The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-19
KEEPER VANN0TE'S CASE.
INPESTIG1TTNG CHdRGEs AGAINST
HIN IN ASBURY PARK.
Was he Guilty Of Cownrdice and Neglect OF
Duty when Wrecked Vessels were In Need
of Heipt-TestImony rs 20 his Conduct.

AsBURY PARK. Dec. 1s-Leut. C. f. Shoe
maker and William u. Barton. who arrived
here last night, began this morning an invcsti-
cation into charges of incompctency against
Cornelius Nannotc. keeper Of Life Saving sta
ton No. 6. Fourth Life Saving District Tho
letter OF instructions TO the Committee says
that the charges against Nannotc arc all made
in connection with applications and recon-
mcndations filed in behalf Of Russell White Of
Asbury Park. y. j.. formerly surfman Of
Station No. 6. for appointment as keeper in
Nannotc's place; that Vannotc and White arc
the parties directly Interested and are. accord
ingly. TO have ample notice Of the time and
place OF hearing. and to be afforded an oppor-
tunity Of being present and producing wit
nosscs; that Mr.. Russell White having been
strongly recommended as a suitable person for
the position Of keeper Of life saving station
proper inquiry ia to be made as to his qualin-
cations in this particular This letter Of instruc-
lions is signed 8. l. Kimbal
Tho borough Of Asbury Park has been alive
with excitement in view OF this investigation
and many surfmen, fishermen and mon ON
ployed in the adiaccnt life saving station have
boon and arc present many. of Thorn as wit
nosses. The charges against NannOtc for cow
ardice have been widely published and arc dis
cussed with considerable ucrimonv. The Conn
miitcs ADOPTED tlir on"r boy J. \: Bradley 9f the
Ncstigation aud accommodating the large num-
Der who wished TO hcnr the testimony
Mr.. VI. W. Ila2eltnc who represented tho
prosecution OF tho charges. stca;' si"l to the
Committee that the best method would hr 10
takc up inc Two luest Ions presented 10 the Com
Of Stltion No. 6 cfIlcicnt2 second il Nj Rus
sci White competent to take his plac" should ho
he removed He snid that n tn" Com.fftHn
should decide that MIR Nnnnotc should nni ha
removed there would he no Mood Oi tuv"stl sit-
ing tho other question He wished 1t understood
NJ NFHF II 90 fffT mi
ted IN any pgrtcnar person to supulGnt Mr..
NannQtc. hut the important question to hc deter
| The Committee decided that fh"y were re-
CURED by their letter Of Instructions 90 nycsti-
cato both questions. and they would elicit the
testimony IN the best manner To- suit the con-
| vcnience Of Witnesses.
" Are there not two distinct Issues, and should
they not be tried separately ?" asked Mr.. llazle-
" We win elicit AL the evidence we can from
| each witness" said Mr.. Shoemaker
" But suppose our witnesses go away. will the
| Conmittce take boat and go out t. them n
90 On thsy WI sProbahy not si" ~, opt over q
ieeproceoded TO take testimony first agains, Mr..
William c. White Of Deal Beach testified that
he WIS fisherman. He knew about tn wre' K
| OF the aloup forshay. IL was about the let nf
| Septemh,e.r 1875. He saw her at about 7. NJ;
| Russell White took command OF his boat and
called for his crow. and welt to her and took
| one passenger OF Cornelius Nannota was
| thcre. but did not go out in tue boat Russell
| White asked Vannotc to 20 ont 10 the rescue Of
| tho men in tho sloou Forshay He did not max .
any rcply hut he did not 70, lIc did not give
! crroua NJ tho time Witness was IN the life
saving service IN 1855 without pay. and ak or
poyed IN the life saving service at the time. but
! was missed thc service on account ot the or
| 6e employed az a sutton. and Russ"i Whit, was
his brother. HE Nar positive That hu--", White
! asked Vannotg 60 - in tho bat. tn" sra WAS
| high. aud %" lHunching aud return 90 the boat
| were dangerous. Only onn man was rescued
| from the schooner, a passenger. Tho crow
| stayed On board. They did not want 20 come on
| shore.
| In reply To Mr.. Shoemaker. the witness said
| tina, Nnnnoic did not say he would 20 or would
| not Witness could not say that II was exactly
| cowardly for Vunnote 10 refuse e. 60.
Jonathan Goodman WAS next called. lie ics-
ILL., , .,.s. ~, Hh, Fr.n,v ' Crn, V1ri't
was on the beach at the time when Russell White
| took The boat and went out 20 the wreck Rus;
| his crew to 60 Bui Vunnote d'd not go. The
| crew all got wot' Shipping sous. Among those
| who wont ont IN III" crow w'rc Van l,runt md
! Rus " litc. who belonged 20 o." ilie saving
GA cross-cSamluaii1n hy Mr.. r. Alien Jr
Arited pulsed hcr ia. III, lite saving crew
70 The service dld not require ihrin 10 be on
duty a he tin. -,
fyPg 20 Mr S 5g1 NE wne s 1o sai
ouisiia. Heai u.th'ar vinnotc rr'uso.
d 'f.. iil n Van IfAN't nN fufr 90 tf.' NN.un-
| ForelaV. sad that he hat boon IN thr scryico
iornin" years. tie went out IN ID" t'ut 10 a.
/ party OF volunteers. n could not reco.irct "N-
acuy what Tus SAID, CT who WINS nhNed
Hs IS ls s aa H. Iaer rem at a,, Tine; f.
| said ii was a rough dav The Captain and
crew Of the Forsnay did NJ, WISH to come
| ashore hut stnVed IN bpnrd unui the v'ssc
Crl.ted down 20 STARS x srr uni went 20 pieces
10 supposed ti- hsh'ng boat was taken tcT.ns'
| that could Ur got quicker tnHn llo liir boat Thu
| crew had b. IN out Fishing. and h"ni"d "a" boat
| up on the shore on count OF sfiuHll hut the
sudden ISr.l to The sl~"p sprung w aiiyrward-
! Cornelius Fannot" that had t-.rn signed ~ The
witness. md Mr.. Van Brunt Admitted That he
Mr. iiaa.tpe a.ked how many vcs-ols tho
| witness hal seen driven On ihe -hor"
! Charles VI, Jackson. the E.e u. Tucker. The
| Forshay, and the Geo. Atwood
Can you rorollcf any occasion whom Cor
neiius Nannotc got into u boat and won't TO The
Il think he went out to the Ll2aie Maui; that
| was day or two after she came ashore. | W"nt
out and l cannot swear positively that Or
| noiius N.1nBoti w..s sent
On cross examination the witness said thai
] Cornelius Vunnote dld 70 10 the wreck Of "a,
Husband. Russell Whit. Cornelius Nannote
nnd the rest OF the life crew were with TIE wit
| ness.
! Abort HcCahe was called by Mr. Ilazletinr
| He said he WIS butcher IN Ocean Grove. III,
remembered the wLe' Of the Ruiani -aN hen
Ing. she WIS NJ Ocean Park beach. saw
| tho crew when the wrecked parsons werrtakcr
| on. Par, 81 ,hr crew were volunteer and lAlt q
| lac saving crew. The volunteer crew mad
| s"yrra trips. lie remained 70 see the rr~w o
! thu RlV kan landed. Russel White. Druuuond
Muitc. aud Burdelt lioimc went out tw."r tn,
rescue Tho sea was rough. ana i Mss ven
turesOlne 10 70 out. Witness offered 10 20. and
spoke 20 Drumuoud White about u md ru.'"d
OF MS coat, tut they refused to take HIM. SeY'
cril Baid Il WIS hardly safe 10 20 out. CGrne-
| Illus VAunOte WIS there on tire beach. ard was
! asked 10y Ahnrr Alien II 10 out 10 ulc sAii
What did NaunOte Say Z"
| VEnnotG mnde reply thai II Nas not safe e
60 out The first load WAS landed saieiy. Rnl
| finally AL the crew Of the bark were eayrd
Could not say whether Vannote VAS la 1he iic
saving rrrylce nj that time.
About 400 prrsous were on the beach whcr
witncGs got down there, About ~ Of the crew
81 the vessel wore saved. Two nont loads were
s4yud hHiurn the life SAVING boats gN there
One more trip wHs ma,ie after that. AhOut one
| hour Aptr"d IN tue mWkinE oi the trips.
In rtply 20 Mr. Newman. the witness said III,
yeas,l went ashore IA the Aitrrnu. D, and al
those On hoHril were gut out 10y 10 j. ".
In reply 10 vi. oornHkeT, thr Witness sale
| that hn heard Vaunotc say 4 WAS NOT saio - 20
| What did ha say WHOM Russell Wh4te aako,
| him To- gor'
| wait uAiA the stat Lon men can" up'
| Ia think ts a