The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-10

december 3. 1891. Ho said - - block
n m, 1901 or words to that effect Yes.
Sonlrnander Graham asked me If had heard
MN curse Oliver and told him. yes, sir.
heard commander Graham apologize TO Miles
onNer' lie said he was sorry for what had
VVcgSSurfeu. also heard the Commander tell
"i''es Oiiver he was disrated
'h's point question was asked by the
5uvge advocate. and the accused through
NOiohei DO. Lane Stern objected The court
was cleared, and when the court was re-
opened. the judge advocate stated that the
oolection had been sustained by the court.
continuing, tho witness said; Eeard Com
inahder Graham give tho order 10 James -.
sTentlss TO disrate Milss Oliver. Yes. know
Miles plver went before the mast ana asked
permission TO lay the matter before the Sec
Ietary of the Navy. The charges were not
forwarded because Commander Graham
made an agreement with Diver that he
would leave his present command about
January lst or 10, 1892 es. the agreement
contained O clause that Commander Graham
would be good TO the ships company here
after ! wrote the agreement.
did so because Commander Graham
said he would do anything rather
than have the papers of Oliver forwarded to
tue department. ] was asked by Commander
Graham 10 act for him in the matter with
Fife. do anything you can for me. / will
do ANYTHING reasonable 50 long as those
CHARGES are not forwarded ! consulted
Reardon. the quartermaster. about the agree
ment He was the adyOcste at that time for
Miles Oliver The words of the agreement
were: Il, James u. Graham. commander.
United States navy, commanding United
States monitors. Richmond Va. will agree
70 leave this command between lst to 10Th of
January. 1890. providing Miles Oliver coxswain
does not forward those papers 10 the depart
ment The agreement was not signed ia this
shape The dates were changed to conform
TO February 18th. The change was made to
allow Commander Graham to finish his term
here 10 this command. The agreement also
provided that Commander Graham should
treat the men with more respectful language.
/ saw Commander Graham's signature to the
agreement. He signed it in my presence
After he signed 1t 1 took it 10 the paymaster's
Office and read 1t TO Reardon. Oliver and the
paymasters yeoman Davidson. The papers
were placed in the custody of the paymaster's
yeOman. Previous to the signing Of the
papers Commander Graham sent tor me and
asked about the progress OF the Oliver mat
ter. ] advised him to hold the papers and /
would see If a compromise could not be eff
tected through my intercedence with Rear
don.
THE SUGGESTIONS.
The paper containing the suggestions re-
ferrei TO above addressed 10 Fife was handed
the witness and he said. Yes. sir, this is the
one. | received II Sunday morning. Decem-
Der 9Th ] firmly believe 1t is Commander
Graham own handwriting.
He asked me II had ever received q men,
orandum Of suggestions" continued the wit
ness
Question by the defense: Did you not write
a rough copy and then clean copy?
tlta.. ,rttr Il.
there was a rough copy written 1t was not 10
my knowledge and not by me. wrote the
agreement in the paymaster Office The pay
masters woman. Mills Oliver and Reardon
were present at the time | am Just as sure
that | did not make a rough copy OF the
agreement as ! am about all the other things
have testified about. / never went to Com
mander Graham and asked him if | could do
ANYTHING for him about the Oliver matter.
y es / was fully authorized by Commander
Graham 10 act for him IN the Oliver
matter without assistance. l remember the
date of the receipt Of the memorandum OF
suggestions. for the evening before Com
mander Graham and | went up town together
as far as the postoffce. There Captain
Graham asked the postotf.ce officials TO take
a letter from the delivery box and allow 1t 70
be opened so that he could insert the price
Of the coal in the requlstlon. Then the FOL
lowing day, Sunday morning. the 9th Comman-
der Graham tod me 10 act Tor MN again, hhu
did it. did not tell Davidson and Fuller
that they were also 10 act Tor Commander
Graham in the Oliver manner.
Can YOU state positively that this memo
randum of suggestions was not a forgery
II came from Captain Graham. That IS
all know about IT, tie LETT 1t on my desk
with "a telegram.
At this point the court was cleared so that
the judge-adyocate could lay some matter
before the court. after which the court re
opened and adjourned until this morning ut
10 o'clock.