The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-17
ON THE MONITOR AJAX.
COMMANDER GRAHAM QUITE sICK
And Could Not Appear Before the Court The
Defense Have Rested Their Case.
Argument to Begin.

Commander James ID. Graham was too in.
disposed yesterday morning to appear before
the naval court of inquiry. which has met
aboard the monitor Ajax for the past three
weeks Lieutenant l.. w. r. Waller con.
veyed the intelligence TO the court. and DIR.
Lumsden. the ships surgeon. made state
ment to the same effect. He said the Com.
mander was suffering from a nervous attack,
which is doubtless due to the strain 70 which
he has been subjected during the sessions OF
the court
A certificate in reference TO the sickness Of
Commander Graham was asked of the sur
geon and appended 70 the record. Counsel
for the accused asked permission 10 append
certain letters as evidence % the record. The
permission was granted. 4 consultation was
then held, and the judge advocate agreed II
the counsel would rest their defense, hv would
waive the right; Of cross-examiniDg the wit
ness. The Court then asked if it was possible
for them 70 have short session Of the court
IN the commanders cabin. SO rs 10 allow him
the chance TO verify his testimony of Tues
day. This was done, and the testimony with
two unimpOrtant changes was approved. The
court shortly afterwards returned to the tur-
ret-rOom, and counsel for accused stated that
they had no more witnesses to put on" and
rested thor defense. The court soon after ad-
Journed until to-day.
ARGUMENT TO BEGIN.
This morning The defense will present their
argument. IL is written before presentation.
read aloud 10 the court and appended 10 and
becomes part of the record. The judge ad-
yocate replies 10 the Defense observing the
same procedure. and presents his side Of the
case. The court is then closed. the three
q. 4 - sd, hgrr M
present, and the decision OF the court IS ar
rived at. This decision evolves into recon-
mendatiOns TO the department as 20 whether
or not Il court-martal shall be ordered. The
recommendations are State secrets until an
order from the department about them IS IS
sued II that is ever done.
From the questions asked by the Judge ad-
vocate based on the specifications and allega-
tions furnished HIM by the Navy Department
and from the evidence given by eighteen VII
nesses there were evidently abOutten charges
preferred against Commander Graham by
Prentiss. The charges in reference TO the
discrepancies OF stores brought out the facts
that these discrepancies existed before Com
mander Graham assumed command and that
the stores used for private use were anchors.
chairs and lines given OF loaned 70 the tugs
that brought the monitors up from CITY
Point when Commander McCnrley was IN
command.
The playhouse charge has proved to be a
perfect baby charge. Competent witnesses
was used, and only the private time OF the
carpenters mates was consumed while the
house was being constructed.
The charge that q bureau was used for
other than Government purposes by Pay
master Lowell has been dIspr0yed. The bu-
reau was shown by Commander Graham and
other. 10 have been used for the Government
10 11lru fa4Vf N "a !. fflr
brought up town in the afternoon and kept
overnight so as 10 be ready 10 transact Dank-
ing business in the morning were Kept III the
bureau. The article OF furniture has since
been returned 10 the ships.
THE REFRIGERATION.
The charge that only s12.75 was paid for the
refrigerator purchased by Commander era
hmm of T.. b. Taylor Co. has been proven
false. Fourteen dollars was paid said the
bookkeeper, and no rebate Whatever was
allowed
The charge that the bedstead bought by
Ford was Government property has proven 10
be folding bed. the private property OF Mrs.
Graham.
The charge that special privileges were
allowed ex-EQuipment NeOman Palmer has
not been sustained. II Is true that Palmer
lett the ships on Friday evening and re-
turned Monday morning. but IN TINS
words each man. If standing we'll as regards
conduct. ETC.. is allowed TO 90 ashore every
other night and return the following morn
ing. Instead of doing this Palmer would
stay aboard the ships until Friday and then
leave until Monday.
Commander Graham Is also charged with
borrowing money from Palmer. Prentiss and
Fife testify he did So but the commander says
that he purchased supplies for his private use
through and from Palmer. and the accounts
were kept on memorandum. Palmer him.
self says that the charge is a malicious lie.
Commander Graham confessed 10 the charge
that he used Objectionable language about the
late Admiral Porter. and also that he signed
an agreement with Oliver, a coxewaln.
The memorandum OF suggestions addressed
to Fife telling him 10 draw Cp petition and
forward it 10 Hon. George -. Wise. asking
that the charges against Commander Graham
be withdrawn, is said to have been written by
Commander Graham. Prentiss and tlie tes-
tilted 10 that effect. Other witnesses, how
ever. did not recognize the writing us that Oh
Commander Graham's.
Several witnesses testified that since Com
mander Graham took command the stores
and other property of the Government have
been kept in most excellent manner and
that due economy has been shown IN the IS
suing of stores. Other testified TO the charac-
ter of Prentiss and Fife Their statements
have been reproduced in The TBIs.
The trips on the launch were not pleasant
Yesterday The snow. with its accompany
ing coldness vas source OF consderab ie
discontinue Among the passengers on the
down trip were Paymaster Washington, or
the department at Washington, and MAJ or
w. KIRK Mathews. OF tins city.