The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-11

'o""' Mass lie mas been guilty oil very many acts
WHICH, u laid before any tribunal would pronounce him
worthy Inmate OF prison. He has s,ondied traders
out OF their property he few days prior to de-
parting Tor Philadelphia swndled a young man out Of
~ dollars. and giving him order on Mr.. M'Niell
Rr M was called on for the same. and said II was
forged order-lhat he knew nothing about him or the
money and he has always neglected the duty OF the
yard by getting excused aud the kind feelings OF Lieut.
Zcilin tempted him to perform his duty. Inquiries
ought and shall be placed before you, and giving
rect account Of his conduct while here"
remain, with respect
(Signed) GEORGE w. DAVIS.
The Hon. JAMES X PAuLDINo,
Secretary of the Navy.
How did Col Freeman execute The order directing
nm to make strict inquiries into the facts stated IN
the foregoing letter. Why under the date Of the 9th
Of December, he acknowledged the receipt Of Col Hen
dersons letter, IN which he says, 10 reply, think II
proper to send you the enclosed copy of letter ad
dressed to Lieutenant Whitney the l7th instant, to
which have received answer, and the facts
forth therein had made the three first specific to
charge annexed now 10 that letter, before The receipt
fyeuss.
The fourth specification 10 that charge (said he)
ferring TO transaction coming to my official notice
within few days, is without doubt or question
ported.
The fifth and last specification (said he) refers, I
presume to the subject Of report the Secretary Of the
Navy the facts OF which are, believe, represented
in the specification"
Does Colonel Freeman say he has made strict nqn
ries into the allegations set forth against in the let
ter signed by George w. Davis No Does he say he
has that individual No. But he does say that he
had prepared three Of the specifications the charge
against me before he received the letter of instructions
from Colonel Henderson, and the letter signed by Davis
that enclosed in it, In his examination. Colonel
Freeman was asked, Did you derive the facts com.
municated IN your letter to Colonel Henderson, Of
which you have spoken from any other persons than
those named, viz Mr. Bolles Mr. Pratt, and Mr. Riddle,
If YEA from whom He answered, .'from Mr. Prem
tlss" He was then asked, "did those individuals
come and give information voluntarily, or was it first
asked for" tie answered, the facts asked for
OF them account Of the allegations reports in my
letter Of the 9Th Of December" He was then asked
" from whom did you derive knowledge Of the repre-
sensations and reports contained in your letter of the
9th December" He answered, - part from my
knowledge that with reference the Of Bolles,
Pratt, and Prentss-wlth reference TO Mr. Lausanne
from Lieutenant Zein, from Sergeant Collier,
also about Mr.. Riddles mailer"
The conflcton in these answers and also in them
and the statements made to Colonel Henderson, pass
over without comment, and ask why Colonel Freeman
Sergeant Collier Lieutenant Ien for infor
nation . about MIR. Riddles motter?" Why did not
Colonel Freeman seek out MIR. George w. Davis,
whose letter he had, charging me with swindling Mr..
Riddle and obtain from him all the facts Of which he
would appear be fully posse sed, well as Of the
history Of my life and conduct, private and official, while
stationed here, instead Of going TO Lieutenant Zelin
He does not appear to have done yet late the
18th OF February, (the day which the court
vened,) Colonel Freeman, in letter the records,
written to General Fessendcn of Portland, refers to
the charges made by G. w Davis as follows says he
will briefly state that 10 the latter part OF December
the copy of letter from Mr. Davis, Of Boston, to the
Secretary OF the Navy, alleging that Mr.. Whitney had
been guilty Of very many acts which, if laid before any
tribunal, would pronounce him worthy inmate of a
prison that he had swndled traders Of their pro-
perry, and that few days before leaving for Phladel
phia he had swindled young man in Boston out Of
81 dollars, etc, seLt TO officially, with drec-
tons to make strict inquiries into those facts, any
other matter affecting his character officer and
gentleman"
Where is this Mr.. G. w. Davis, of Boston, The
record of this honorable court bears evidence that
have made every effort to find him, and that he
TO be found Who is he that Lieutenant Zelln should
be applied to to substantate the allegation relation to
"Mr Riddles matter" in place Of Mr. Davis himself !!
Who is he, ask again, who alleges that II always
neglected the duty of tho yard by getting excused"
and the time says, the kind feelings of Lien.
tenant Zcllin tempted him to perform his (my) duty !"
No one appears to know. ask this honorable court if
| am not warranted IN the belief that the whole letter
signed G. w. Davis is fabrication and forgery! If
such the fact, has there been foul conspiracy
where against me I!
The letter to which have referred written to T. C.
Deblos, ESQ., dated the 9Th ultimo, aud the TO Ge
csSeuuen, 10Th were written III
answer inquiries made through them, to the facts
of my case by family relatives In the letter Of the lat
ter date, the latter gentleman, Col Freeman does in-
deed offer this consolation Says he, really appre-
ciae your feelings Of kindness towards Mrs. Whitney
and her mother, and can assure you that entertain
none other myself towards hun, subjected as they
TO discharge Of my official duty" Blu, what follows
with which he concludes this let.er Why, says he,
las to the probable result OF his trial. the opinions Of
courts martial are like those Of jurors, very uncertain
and Lieut. W. has in addition to the charges bad
putaton against him, which will certainly not operate
to his advantage" Was it required Of Col Freeman,
in The discharge Of has c6fcal duty, to make this gra-
tulous allegation against me And is there not con-
tanned in the assertion reflection this honorable
court falling but little short Of that on myself
In relation to Col Freeman still further, what motive
could have prompted him TO lay before the court on
the I'd instant another specification, under the preamble
of additional specification to the charge Of scandolous
conduct preferred by Col. A. Henderson, commander
Of the u. S. Marine Corps, against Lieut. l.. F Whit
new Of said corps" the facts Of which he says first
came to his knowledge the 29th ultimol Was it
not in direct violation Of the rules and regulations
of the service Could the court have acted on sin
gle charge specification against me- If had not been
furnished with copy prior TO or at tho time was
placed under arrest instructed that such is the
fact Then what motive Influenced Col Freeman in
this last in which he offered himself as witness
Surely il could not have been enoincd him in the
discharge Of his official duty.
The testimony Of Col Freeman shows that Lieut..
Zeiln, member Of this Court assisted in supplying IN.
formation him. on which he framed some Of the spe
c6catons against me and particularly in relation TO
MIR Riddles matter" about which certain q w.
Davis who non est inpenius complained to the Secre-
tary OF the Navy Nor is that ALL The testimony on
the record proves that the 10Th February, two days
after this Court assembled) in conversation with two
three individuals, two of whom were witnesses be-
fore this Court one OF whom had not then been ex-
amined, Lieut.. Zeiln declared to them that :" LIED
LIKE HILL And this is the language not Of wit
ness in the case, but Of one Of my Judges Does
Judge when trying the most hardened feon, descend
from the bench and denounce him to the witnesses who
IL. for The Of