The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-05
A SESSION ON THE AJAX.
yxyAB COURT HEARD TESTIMONY.
A Former Seaman Put Upon tho Witness
Stand Objections Were Raised by the
Counsel-story ofthe Doil-Baby House.

Tho Tinted States Naval Court Of Inquiry
;rvestigating certain allegations against Com
,,a,dsr James d. Graham made by James ID.
Prentiss. formerly ships clerk. met on board
the monitor Ajax yesterday morning ut 10
O'Clock. Those present were: Captains OooA.
cromwau Sumner. Commander Graham.
fientanant Lauchheimer. judge advocate;
Iieuteuant Waller. counsel tor the com
,rondar. Colonel 10. Lane Stern. associate
counsel Mr.. w. j. Woods. stenographef' anu
the newspaper reporters. The hrst ploceeu-
ing was the reading OF the record OF mus
day by the Judge Advocate. which WAS 'n'H
approyed by the court The courtroom WAS
then cleared Of Commander Grahah h'S
counsel. the stenographer and reporters end
a question bearing on the case was
argued. In about thirty minutes mo couls
was again thrown open and the hIsV "iIno''
called. ., -;
William L. Davis. Portsmouth. VA. tesu;
fed as follows: IN May. 1881; was appointeu
bv the pavmaster OF the Trenton engineer
woman. and was soon after transferred %
the Lancaster / was on duty aboard these
monitors as ruachinist from November 1871
IN Auoust 1891. Commander Graham was IN
command Yes. Il playhouse was DllD
about December. 1870, but DO not XIV ~
whose orders. The carpenter mates mates yul Is
the house during w0rMny hours. 10 Ine 80
of my knowledge Government hh1el'"i " 10 ~
used in the construction of the mouse. IL
was about two feet wide and about three lees
high The commander presenter IL 10 nl3
littie daughter on Christmas day. o.;
know a bureau was sent 70 faylnast5l l,o'eN
private quarters III Richmond. az Hot
know by whose orders, nor DO hho"
whether IL has been returned. Is, blafA-
smith Ford bought a bedstead from Oohinau-
der Graham / do not remember the style ~
the bedstead Yes. retrlgeratl II was Dou-uI
for Commander Grahams caoin IN 1uue'
1891. from Taylor a Co.. and late saw le'-
ter from Palmer. who was not yeOman then.
Lieutenant Waller at this point oo ec1ed 20
the witness stating the contents OK Palmer
letter. such testimony being hearsay evidence
and inadmisslb.e ,..:-
The Court refused o. sustain the OBJECTION
and the accused had recorded his objection 10
the ruling of the Court.
THE REFRIGERATOR.
Continuing. the witness said: Inc letter
stated in reference 20 the refrigerator. tuAl 10
was taken uD' on the books as having COST
Sl4 when lt cost elZl5. j oOuo1e" In@1
statement and asked fie.
Colonel Stern. OBJECT 10 the "lIHesS 9'"'-
ing what lie said.
After some little discussion between the
irdre advocate and tie counsel the witness
continued. ! saw a memorandum the hahus
of Fife that the refrigerator cost ga ana
] saw "A bill from the trm which showed Ino
figures o. be "A and the voucher sad ga.
What reason have YOU to. asserting tha'
SI27j was paid for the refrigerator; .,,-~
II is luuOsslole for ue 10 know that SlZ-io
was paid for the refrigerator on 10 lake III
oath % that effect. ,....
ten br Palmer said that Commander GrAnam
borrowed money of Pa er, and made use 81
him in tunt way as tar a. possible.
Lieutenant Waller objected 20 the testi-
monv. The court did not sustain the ooJec-
ton. and tue objection was uoted ia tAe ie-
Continuing the witness said I saw the let
fer and know 10 to have been signed Oy t1-
Woman Palmer. I WIS here Wheh tAo IN
ventorv of conan Fire was taken. and AS Tar
AS | know 10 was an accurate inventory. dd
not sec ex-l oeman Palmer make an hFeh-
tory. When Palmer WAS ashore MS KEYS WeiS
kent bv the master-at-arms. l never had oc-
cesion 10 ret any stores. / DO not know OF
any IRREGULARITIES in the receipts OF the lssu-
inf, of stores by Ycoman Palmer DO not
knoy az any Government property used TOT
private purposes except what K have already
stated Commander Graham wore the D4uSo
of mourning tor the iate Admiral Datiu D.
Porter between the 9TH aud lOtn OF a pm aLu
took IL of between the 18TH ana ZOtA ol IHe
same month.
"vrRY" GOOD YEoMAN
heard Commander Graham say once that
Yeomau Palmer was d-n good yeomAh' hu!
fhat WIS the reason he allowed him special
nri,rleges. [ am not as certain about inc
bulldiur Of the playhouse IN government
bours and of Government material as am
abogt the other matters about which nave