Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-11
CURSED ADMIRAL PORTER.
Corroborative Evidence TO That Eject
Against Com andsr Graham.


Against Commander Graham.
Tho Graham court Of inquiry met at the
usual time and place yesterday, and the
cross-examination Of Equipment Yeomar
George w. Fife was resumed. He said he
spoke 20 no one OF having received the
anonymous letter. nor did he show 1t "a
| any one. He had no special reasons fol
retaining II. He only took the paper out
OF his box within the past week.
Does not the anonymous letter look
like your writing?" asked the accused.
. IL cannot, sirln replied the witness.
"WhyY"
Because 10 is not my writing"
In reply TO question by the counsel for
the accused the witness said that he did
not put one copy of the charges preferred
by him against the Captain in his Com
mander Graham's) stove and burn them.
He told what he did with the three copies
OF the paper. Fife testified that he cat
ried the alleged agreement 10 the Com
mander for him 10 sign. He had never ex-
pressed animoslty toward the Captain ex-
cept in regard to the abusive language
used by the latter toward the crew. After
a long series of questions pertaining. &c
the papers under consideration tlfe's tes-
! timOny was read and approved.
PAssED-sURGHoE LUasDES.
Passed-Surgeon Lumsden was tho next
witness TO testify. He said: II have been
on duty on these monitors since January
II. 1891, heard Commander Graham on
the morning OF February IL. 1891, say Ad
miral David l.. Porter was ---.-- -
and that be hoped he would 60 to -,
Some time afterward the Commander said
something 10 me about putting on the
badge of mourning. citizen of Rich
mond was present when he used the Ian
guage ! have just referred TO. / do not
think that the badge OF mourning was put
on immediately after the reading of the
general orders from the Navy Department
at general muster on board the monitors
IL was finally put on because Commander
Graham ordered II. We all d0nned the
badge at the same tine. He mentioned to
me that ho had received an ANONYMOUS
letter forwarded through the Navy De-
| psrtment when he ordered me TO put on
the symbol.
THE OLIVER MATTER.
Il did not see the parties on the occa.
sion of the Mllls-Olliver trouble, though
| heard on the hurricane deck of the
CStskill tho words -- fool. / donot know
II Commander Graham apologized TO
oliver. The conversation which took
place between Commander Graham aud
Others was on private launch and did
not consider It official"
In speaking of the alleged privileges
allowed ex-Equlpment-Ye Yeoman Palmer,
| DR.. Lumsden coirOborsted other evidence.
! but said that he knew of no other liberty
| that the ex-yeOman was accorded.
Machinist Walsh testified that Com
| mander Graham cursed Admiral Porter IN
speaking about the badge of mourning to
| be worn for him. lie stated that he had
| heard Captain Graham use abusive Ian
guage to one of the men.
Mate III. G. Fuller was then sworn He
| stated that he heard Captain Graham use
| threatening aud abusive language 70
| Eauipment-Yeoman File on the occasion
referred to ia the latter's testimony. The
next morning, the witness stated, Fife
came to him with report to be forwarded
| TO the Captain. Fife went in TO the
| Captains Office and the mate was called IL
| later aud an apology made 10 the yeomar
| in Mr.. Fullers presence. lie testlhe6
| that the writing IN the memorandum o.
suggestions TO YeOman Fife was very muci
| like Commander Graham's.
| The witness, in the course OF his exami
| nation, cited one or two other instances
| besides those referred 20 in which Com
mauder Graham had used profane Ian
guace 70 meub bers of the crew. He said
| that the Captain had always taken the best
| of care of the ships stores and looked al
| ter the governments best interests at all
times. Fuller stated that he understood
that oliver had disobeyed orders on the
day that be was reprlmanded.