The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-03
ON BOARD THE MONITORS
ACTION OF TnE COURT or IN0UfHf.
Investigation OF the Alleged irregularities F"
Commander Grabam's Accountf-'"0
Testimony OF Witnesses.

At the monitors yesterday the naval court
Of inquiry held its second days session inyes-
tigating the irregularities in the ship stores
accounts alleged to be made by Commander
James d.. Graham. Of the monitor fleet. The
officers present were Captains 4. j. Cook.
Bartlett j. Cromwell. George w. Sumner.
First Lieutenant Charles ii. L%aunchheimer.
Judge advocate; Lieutenant L.. W. T.. Waller.
counsel for Commander Graham. and Colonel
10 Lane Stern. associate counsel. The visit
ing officers. who are stopping at hotels in this
city. reached the wharf at which the monitor
launch lands her passengers about $50
o'clock. The view presented was a bleak one.
Snow whirled by the wintry wind was an IN
welcome visitor. and the muddy James PCS
sessed a turbulent aspect not pretty or lnyit-
ING. 4 Iulfs reporter. Just before the OH
GERS reached the wharf. approached the cox
swain and asked II he could 90 down u the
warships on the launch. "'Galnst orders. ~
stated the partially frozen sailor, and then IN
a very courteous but disheartening manner
10 the reporter he stated that he could not
carry any one 10 the monitors except py or
ders from Commander Graham Ihe oIscers
were appealed TO and arguments used, out IL
seemed they had no authority IN the premises
and with a promise from one OF them thRt the
matter WOulQ De SATISFACTORILY hfith-NN 80
to-day, the launch 5 gong was struck. her Prov
was headed eastward and the reporter,
retraced his steps through Lock street mud
and boarded an uptown car. Inc pfomi'e
WAS sacredlv kept. for in an hour or so Com
mander Graham sent 70 TIE II,iEs ONCE per
mission for one OF It's reporters 70 occupy u
seat IN the launch with the officers IN attend
ance upon the sessions OF the court. ms
the commander would have evidently done
Def re had he known the facts IN the case.
for he Is universally courteous and obllginS
to the knights OF the quill.
OPEN COUNT.
The court is an open one. and any one can
attend who reaches the monitors. but that the
commanders steam launch should be used by
the general public tor attending the sessions
is entirely out OF the question. Hence Com
mander Graham issued the orders that put a
damper on The TINES reporters ardor yes
terday.
When the court convened Yesterday
Yeonan Fife testified TO Commander era
hams excellent management OF The stores OF
the monitors, and Fife has had ample oppor-
tunity 20 Judge. for through him the stores
are served to the men and 10y him the requl-
sitions are made for any stores needed. \
yeOman IN the navy 10 an official WIN III
ieriOr rank % q cOXswalu and has the man
ageinent of the stores of that department..
Christian Larsen. master-at-arms also testl-
fed % the excellent manner IN which the
stores have been kept. and stated that Tor the
past ten years he has been employed on the
monitors. that he had seen the several
methods employed and thought Commander
Graham's superior to any used by Preceding
commanders. The accounts IN reference to
these stores were inspected by the court. bat
those kept by Commander Graham nave not
vet been reached. Those looked into were
perfectly regular and very satisfactorily ar
ranged. ,
The court will convene again to-day, and
will probably he N session two weeks.