The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-22
The Naval Court Martial at PhiIadeIphia.

The Naval Court Martial at Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. q, 1856.
The Naval Court Martial was formally organized this
morning by the appearance Of Capt Mcintosh and Com
modore II. B. W. Kennedy, the Judge Advocate.
The members being in by the Judge Advocate,
the Court proceeded to the business before them and
the charge and specification in the of Comr Robert
Richie read, follows, to which the plea of not
guilty put in by the accused
CnAReE-scandalous conduct, tending to the destruc
ton of good morals.
SPEcnIcArloN.- this that at divers tunes between
the LIST and 18th of Dec 1885, the city Of Washington
D. c. the said Commander Robt Richie publicly asserted
that he had, occasion then recent in conversa
ton had by him with Capt Samuel a. Dupont, of the
navy applied to the said Dupont the epthet liar scoun
dreI and coward, used to him insulting language OF
similar import pretext for the said insulting
gusge being the action in the Of the said Richie Of
Board OF Naval Officers assembled under the arShery
which board the said Dupont was q member; the said
assertions and language Of the said Richie tending to
bring quarrel duel between him and the SAID
Dupont and tending also to impair the efficiency of tr
bunals such the said board, constituted by law, for
tribunals from the conscientious discharge of their du
ties. J. c. DOBBIN, Secr'y Of the Navy.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Jan. 10, 1856.
The first witness called John Etheridge, Esq., Chief
Clerk in the Navy Department. who being sworn deposed
follows in relation to his knowledge of the transac
tion-In the early part Of December interview with
myself was sought and obtained by Conn'r Richie, at
Washington my Acquaintance with him slight
that did recognise him at the moment his inquiry
Mr.. Etheridge and answered to that name and
after completing matter OF business turned towar.
him and sp preached by Comr Richie; he asked
if knew of anything the files of the Navy Depart
ment against him Said Ia this COmr Ritchie?' he
replied the affirmative; then answered. 81 know of
nothing and have recollection Of having the
files ct the department anything disparaging to your
think added, either with regard to your personal
grafed at what said and congregation ensued upon
personal matters relating to Comr Richie and myself
tom'r Richie observed that he had been treated
badly by those whom he believed to be his
friends and Of the persons had expressed himself in
q manner ILthat could not be forgotten; ] then
some months previously that he had grossly insulted
Capt. Dupont. but which had been contradcted.
words, '.iiarn sscoundre, and scoward" 70 Captain
D. and to the circumf under which he
had offered the insult as ioll.ws:.Gom said he
beiItY; 10 which he rspssl, sH5k can you approach
thuss'' To which Captain Dupont said "Rober,, you
cid you not say to that there necessity for
my visiting Washington; that my bill was clear as
Dupont replied 'No and upon which Com R. used the
epithets before referred to- asked Conn., R. whether the
insult resented at the time to which he replied 'No
further than by Captain Dupont saying 81 suppose you
(Cou,. lR.) win publish this to the world" Com.
Richie said he replied to Captain Dupont The world
knows it already" Other persons present at Conn.,
RS interview with me- but the conversation was adj.
dressed to me alone though they may have heard it,
1t took place in room in the Navy Department.
The witness proposed TO give Subsequent interviews
with Com Richie in relation TO other matters but the
accused objected.
By direction of the Court the witness proceeded to de-
tail only what had traDspred having bearing upon the
charge and specifcatons:-In subsequent interview
about the 7th 9th Of December Com Richie informed
that he had been waited by Jenkins referring,
understood to CON- Carlton E. Jenkins who desired to
be informed whether he (Ritchie had used the words
liar and coward to Capt Dupont to which he (Ritche)
said he replied, "f Capt. Duponts memory is deec
tive repeat the words to him thT ough you; BUT it is
personal matter and has bearing his official rea-
tons at still more recent interview, before the 18Th
and probably between the 18th 10Th of the same
month Com. Rcnie informed that he had been wait
ed on by Capt. Godsborough, of the Navy who desired
him to reract the offensive epithes and that he Com
r. had declined that all that occurred between Capt.
r. and myself.
In reply to question put by the Judge Advocate,
witness stated that CON- Rrchie did not request him
keep secret the conversation.
The Judge Advocate then propoundsd question as to
whether the witness inferred that the insulting ephets
made OF by Com. r. consequence of the action
this the counsel for the accused objected the ground
that the inference Of the witness not properly evil
dence and the court being cleared for consultation ths
objection of the defence announced not having
been sustained 1be question then repeated, and
the witness answered folows:-There was nothing
In the conversation that would necessarily lead
infer that the action of the Retiring Board the
mediate cause Of the application of the epithets by
Com. r. to Capt Dupont, had not my mind been pre-
pared for by previous knowledge Of the action Of
board.
After reading the record of the evidence the Court
then adjourned.