Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-15

W HtH lic uttdll> Ol I.ltuItndHI ITccIyS
report regarding the shooting OF Private
Henry became known. the course pursued
by him met the hearty approval OF both
navy and army officers.
WHAT ADMIRAL NICHOLS SAID.
Admiral Nichols. Acting Secretary Of The
Navy, said in regard TO the matter: "Thc
mistake Greely made was In not ordering
him shot when he was first detected steal
ing. He was too enlent with him. When
be was found guilty he should have been
shot. but instead Lieutenant Grcciy gave
him two chances for his life
COMMODORE WALKER SAID
that, under the circumstances, there was
no other course to pursue. In times Of
great danger extreme measures are neces-
sary. During the war. he said, he had held
loaded rcyOlvers at the heIds OF two pilots
20 keep them TO their duty, and would not
have hesitatcd an instant in shooting them
il they had ilinched.
OTHER OPINIONS.
General McKeeyer, Acting Adjutant.
General. said "Of course he was justi.
FED in shooting Henry; there is no doubr
about that. While there is 40 military law
which provides for Just such occasions.
Stlll commanding officer is in duty bound
to take extreme measures 10 preserve dis.
ciplinc. The mistake that was made"
continued the General, ''was i'm not
reporting the details aS soon as pos
siblc. The whole affair should have
been made public. There was some mys-
tery about the whole matter, which the re-
portors were bent upon solving. thus Civ
ing rise to exaggerated reports. The idea
OF giving a mutinous thief who was exc
cutcd a military funeral is prepo>terous.
When a dtserter il shot he l. not given
decent burial. He Is tumbled into a hole
without a coffin. This man was more thar
dcscr.er. They should not have brought
his body back. or il they had brought It
back the manner Of his death should have
been made public. The Secretary Of War.
the Licutcnani.General. aud other promI-
nont officers attended the military funeral
OF the executed criminal, in honor OF
whose hcroism three volleyS were fired
Lieutenant Grocly did right in killing
Henry, but n mistake was made by him or
whoever he reported to in concealing the
facts
"Of course he did right" said another
prominent officer who was present. "lle
was justified in acting rs the commander ola
naval vessel would in ease OF mutiny. Cap
tain Mackenzie, the father Of General Mae
kenZe, when commanding naval vessel
back in the fortieS. discovered a mutiny on
board his vessel. in which hefOund some Of
his own officers 10 be implicated. Two Of
them he hung TO the yard arm AT once, and
one OF hose. midshipm1n named Spencer.
was a son Of the secretary OF War. Captain
Mackenzie was afterwards court-martidled
for his course, and was acquitted. don't
believe there would have been trial at all
tut for the fact that one oi those executed
was the son Of the Secretary OF War;" The
Secretary Of War Is still ont of the city,
| but there seems 10 be- no doubt but that the
Whole matter VIII bc Investigated in ac-
| cOrdance with Lieutenant Grccly'S wishes.
There was some lutte comment to-day
uyon the fact that Lieutenant Grcely In his
report mad" no reference 10 the reported
cannlali,m among the party. This in
creased the doubts In the minds OF some
upon that branch OF the story.