New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-19
CLOSING A NATlL COURT MARTIiL.
VERDICT DECIDED UPON ~ THE CASE OF
ASSISTANT ENGINEER DNNIOETH.

, VERDICT DECIDED UPON N THE CASE OF
ASSISTANT ENGINEER DNNTOETl.
The Naval court which has been In session Mt the
Navy Yard since Monay trying the Serlous charge OF
diso cdicncc Of or lcrs Of superior officer made
araiqt As tan. Eurnccr George ". Dinfor'h. OF
Tho cruiser Philadelphia. finished It's work Yesterday
ard when the report o. the proceedings Is competed
,,d2- Will forward IL 70 Secretary Tracy The tax
ING %, testimony was completed Thursday. and
Wien ne cour, wa convened Yesterday morning on
IN. third floor Of budding 40 : Il TO listen to
tic summing up by The accused man ana the judge
ady0c,c and then b. At In close conceive 10 review
tho proceedings and to decide upon verdict What
thi, verdict t. will not be known until II Is promul
cact b. the secretary 81 the Navy. but. In view Of
the conpr, ltion Of the court. 1t snrmlscl that
'ound the nccU ct man guilty and recommended him
io III. pen ol for six months.
When the opened the defendant sail that he
lad no moro witnesses. and his rrIuc, his counsel,
cx-l lieutenant ". II. Sayton. read his summing up.
IT Va, an exhaustive and wc prepared statement. AMI
reviewed all the circumstances OF The order from Lieu
tenant A. a. Alderman. the officer OF IN" deck. which
,i,.ant Engine. Danforth accused OF disobcy
Ing Tie substance Of Mr. Dantorhs argument
wa. after explaining the necessity Of his presence In
if, department. nnl thr impo, blll,y Of his obeying
The order without jcoplrdi1ng the important steam
tc.t In prorcs, ana the property OF the Government.
as follows:
." felt perfectly ccr'nn that III ! should leave my
siation and 20 upon deck. ordered bv Lieutenant
hclcrnan, without being relieved BY another engineer
crlccr or wthcu being excused 10y proper authority
should be liable for the con- cqucncrs. | also felt
mat the oilccr Of tn deck ha1 III" authority 10 ex
cn9c me from my post NJ duty to absolvc from
the consequences of my work, Nv mind wns per
icrily clear and free from donbt upon the subject
and | was honestly Of the opinion that. unless tho
captain executive officer permitted me to Leave
nv psi. | would be held responsible for the
qncnccs OF 50 leaving It. ! accordingly sent my
ond message to the officer 81 the dcck. by which In
tended that be- ,lOud understand that | was on
do not feel now. that !. In any proper sense. disc
bcycd or wully rrfnTcd to obey the orders OF tho
cheer Of the deck There WAS no case Of DISC
hcdcrt ct wfll spirit In the matter. My duty
eccmcd 70 ne peri city plain to remain where WAS
and 10 notify tho officer Of the deck MS TO the cir
cGmstnncfs | understand the Importance Of adj
mtirg the rule that he represents the captain, but
felt; too. that rs ia" engineer officer on duty rep
recent and ac FOR the captain In the cnglncroom.'
After rnnling the court for IL careful attention
to the points raised by him durlng the trial. he added
Il honestly say In thus prcscing my case tint
under "A feeling that treated somewhat unustly
10y r,l-On 81 the un'ccmy haste with "hich tn report
against me va, rushed through, 10y reason Of ia,
nnfncndy spirit wIch cl three officers 10 dec Inc In
permit mo q make honest explanation, and by
OF the fact that In the report to the department