Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-05-06
Acou,raI OF COMMANDER MACKENZIE.

AcculTAL OF COMMANDER MACKENZIE
We announced last week on the authority OF
our correspondence at Washington, that the
finding of the Court Martial in the case Of Com
msnder Mackenzie, was fullacquiial of that
officer from all the charges preferred against
him, and that the President approved it. Such
proves TO be the fact as we see by the Phlla.
delphia correspondence of the Courier.
IN. Y. Express.
COMMANDER MACKENZIE HoHoRABLY ACQUITTED,
enclose to you a synopsis of the charges
andthe finding OF the Court in the case Of Com.
mandef Mackenzie.
Charge l.---Murder on board Of U. S. yes:
sel.-Specihcatio6 lst.alledged that Comman-
der Mackenzie. then commander. of the U. 5.
brig Somers did, on the lst December 1912,
on the high seas in latitude II degrees "a
minutes, % seconds; and longitude 81 degrees
81 minutes 45 seconds, without form OF law,
wifully, deliberately, aud with malice afore-
thought, hang and cause to be hanged by the
neck al the yard arm of said brig until he was
dead, Philip Spencer, midshipmanfhen serv-
ing on board. thereby violating the 2lst article
of the LIST section of the act of Congress emit.
tied .An act for the better Government, Of The
Navy of the United States" approved April
%. 1900
Specification Cd, Alleges same thing in re,
gard 10 Ssmuel Cromwell, boatswains mate,
&c.
Specification Sd, 10 relation to Elisha Small
seaman.
Charge %. Oppression, under three speci-
fca,ions, the same same as the others, exceD,
that they allege he did without form Of law;
and without good and sufficient! cause oPpres-
sively kill by hanging, &c &c.
Charge Sd. Illegal punishment-three spe.
cihcations as above, except that they charge
that he did. of his own authority, and contrary
TO The Act Of Congress IN such cases, made
and provided, kill, &c. &c.
Charge 4th-Conduci unbecoming an Off.
Specifca,ion-ln that he used tauniing
and Insulting language to Spencer a, The mo.
ment Of his execution,
Charge Observation-Disclosures that he hab.
itually inflicted cruel end unnecessary punish.
ment upon his crew.
Finding offhe Court in the case Of Consman.
der .4ier. S. Mackenzie.
On the first charge and lis Specifications The
Court finds:
That the LIST specification is no, proved,
That the I'd specification is not proved.
That lie Sd specification is not proved.
That the first charge is not proved.
On the second charge and its specifications:
Tha. the lst specification is not proved.
1ha. the I'd specification is not proved
That the Sd specification is not proved.
That the second charge is not proved.
On The third charge AMI its specifications:
That the LIST specification is not proved.
Tba. the ID specification is not proved.
That the Sd specification is not proved.
That the third charge is not proved
That the fourth. charge being waived by
the Judge Advocate. and no testimony or evi.
dence being offered. TO sustain it, The Court
took no action upon il,
The specification Of The 5h charge being
deemed by the Judge Advocate",o vague. was
waived by him. No one having complain
ed TO the Department of specific ill-irea,men,,
it could not be made more specific, as the De.
parIment had no particular information. The
Courl therefore took no action.
AS far as evidence was offered under the 5,h
charge The Court do find no proof of mistreat-
ment Of the crew Of the Somers generally by
Commander Mackenzie. nor Of individual NAL.
treatment, and therefore find it not proved.
The Court do therefore. honorably acquit
Commander Alexander s. Mackenzie Of all the
charges and Specifications preferred against
him by the Secretary OF the Navy.