The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
THEFT In THE NAVY YARD.
WARRANT OFFICER WAUGHs ARREST
FOR STE1LING METAL.

He is Stopped Mt the Gate with Governments
Property Concealed In his CiothinG-The
Commandant Requests u Court Martial.
Edward J. Waugh warrant officer Of tho
United States Navy. has been detailed for the
past year to special duty in the Ordnance De-
partment OF the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Attached
to no ship. he has been accustomed to quit the
yard daily. after working hours. by way OF the
' East" gate. OF which his father Ia keeper. On
his way thther, on Tuesday evening last. and
after passing his father, he was suddenly con-
fronted by the Captain OF the Watch. Waugh
gave the regulation salute, and was about to
pass on MS tho Captain insisted that he should
remove for a minute the Iona naval cape that
covered his shoulders. At first Waugh indg-
nantly refused. and threatened to report the
Captain TO his superior. Capt. Queen. but whes
informed that II was through this of1cers
orders that the request had been mnde, he re-
lucdantly consented. The cape OF. tho Captain
unce in Waugh's body. about the waist. Further
examination showed that Waugh was taking
metal surreptiiousy from the yard and he
was made prisoner and brought before Capt
Queen. SiXty-hve pounds OF composition
metal. valued Ct forty cents pound. were
found concealed in n sort OF canvas UNDER
jacket
Onlcers we're sent to waugh's house in Cias-
son avenue. and there nearly 400 pounds OF
metal were found concealed. Copper bolts.
rings. boat-hooks and pins had been taken by
stores, When Waugh found that he was caught
he asked to be allowed to resign from the
service. Commodore Nicholson. the COM
mandnnt Of the yard. In forwarding the mans
resignation 10 tho Navy Department at WASH
nRton. sent with II request thai. the, reslgna:
ton be not accepted, and that Waugh be tried
by naval court martial. so that II found guilty
he would sufer the punishment provided for
such offences by the naval code.
Since Tuesday Waugh has been closely con.
fined in the United States steamer Colorado.
Waugh has been in the navy for eighteen
years. having entered NJ the breaking out OF the
war His pay Is $1,000 while at sea, $1,000 on
shore duty, such as that which he hns recently
been assigned to. and 1000 while waiting
orders. His rating is that Of a gunner. His
father has been in the Brooklyn yard rs wntch-
man and gate keeper for the past forty years.
Commodore Nicholson says the father Ia
| thoroughly trustworthy in every way. 1t 10
thought that he was not aware OF his sons
peculation.
Large quantities OF copper and yellow metal
| having disappeared from tho Ordnance De-
| partment from time IN time. Cant. Queen. who
| Is also Captain OF the police force OF the yard.
| gave orders on Monday that every man con-
| nected with that department acting suspiciously
| should be watched. The report coming to him
that Waugh. while passing out OF the yard on
| Monday, presented n bulky appearance. he t
once gave orders 10 stop him. II necessary. Tho
| arrest followed. Capt. Queen Is unable at pres
| ent to make an estimate OF the total amount OF
| material that has been surreptitiousy taken
| from the Ordnance Department since Waugh
| has been attached TO IT, IL is however. known
\ to bo very large. The Captain says the other
| warrant officers stationed in the yard are
| ber hns been guilty Of stealing. In all his long
| experience he says he has never known OF
similar case among this class OF men,. waugh
was in no sense connected with Capt Queen or
| one degree from petty officers. and are not u
the line OF promotion TO watch officers.