The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-16
COMMANDER M'CALLA'S FATE
Suspended FROM RANK AND DUTY
FOR THREE YEARS.

FOR THREE YEARS.
Tho Findings OF tho Court Martial An.
| proved by the Secretary of the NAVY
| and Promulgated in n General Order.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-The action of tho
| Secretary ofthe Navy In the case OF Commander
| Bowman II. MoCalla. late Commander OF tho
| U. S. s. Enterprise. was made public to-day.
| lie was triod by court martial on FIVE charges,
as follows Striking another person in tho
| navy Fireman John L. Walker, violation OF
| tho oath article Of the Articles for the Govern
ment Of the Navy dnilictinG improper punish
ments). maltreRtment OF persons subject to his
orders. conduct unbecoming an officer OF the
navy. and violation OF the 10th clause OF the
Goth article OF the Articles for the Government
of the Navy, in failing to read to tho ships
company the Articles for the Government of
the Navy. The court found him guilty OF all
the charges, and sentenced him to "be sus-
pended from rank and duty for a period OF
three years. and to retain his present number
on the list Of Commanders while 30 sus-
pended"
The action OF the department is embodied in
o general order. Issued by the Secretary this
afternoon. in which. after recting the charges
and the findings OF the court, he says:
Tho proceedings and findings OF tho general
court martial In the foregoing case OF Com
mander Bowman II. McCalla. United States
Navy, are approved. except that part OF the
finding upon the third specification OF tho Sec
ond charge. In which, after finding that Com
mander McCalla caused the men named in that
specification to be kept standing upon their
feet. toeinR n seam on tho quarter deck of the
vessel. from about . p. NJ. to about / A. NJ, for
four consecutive nights. tho court further
found that he aid not thereby cause such men
to be punished In violation OF the twenty fourth
article OF the Articles for, the Government of |
the Navy which part of the finding is disap-
The twenty.fou-th article provides that no |
CO M Of vessel shall intct or cause
70 pc inflicted. upon any petty officer or person
fence, or at any, one time, any other than one
2i the six punlshments enumerated therein.
defined and limited by the article and as re-
curing men to toe seam Isl punishment
ishments authorized by the article. such pun
ishment by the commander OF vessel OF the
navy navy y wholly unaIthorlzed. and is IN viola
pressly prohibits the infection on board a YES
sci OF the navy. eXcept by sentence OF court
ishments specifically set forth In that article.
The conclusion reached by the court in is
specifications of tho second charge. that in
causing lnsg the men men named in those specifea.
twenty-fourth article of the Articles for the
upon his testimony and that of the executive
officer OF the vessel, that these mon were not
safe keeping and to prevent their escape from
the ship; corroboratel by entries made in the
in log sae a. hs %e end by se fact
leased from. irons on the sailing OF the
vessel. The department is reluctant to assent
upon the specifications referred to- and ap-
proves them only, in view OF the fact that the J
ul consideration of the evidence. that the
roninE Of the men together on the occasions .
specified was, under the circumstances, neces-
AIRY and warranted az as Il means Of restraint.
But ii Is deemed proper to state in this regard =
hat men should never he ironed together. ex- |
'ept when it Is absolutely necessary TO employ !
such unusual measures and after all the :
Methods OF confinement authorized, by the
wenty.fourth article shall have proved ineffec-
ual. The sentence is approved
accompanying the record in the case, is a Z
en- OF tho twelve memnors of the court, in
which they make the following statement. viz:
In consideration OF the previous character II
nd reputation OF the accused. and of the I
circumstances which have appeared I
urinE the trial, We the undersigned. respect s
evising authority After careful eXamina- =
on and consideration OF the proceedings in .
round which would. in the Judgment NJ the h
epartnent. Justify MITIGATION, C %, the punish q
the rs e e is not tn"
~ he duly executed, TO take effect from this p
The findings of the court gives much dlssat- II
''action among some naval officers here The Il
entenco OF three years suspension and the 7
etention of present position is regarded as y y
ntirely incompntible With the offence of which y
Q was found guilty. The Walker incident was :
onsidcred sufficiently serious TO warrant dis :
lissal. The court was thought 10 be uufavor- l
bly, disposed toward McCaa and tho Y
'niency exhibited in the sentence, and further "
ridenced by the recommendation for mitica- u
on Of sentence comes us surpliso u
is known that four. and Ierhaps L
We. officers. Of the court voted for u
ismissal, realizing tho enormity OF the Of Z
n acnuittal. This was the President of he !,
purt. Commodore Harmony. The officers who l.
re credited with an appreciation ~ tho seri- !;
lRness OF the case are Capts. Erpan, AIat- y
Jews. Phythian. Mead and BrdGman. 1t is u
nderstood thHt Secretary Tracy seriously CON u
mrlated sending back the record but. find
e the recommendation for mitigation 50 gen II