The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-01
WOMAN FIFE TESTIFIED,
sUr cor RIGnr BADLY MIXED UP.
The Most Interesting Session OF the United
States Court-Martsai Trying Commander
Graham--The Proceedings.

The most interesting session OF tho naval
c,art-martal trying Commander James ID.
Graham was held yesterday fiom $3.50 until
o'clock Equipment leoman Fife occupied the
witness stand mos, Of the dav and denied many
~ the charges that were made against him a.
che court Of inquiry lie became very dramatic
,tnmos and interested no little the many spec
,siors Of the court,
The court met promptly at $50 o'clock. presi-
Gent James ID. Greer presiding. All Of the OIL
GERS composing the court were present. as were
also Lieutenant c. II. auchheimor Judge adj
So.atc: Lieutenant Samuel G.. Lemly. associate
udgc advocate; captain James Parker. Colo
nIC v Meredith. olonel 10 Lane Stern. coun-
Sc, for the accused; and Commander James ID.
N Was 1880 o'clock before the record had been
read and approved
lieutenant Lauchheimer asked permission OF
tha court 90 append 10 the record a letter from
commander George W. Pigman, commandant
OF he monitors IN reference 10 the subponaing
o. Witnesses.
George $. Davidson. pay yeomnn was re-
called al witness Tor tho prosecution. and in
answer 20 lengthy question be- Lieutenant
ItachhcimCr, said. There was no change made
ia ile cercomcnt after File handed 10 20
Acaraon went with him 90 Captain era
lsms Office. There was no change made
lrrng that time.
Ils was the only question asked by the
rrosccution. The defense and the Court had
no questions 20 ask. no testimony was read
over 20 the witness and he was allowed to with
syan,
FIFE Of THE STAND.
George ". Fife. equipment yeoman was next
csled as witness. and among other testimony
stated a. follows; was on board the monitors
december 3. 1891, snd remember that Oliver was
seat up 10 Richmond IN the launch Tor tie
uci man. tie came back. however, with the
I.oNlsions. Commander Graham when OlYer
allved called him a - fool. - 1achass'
fnls -- poop. Yes Commander Graham
came 10 me later AMI asked me II had heard
Dim curse Oliver The next episode IN me
matter Was the disraflng of Oliver, and hcardOn
was put in as cONswain Of the launch: linen
commander Graham, after Oliver had aShea
PERMISSION 10 forward charges 70 inc uoPals,,
ment. apOloglzed 20 Ohver. les, OhNer was put
lack as the cOXswaln Of the launch. lew
hours later Oliver stated he wanted 10 forward
charges 10 the Navy Department.
Lieutenant Iauchncimer: state al you know
about this agreement
leoman Fife: / was sitting in the ward-room
when the report 20 be forwarded was being
written IN the paymasters ONCE. l agreed 10
.0 but wanted nothing % do with the report
Ieardon was at the desk when reached the G.;
and they read over the report as Tar as they had
gotten. There were two or three corrections
needed 10 make the report grammatical. They
seemed 10 be well pleased with the result
Lieutenant Lauchheimer: Was tins report
forwarded 90 tie department?
Yeoman Fife: The next day was weighing
coal az Hawes' and Commander Graham came
there We left the yard and IN conversation
Captain Graham said: Fife. am afraid | will
have To leave YOU shortly Oliver persists in
forwarding those charges against me- | SAID
Captain wait till we get back on board ana
viii use all my influence to keep Oliver from
forwarding those charges
The witness then told OF how Commander
Graham had come TO the JostOhce with HIM
and how they had arranged about letter
which was mailed 10 the Norfolk. nayy-yard IN
Continuing. Fife said: The next morning /
saw Oliver about the matter, but he was stern
and rigid and persisted III his determination 10
send the letter.
TALKING WITH THE COMMANDER.
The witness then gave corroborative details
IN reference 10 the conversations helo between
himself an Commander Graham.
Continuing. he said; The sunday following
the Oliver matter Commander Graham lett on
my desk in the ship writer's Office q telegram
from the proprietor OF the Congressl0nal Hotel,
which stated that Congressman Campbell. of
New York. was in Washington. and letter
which Commander Graham wrote me giving
me suggestions about drawing up petition.
The witness then gave testimony III refer
ence 10 the drawing up Of the agreement,
stating that Commander Graham asked tlie 10
act Tor him. / sat al my desk and wrote OH the
agreement. which agreed that Commander era
ham would use ali possible means 10 get de-
tached from the monitors during FEBRUARY
1872 and that he would not treat OnYer or tho
crew except III the manner accorded MN ~
rhe rules and regulations OF the navy. j he
agreement was changed as fegaruS oates
for II Was agreed that the commander shouu
leave the monitors on February 49, lo'%' thc. uaS
on which his term OF service on the monitors
evnired The agreement was signed by Com
mander Graham. saw ms signature atIacheu
t0 the paper. / wrote the agreement, L am
positive that the signature | saw subscribed 10
the agreement was the signature OF Connan-
der James ID. Graham. After 1 had written the
agreement ! handed the paper 10 heardoh ana
Davidson. They took 10 10 Commander Ora
hams Office for his Derusal and signature. was
lr0ught back put IN an envelope, ana gwen 10
Davidson for safe keeping. there were no
copies made. Reardon made out the report Tor
Oliver on saturday evening, the 9th; The
agreement was written on SUNDAY; the IN
IAe witness was then handed the lnemorah-
dunn OF suggestions" and stated that 1t was the
payer received by HIM from Commander Ora
1eoman Fife then told how Commander era
ham mad cursed him when he went 10 the car
penter's snop on September 10, 1891, 70 get some
stlps so as 10 make the bedsteSu h'sDeI' Oh
which was being arranged the Iedgers'
THE CARPENTERS SHOP.
when reached tho shop said Fife, Com
mander Graham said. Why in the - don't
Won keep away from that shop ~ - You II
Won don behave yourself II put you on the
bench in ignOminy.' Later ] saw Commander
Graham and he said: Fife, didn't mean any
thing hy curslng you. / am very sorry. mat
ulghf / wrote out in trlplcate form charges
which had asked permission TO SEND 10 inc
d-partment and the next morning 1 went to
Commander Grahams Office. and the captain
said. Fife. my God Almighty. TINS Will rum me.
lou must not send those charges.
Continuing. ilfe said: Commander Graham
legged me not 10 send the charges. saying hat
n -6ev should 20 forward II would ruin him
forever. lie told me / must think Of his wife
AID children. and begged me not TO send the
PAPER / told Commander Graham That
would not send the charges and he SAID; Will
eve you ten thousand pardons lie wanted
fo beg my pardon, but would not receive H.
and he later aDolOgized 10 me through Dir
Irller There was no further trouble until the
Diver matter. .-.,
of The latter which he was TO forward TO the
Secretary of the Navy in reference 10 the treat
1oent he had received. The letter read
e.ogd bv the Judge Advocate.
Lieutenant Iquchhelmer stated 10 the court
that for the present at lea0t he was through
with the witness, but that lie reserved the right
10 recall HIM at any time
Yroman Fife was then cross-examined by
Colonel Stern. . ,,.,
IoVou NOW what orders we're given to Mills
Oliver on December 8d? asked Colonel Stern.
NO. DO not, said Fife.
the sten0crapher was then requested to read
over 10 the witness the answer 10 question IN
The direct testimony. which is as follows: Ol-
ysr received orders TO 90 10 Richmond ana
bring down the mail man 800, ,I.
Doyou know where Oliver took the launch!
do not. Sir &c. -,
Renaat mo language you say Commander
Graham nsed when he cursed Oll'er.
lie said Oliver, YOU are - --- iool, ---
iaekass. Won have disobeyed my orders.
Have Won answered the question as fully as