The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-07
JUPORTfNF TEsTyHONY HEARD
Some OF ihes sWitnesses Think Badly OF
Prentiss and Fife.

Prentiss and Fife.
The eighth session Of the naval court-mar-
tial. trying Commander James ID. Graham.
began yesterday morning at $50 o'clock in
room "A Of the custom-house. President j. A.
Greer. rear admiral. presiding The record
Of Tuesday was read and approved.
Christian J.. Larsen. master-at-arms. was
called as "a witness for the defense. and IN an
swer to a question. said NO would not be-
love Fife on oath. Ny opinion is that Fife
would Do anything to hurt d person he had
taken a dislike to-
The witness was cro-s-ex mined by Lieu
tenant Lemly. and answering question,
said Il am not unfriendly u Fife.
James NJ. Edmunds was called. but It was
developed that he had not been summoned as
q witness.
Mr. Thomas F. Hannigan was next called.
and just at that moment fat. rosy news
paper man entered the room. Admiral Greer
arose and called Mr.. Hannigan.'
be president saw his mistake while the
spectators smiled al eleCted-candldate sort OF
smile
Mr.. Hannigan entered a moment later and.
IN answer 20 question: said know James
ID. lrentss casually.
Colonel stern From what you know or
Prentss would yOu believe him on oath
The question was Ob eoted TO by Lieutenant
Lemly. and the defense was made by Colonel
Meredith. The court refused to sustain tho
obie tiou.
Mr. Hanuigan. answering the interrogation,
sad II would not heard good deal OF
frentiss reputation and my answer Is based
on what ! have SO heard. | have known
Irentiss for several years.
Cross-eNamined by Lieutenant Lemly.
the witness said No. / was not summoned
T. tho court of inquiry thought from what
! read that Commander Graham had been
III 9Th
and men.
Lieutenant Lauchheimer read aloud and
had appended 20 the record letter from tho
Acting Secretary of the Navy which allowed
the defense 10 use documents submitted by
them at the court of inquiry. Up TO the re-
celpt of the letter the papers were in the Dos
session of the Judge Advocate, and before
they could be used by the defense an order
had % be issued from the department.
POLICEMAN SUTTON.
Policeman NJ. b. Sutton was the next wit
ness call and IN answer TO a question. said.
know James d. Prentiss. one evening last
summer was at Ninth and Main streets and
lrantlss came 10 me and said: Don't you fell
lows policemen be hard on the deserters
from the monitors for that is the meanest
son of down on the monitors thht
/ ever lived. lie will take mans liberty away
/ from him. Prentiss stood there tor ten
minutes cursing and abusing that man.
told him that did not know anything about
/ the man.
What do you mean 10y that man:
/ mean Commander Graham.
Captain Parker II Il please the court. tho
/ defense wishes subpeOnas issued for CommOs
/ dore Weaver and Lieutenant Waller of the
! Norfolk nayy-yard. The request was granted
/ and It Is probable they will be put upon tho
witness stand to-day.
! Mr. James Hayes. plumber. was the next
/ witness called. and M answer 10 questions
I said. know James - prentiss lie once
said tome hero they are.' asked HIM what
/ he meant snd he told me that be- had pre-
ierred charges against Graham IL did not
say Captain or Commander m speaking Of
/ Commander Graham. tie would not for u
moment consider the advice gave him. tor /
advised him not 20 send the charges. lie
said that he would work night and day to
carry out his intentions that he would do
/ everything he could 90 down Graham. ! do
not remember whether ho SAID he would walk
/ barefoOted 90 Washington % present the
/ charges.
CAPTAIN John 4. Curtis was tie next wit
ness called. and in answer o. questions said
! l es there was a dlderene between the way
| Captain Graham conducted matters on the
| monitors and bis predecessors have had
/ opportunities % observe the differences ID
discipline and the command of others.
/ Prior 10 Commander Graham assuming COM
] lNAA""N
allowed all persons 90 visit the monitors
/ at oil hours Since Commander Graham
has been In charge certain 1ours were
set apart for visitors. The crews on
tho tugs and the men on the monitors he a
/ general conversation whilo passing. The
/ facts were known 20 me. but there being no
/ objection said nothing about IT, After Com
mander Graham took command he wrote me
u letter asking that this conversation cease.
/ issued orders 10 that effect. } IS. excursion
parties did at one time stop at the monitors.
I lt was "a sort of understood matter IN this city
/ that excursiOnists % Warwick Park could
/ stop and visit the monitors. After Commander
/ Graham took command there vas considefa-
| be stir in the city about excursion parties
rot being allowed - stop any time. There
was some newspaper discussion about the
matter. The discipline Of the men has been
much better both on shore and on board the
/ monitors. 90
The court at this point took recess until
/ 1870 clock.
When tho court recOnyened there were sew
! eral young ladies present as spectators. AZ
thev entered they were bowed ID IN welcome
! By gallant Admiral Greer.
COLONEL PURCELL oS rHz STAND.
Colonel John b. Purcell was the first wit
/ moss caIla1 have known Commander trra-