New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-21
AN ISSUE OF VERACITY.
ENSIGN KLINE,S WORD AGAINST COM
WANDER McCALLAS.
THE INFERIOR OFFICERS COMPLAINT THAT HE
WAS UNJUsrLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

THE rNrERloR OFFICERS COMPLAINT THAT HE
WAS UNJUsrLY sUsPESDED-TEsTMoSY
BEFORE THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
The ENTERPRISE Court of Inquiry at the Navy Yard
yesterday took another tack For several days 1t hd
been investigating charges OF abusive language ana
cruelty against several llcutenants, but yesterday
resumed its examination Of Commander Mc'aia 5
actions as captain Of the Enterprise. The COM
planant was Ensign Kline who alleged tiat lie had
been suspended by Commander on false charge OF
sIeepinc on his watch The charge is now being
investigated by the Navy Department. and on that
account Mr.. Mcnzies, the Commanders counsel Cd
ected 70 the courts investigating the case HIS OBJ
lection was overruled. however.
Judge Advocate Garst opened the session by rcddlhS
tbc question put 10 the court on Wednesday by the
counsel for Commander McCalla in regard 10 the
courts conception Of its duty under the precepl
The question put in order to learn nom uie
court whether its report would consist merely OF the
testimony taken by IT, would also include opinions
based on the evidence 1t had heard and in addition
recommendations 10 what action should be taken
In the matter. The reply OF the court winch WAS
made In writing. follows:
1.-THE in reply TO the request for Information
OF the counsel Of Commander McCala, United states
Navy It's construction of the preoep under when
is conducting this inquiry ana inc form anu 40 , Savy
Of the report To be made 10 the secretary OF e Navy
if Considers II ITS duty both by regulations
facts that il NAV deem TO be established by the
; Svasnie acton Ron should IDS dp be had"
T. A. KIMBERLY Kear-Admral. United states Navy
President Of the Court
March, 20, 1890
President Kimberly said that the court was hot
court martial but merely court OF inquiry. "Com-
mander McCalla." lie continued, has not peeh ar
raigned and no charges specifications have been
preferred"
After transacting routine business. the court
took I'D the charge of Ensign G.. W. Kline that ne
had been falsely accused by Commander McCaila OF
being asleep on watch after midnight on January
Is 1890. The Commander took the stand ana gave
his version Of the affair as follows:
.We were lying at anchor in the scheldt, mile ana
a half below Antwerp In the middle of the night l
was awakened by the squalls Of wind Wishing 10
learn n the sheet chain bent, rang my elcculc
bell got reply and rang and rang LOT ABOUT
fifteen minutes then got up and dressed myself
On going out did not the orderly, Quartermaser
or corporal of the guard, and going to the steering
house ! saw Ensign Kline stretched ont on chair.
opened the door, went into the house. and SHOOK the
officer after looking at him for four or five seconds
He jumped up with cry OF O' knocking over
lantern I accused him Of having been asleep on
watch, and he denied it. Afterward called inc
executive officer and placed Ensign Kline under
suspension. also ordered that tho quartcrmaster
and the orderly be confined for being on their posts
then went into my cabin and about TWO minutes
afterward looked at my watch and saw it was four
minutes Of two'
THE COMPLAINANT'S STATEMENT
Lieutenant Werlich, who was counsel for Ensign
Kline, cross examined the commander and then the
Ensign gave version of the occurrence as follows
"On the night in question: after 1 o'clock paced
to and fro the bridge several times and then went
into the pilothouse. heard the Captains bell ring
several times. and afterward some one came to
the starboaid door OF the pilot house. which was closed
The person had some difficulty in opening the door
Of COMMANDER Mccala lie did not enter the house
but stood the threshold and said that had been
plot-house. knocked over my lantern with my over
s sad 90 tSc Yotve been asleep
and told the orderly that he had been asleep, too II
vas then about 90 minutes TO o'clock"
The quartcrmaster, Graham. and Gynn; the orderly;
who had been put in double irons on the charge OF
II about 90 minutes to . when the Commander
ordered their arrest. The orderly said that he wa;
not hear the bell lie said that Captain McCalla fire.
eSr the d panty T side S and ifa that he must have
made this mistake the night in question, aud thai
he was M"I wanted The COMMANDER was positive how
ever that he had pressed the buttons OF botl bells
ordered him TO bring lantern. Gknn did 80 and his
superior then did something TO MS watch either set or
DOUBT ABOUT THE TINE OF THE AFFAIR.
Hcreupon an intcrmisson was taken for luncheon.
and then the testimony of various members Of the
Enterprises crew taken with reference to Mr..
Khnes alleged offence. Several said that they had
seen him pacing the bridge. or had spoken TO him.
shortly before 1 80 O'Clock. Evidence also in
troduced TO show that Commander McCalla must have
spoken to Mr. Kline In the puohouse previous to go
O'Clock, although the superior officer placed the time
about minutes later The most important witness
for the Ensign the question Of the time was Lieu
tenant Ingersoll, who had, while asleep, been sum-
moned by order Of the Commander to place the Ensign
under suspension and the orderly and enartermaster
In double irons He said it took him two or three
minutes to dress and he then looked at the clock and
1t was about Is minutes of q lie OF this
because he had made note Of the exact time hour
aiterward.
Lieutenant Werlich who conducted the complain
ants with great SKILL presented schedule Of the
the time of the suspension OF his client and the
Currenccs preceding it, He sought by this to show
that members of the had Mr.. Kline wldc
awake short intervals during his watch. and that
the time which elapsed between of the sailors
speaking to the officer and his being discovered asleep
according to the Commander too short for him 10
have fallen into such sound slumbcr that he was
not awakened when his superior opened the door Of
the pilot hOuse alleged Commander McCaa,
however, none the less certain that when he
tired TO his cabin, few moments after Lieutenant
Ingersolrs appearance on deck IL WAS about six
minutes Of O'clock
Chief Engineer Entwiste next called to tho
stand TO testify in reference to the charges made
against him, but his request. the consideration Of
his case was deferred until today The court will
meet at 10 a. M
SWELLING THE NON.COAPETITIVE LIST.