The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-07-28
Naval General Court Martial board OF
the U. =. ship North Carolina.
WEDNESDAY,, July q

WEDNESDAY, July IL
The minutes of yesterday proceedings were read.
Passed Midshipman May was called on. and said he
ready for trial. and had objections any Of the
officers present sitting as members Of the Court his
trial.
The charges upon which the accused TO be tried
were then read TO him, and were follows
Charges and specifications of charges preferred by
Secretary Of the Navy upon information OF Lieutenant
Charles Wilkes United States Navy against Passed
Ahdshifman William May, OF said Navy.
CHARGE lst
characterization and mutnous conduct.
SPECIFICATION.
In that the said Passed Midshipman William MAY then
serving board the United States shin Vncennes of the
Exploring Squadron, did, the eleventh day of May
eighteen hundrS and thirty ninc, enter the cabin of said
ship, and in rude and disrespectiu manner attempt
thrust INTO the hand Of Lieutenant Charles Wilkes his
commanding Officer paper purrorng to be appli-
vessel OF the SQUADRON.
The sail Passed Mdshipman William May was ordered
to leave the c2bn OF his Commander but did do
uhe had made use OF various insuhordate and mutnous
expressions such that he disguised with
vice. did not care damn for it, felt disgraced and would
De revcngfd on the author OF it, that he deed him, the
said Commander to his utmost and he would let him
know how he ordered him, the said William May or his
friends words that effect and that the said Will
liam May did not leave the cabin obedience to the order
he received from his comman ling officer, until he was
told that the Sergeant Of Marines would be ordered
take charge of him.
CHARGE I'd.
Dsrespect to his superior in the execution of his OF
fee.
SPECIFICATION l.
In this that the said Passed Mdshipman William May,
MASTER oil the United states kncennes,
the wcntythrd OF May eighteen hundred and fotytwo
causca box to be marked by OF the of the said
ship as followsPurchased public sal. after the Com
mandant of the Exploring Expedition had refused them
which box placed with its marked side up, gun
deck abreast Of the capstan board United States sh
Vncennes exposed to the officers and of the said
ship thereby rejecting upon the official OF his Com
mandng Ofhcer, which is hereunto annexed, entitled
General Order"
SPECIFICATION III.
In this that the aforesaid Passed Mishipman William
May Acting Master OF the said Ship when sent for by
his commanding officer ask for his having
the Aforesaid box marked quoted did enter the cabin in
rude and boisterous manner and being asked the
question: what his for having the box thus
Marked and II he intended it dsrcspecul he rudey
replied to " state fact; y and furthermore on being
asked by his commanding officer, if he the said
nander had refused to purchase any shells replied
an impertnent manner, =" Not you, but your agent
agents on board the Currency Lass at Ouvelou." And
again when told that he was mistaken and requested
there disrespect meant in thus marking his box
to have erased to prevent that impression the officers
and crew he answered, Z" will do such thing" in a
highly dsrespectful manner and tone when he
dered by the aforesaid Lieutenant Charles Wilkes his
commanding officer to leave the cabin and consider him.
self under suspension all Of which being against the
and regulations Of the service and IN violation of the law
A. P. UPSHUR.
Witnesses, Charles Wilkes William l.. Hudson all the
Ward Room officers Of the Vincennes and Frederick w.
Stewart.