The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-29
NAVAL COURT-MARTIAL'
coxMASDERJ. ID. GRAHAM on Trial.
The Proceedings Formally Opened Dy '"'
Judge-Advocate--O ficers OF the So"f"
The Work Before the Body To-day.

The trial of Commander James d. Granam
By United States naval court-martiai oes""
yesterday at noon in tho circuit cour' run,
at the custom-house. This court was oruereu
by the Secretary Of the Navy on the esiuen'0
recently adduced by the court Oh in'l'"S
held on board the monitor Ajax. Inc ne"i-
bers Of the court with reference to the Sen'o'-
ity Of rank are as follows Commodore ~ ~
Greer, Commodore J. s. Skerrett' Captain t.
o. Mathews Captain Montgomery sicard' zap
tain G. S. Norton, Captain +. Nj. Bunce'
Captain A. IT. Mahan. Captain Theodore f.
Kane. Captain j. w. Philip, Captain D. 1.
McGlensey. Captain B. +. Day, Lieutenant
G. H. Iauchheimer. Judge advocate.
The proceedings were opened yesterday ny
the iudoe advocate. who read aloud the pre-
cepts upon which the trial was DaSeuif ~
was then sworn in by the president OF 'iIo
court Commodore Greer ana III euin ,,',
istered the oath 10 the officers COMPOSING 'no
court. 1t WAS an impressive sight 10 Witness
the oath being taken by the officers Inc
accused and his counsel arose IN deferehce
while II was being done. A letter authorizing
tho employment of "A stenographer was u, tneu
read By the Judge advocate. and Nh. W: -.
Woods who offclated in that capacity al inc
court of inquiry. was duly sworn.
A communication was read which auth0rI
lied the court 20 waive two sections OF the
regulations. which by 50 doing allows the &c
cused 20 have counsel. and tor HIM TO ASK
questions OF witnesses without nrst reducing
them 10 writing. Commander Graham stated
lie would avail himself Of the privileges al
lowed him by the Secretary of the Navy
The Judge advocste.also inquired OF nm II ne
had received q copy OF the charges ana specl-
fications and list of witnesses. He repleoln
the affirmative.
THE SPECIFICATIONS.
At this point the court was cleared, and the
charges and specifications were read and con-
sidered.
When the court was opened the witnesses
were requested 20 retire. after which au IN
formal recess was taken 20 await the arrival
of witnesses that they might lie warned not
to talk about the case. The court then au-
iourned until $3.50 this morning.
Commander Graham is represented by
Captain James Parker. Colonel 10 Lane Stern
and Colonel &. y. Meredith. Captain Parker
commanded the Maumee. the first United
States vessel that came through the river OBJ
structions after the war He resigned from
the navy in 1866, and had he remained IN the
service would now be senior rear admiral.
He is now practiclng law IN New York.
Commander Graham Will present his plead
incs through counse. this morning. The
in session until 1890 O'clock After recess OF
half an hour the court will sit until such time
IN the afternoon a. the court may determine
The president OF the court Commodore
Greer, upon the retirement Of Rear Admiral
l.. A. kimberly United States navy. OF "a.
moan fame. Will be promoted u the grade OF
rear admiral. He was born IN Cincinnati. o..
February .. 1888. entered the navy as mid
shipman January 10, 1913; became lieutenant
September 10. 1853. and Lieutenant COM
mander July l6, 1sG2. He commanded the
iron-clad Benton and a division of Admiral
Porters squadron at the passage Of the Nlcks-
burg batteries on April IS. 1863 and IN the sue
ceeding engagements on the Mississippi until
the fall of that city He also accompanied
the Red river expedition. lie WAS made COM
mander July %. 1866. and in 1873 commanded
the "Tigress" in the "Polaris' expedition.
He was promoted to the grade If captain on
April 26 1876. and in 1856 served as president
of the examining board. Ia the same year he
was made commodore.
All OF tho officers OF the court are fine
looking men. with intellectual faces
and make a court that is indeed creditable to
the naval service Lieutenant Lauchhemer,
the Judge advocate. acted IN tie same
capacity at the court of inquiry.
Quite d number OF spectators witnessed the
opening of the court yesterday and were
much impressed thereat.