replied that had directed one OF the
gentlemen 10 attend To it, and walked towards the gang
way; lie called me and observed that my manner did
not please him, and that unless more attentive 10
my duty he would take The deck from replied that
he could use his pleasure he then observed that
when he spoke TO IN that way it for the purpose
OF insructlng me in my profession" told him was
grateful for such instruction. that was a young
ant u htfo it'll
lie then reiterated what he had previously said and
shaking his finger. said that unless more particular
he would take the deck from observed To Captain
iiead That has gesture exception be. He asked
what SAID. repeated that s gesture was exception
ahe, and that could not permi, any TO me
with impunity. lie then suspended me. sent for nv
relief Lieutenant Davis, and surrendered the deck to
nun. might also mention Captain Reads apology for
this conversation.
he came on deck evidenced excitement, passion-far
what cause know not l had relieved Mr. Newau that
morning, and he told the state the Captain WAS la,
and to be OH my guard
Question 10y The Court How long had you done duty
as Lieutenant on board that ship the time of her
arrival In the Chesapeake Bay?
Answer. We arrived in the Bay in November 1884
and had performed duty Lieutenant from the time
mad Joned her. which was about ten months previous
Lieutenant j. a. Davis of the United States Navy.
was sworn by the President for the prosecution and tes
,hed generally on the charge and specifications as fol-
lows:
board the Constellation n, that time nre.
sumo it about the 9Th of November and between the
hours OF and 9, T. NJ hlidshipan Wilson was called
on deck the Captain asked him the reason WIZ the
men were not up from below He answered that they
were up The Captain told him that ",hey were not =
ana u hc mater ever occurred again, he would mast
head him. The Captain then told him To nc aloft Nr
Wilson said he could 90. Captain Read called the
quarter masters, and told them take him forward -
w9 Oh inc quarter took him by the arn and
ie" hh' us iar as The main rigging. then went below
and saw nothing more of the The parties were
''aoSu ungg on the quarter deck about the wheel
OF the weather at that tmc
Answer There was some on do not think the
'esSel was pitching, 1t was more n rolling motion.
question Was The ship under doublereefed topsails
what sail?
Answer. think there three reefs in the topsails.
and the nainsail was hauled up
Question by the Prosecution. What was MIR vii.
son manner in making his report and what WINS the
captain manner in receiving it
Answer lie obeyed the order in coming up, and
adc inc report that the off the deck i'm re-
sPectul correct manner The Captain was excited and
simply observed 1t occurred again. lie would mast
him. ~ ~ 'e"
Question by the Court What was Mr. Wilson
manner after the Captain had said he would mast head
Answer That of Indifference
question. Did you hear Captain Read say to Mr..
wilson, - see insolence in your eye 90 aoft sir?
, Answer lnsocncc or dsobedicncc he said think
the word was disobedience; one of the two he used
Question by the Prosecution. Was any Midshipman
sem 70 inc mast head to look out for land after Mr. Will
Answer. No, not that saw or heard Of
Question by the At what part of the conyersa
ton between Captain Read and MIR Wilson was IT, that
he FORMER SAID to the latter, dsobedcnce or in
science in your eye?"
Answer 1t was after Captain Read ordered him TO 20
alon ~ " 30
Cross Examination.
Question by the Accused. Did not Mr. Wilson srois
IN Captain Reads face before the Captain ordered H.;
10 The mast head not his manner provoking before
lac OTdered2
Answer. do not remember ans smie--No his man
ner was not provoking.
Question by the Prosecution. Did the Captain, whsn
uio q 4,
out for land
Answer. heard him give no order Of that kind.
Lieutenant George Adams, Of the Navy Of the Uni
Jed STATES was then sworn by the President and tes
he'd as follows on The part of the prosecution.
was on The orec0sc, aud coming ait on The quarter
deck, found Captain Read Lieutenant Rudd and Mid
shlPman wilson conycrsinr, aud beard Captain Road
ask MI Wilson why lie had not sent tho men an: ne
replied that he bad sent hc up; there were some
other remarks made which did not hear The nrYf
that rcco!lecl a. or Captain Read saving thnt If
the thing occurred again. he would send him to The mast
head.
Mr.. Wilson then went below Lieutenant Rudd sent
for hin--i came ON deck and Captain Read ordered
him aloft HIS answer was che could not 90 Cant
Read ordered that the Quarter should be called
70 take him up-A moment after he ordered that f,e
Boaswan should attend 10 IT, who came an irnn,edatc
~. then saw Fuinmngs the Quarter. Master take
h1id oi MI Wilson by tie wrist aud elbow, and say
about ascending The main jacobs ladder when Captain
Read said, mo, not there hat the fore rVgn0 point
ing there. Probably he thcn went along the gane wnv
and the next saw Of was Nj Wilson runnIoo mo The
fore rigging, very actively with the two Quarter Masters
Following: the hfst lieutenant passed the order 10 mo
that Mr.. Wilson was at the mast head bv order Of Can
tain Read, which order passed to nv relief saw
MdshPnan Wilson at the cabin door in charge Of the
Marine Orderly.
The sote Of the weather at that moment was not very
tNtlrr fru I1ni tItf 4. a