The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-07


rRIAL OF CO MNANDER J. II. R>wsN, or THE BRIG
BANBaIDGR
PmLADE MA, Jan. 9. 1867.
nsvAi court martial assembled bis oossing Of tho
Navy Yard for the trial Of Comma James q Rowan,
the United states brig Bsinordge and after some de-
lay consequence Of the member no, being punotual
called 10 order. The court composed follows
Capt VIM. Mckinney, Of rr,ea.e Pow haitian President
VIM n; Gardner, awaiting orders
VIM. W. Mexican, do
Chas. Lowndes do.
90 Geo N Holins do.
John Mareton. do.
Commander James L. Isrdper, do.
VIM. W. Hunter, 90
A" Henry X Thatcher, Naval Asylum, Phil'a.
Commander Garrett r. Barry appeared az Judge Advo
cate, and the accused being sskeo he ready for
trial. he replied in the aft rmative and AIMED Captain
Rich as his counsel.
The following charge and specifications then rea
10 the accused, ~ho pleaded not guilty
Char specifications charge preferred by the
iary OF he Navy against James n Rowan Commander
CHARGE scandaous conduct tending the destruction Of
pcdcao In this that on or about the I4h day of Nay
n The Ssr ls The he said Com James ROw.s
board he sad brig in The Straits s Of Mseesn
Secaati9n r. ibis thai about tn 4ts day Of June
took part in his caSn o Board s sH d ssS
Ssase org ne an n
ship beng Then hoard the said orig cambridge and cog
SecGeao3 In this that the 18th day Of July
msnder 8 Rowan did while 'he influence Of into,i
john kuesen wi and
gusge - :,
sspen9er 1855 the said Com Rowan ooa, the said brig
cess INTOXICATING drinks as require medical treatment Tor
Spec!datior In this about 7th day of
F1S SS s sS G0 on s osfS the sss SS
excess In Intoxicating drinks Ms TO require medical treatment
Specfo1f6n In this that about day Of July
1856 The sfid Com II Rowan was drunk and roous al the
Specsoaio% In this that on or about the 9Th day June
M x Rowan SSsad e saa Srs from ae
NAvq bErAR7MnST Dec lS 1856 Secretary Of the Navy
The fret witness called aud Lieut. Charles
Fleming, United States Navy. The charge and FIRST
specification having been -ead wilnt. asked what
| he knew OF the spec'hcaion
| Answer-On or about May Ia 1856 called for by
Com. Rowan 10 cor into bis cabin 70 be witness DO
tween kptef and Leut. Gvin OF TIE cambridge, and
from chromosomes which occurred there aud after.
wards deck II my opiaon that the Csmmsn der
| unoer the influence Of liquor.
asked hat he knew OF H. He stated In reply that he
was requested by the officers OF the ward room OF tue
cambridge 10 make report relative to some improper
conduct Of The Commando clerk and that when in the
Captain cabr for the purpose the clerk designated the
officers as a Get OF hsrs and ecoundreis, advancing
towards him In threatening manner ana abusing him
| calling witness a liar ana seoundIel The witness
thopght IL necessary 70 defend himself whereupon
be striking the witness Cd ,ne back OF the he
with bis fist wishing TO avoid what witness considered
dgracefu shame he In the cabin, breasted the Qasr-
trmasier TO eepd the officers ipIo the cabn they made
their appearance almost Immediately; sae Co mm snders
clerk very violent In manner and abusive 10 Ian
guage, contiI uiug to designate rs liar and scouu
ore the Comm sIder being present. using no elor, to
prevent this sbuse; when The Commander Appealed
70 in reference TO the language OF his clerk, be replied
The witness knew nothing relative to the third specG.
cation
In relation 10 The fourth spcciRcat the witness stated
that in the hsrbOr o. Monte vidco, when oc ,ason
the brig Was TO ss AT daylight by order OF the Conman
DIR Orde had net hQan givon nv
officer, and on going down nio the cabin be found I'm
possible 10 wake the csp,aio on gong upon deck again
po.p tr,uss win the Pnrser Of he and
asked him TO let him have boat to go board he tue
wnete nor the Purser that ne couldn't dc 50 without
the captain orders vessel vas cons teret
under carly orders and told him he he'd better apply q
the Commander The puTser went into the cApin and
reported 10 winners that Cor.msuder could not bs
awakened. Tbs vress aso sent the Assistant Sargco
into The cabin TO what the matter With the ca
tain hut tia,ea thst the captain incapable OF per-
forming DUTY stating further 10 witness ~ executive Of
1cor OF the ves,el, that tie Commander had detirum
| rern.,s.
In regard 10 the f.tn SPECIFICATION the witness stsd
that re medical officer Of the brig came TO witness snd
informed him that the Commander was incapable OF per
forming duty, that he quite Ill, and lsborng under
the effect. Ct oeriirn reneaS whereupon the witness
| assumed comrand q the vessel.
| The witness kpev no,hing OF the Oh specification
In regard TO the 9Th specification The si,ness said that
after the difficulty which had occurred between the cap
just here President OF the Court stated tina, the
wi,ne's vas not compelled TO answer any questions cr
/
| tsips s',rcnce In the specification.
| lnr toaqve,uon rom the President, Lieut. Flom
ibs stat tha. be oscssi0a M nti0ncd In spec,dcs
tor let ga not consider tae Commander drunk bet
under the perceptibo influence CT liquor T,e witness
retained command Of tee brig after the repor, Of the sur
that the Commsuter unit tor duty, daring the
time (seyeTa days) he, Com Rowan continued on the
sick l,t In answer 10 another question Lieut. Fleming
stated that the captain Of Euslsh rnp VAS on board
the Bsnbr.dge, hut not IN tae cabin, when tae r1om
proceedings specified above took psce Witness did not
consult with Com. Rowan While &c continued on the sick
hat.
In reply questions by the counsel for the accused,
Lieut. Fleming stated thar ,ee brs le sontevidco at or
about ire SPECIFIED time, but the log book would give bet
ter inicl nation Com Rowan came on board The brig on
| Sept "a 1855.
beard the vessel the evening OF the oath OF
September. 1896, TO which the witness responded that
be could not recoeci the presse date. To oher ques
tion whether upon the morning appointed for sailing
orders had been ssued for the vessel change her
aISs, re,ds S,oc,v an;,onss 10 the v,n".,
iha. he hsd orders for sailing o. daylight and had also
sad that theee were the orders from Commander
Iynoh, and that he (he witDess) might read them.
Question by toe Iccused-Dd send for you about
the ed OF september and inform you Of my pdsposon
fron isn having previously placed myself under the
Answer He did inior me Of the fall bu, know moth.
ing OF The matter relative 70 tho doctor except from near
Question by the accused-nd no, send for the doctor
about the 23d 2ith Of september ~ soon A. descend
ed 10 the cabin and report myself 70 him being sckf
AnsweY-1 do not know whether the commander 70
ported himself 10 the doctor or mot Of tina, time
Question by the sccuied-Do you know OF the com.
msnder having reported himself to the doctor a any
time, and %, when7
Ansver-A various times be Wa tho sok list do
not hrow whether be reported himself or not.
Question by the socussd-Dd not the commander send
for you bis cabin BY sbe doctor snd inform you that
he was much injured BY fall he had received II Monte
yictoS
Arswer-1 DO not r.oollect
Question By the Court-whcn you assumed the com
mand ~ the brig did the commander Of any time give
hi s~enk directly or Indirectly, 70 your having the
charge o. The brig, recognise you a. having that com
n and
Apsver- On one occasion he disseuted, by infermins
that myself and the medical officer had entered into
com birssiop 10 deprive him Of the command, which
considered Of the emanatiou from the brain Of
person who not altogether IN his right mind
Question by the Court-Hd you hnov what were the
Instructions VI Capt Rowtn at the time Of sailing from
Monevidsof
Witness repted that be did; he bad been furnsbed
with no orcers but had unobcieiy seer them.
Question By The CourtWhst the destination Of the
United States BRIG cambridge when you assumed the
commant q bert