The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-08
ACCUSED ON THE STAND.
coxnANDER GRABAM TESTIFIED.
,,..eeedines of the United States Naval Court
MartiaI-Lieutonant Waller ana
Commodore Weaver.

Commander James d. Graham occupied
49, witness stand at the naval court-martial
....ordav. The Court began its ninth session
.tas0 o'clock. After the record Of Wednes-
4sy lad been read Commander Graham was
,.,,,n and first told OF wearing the mourning
I~tbo late Admiral Porter. In his testimony
hc said
,f,er wearing the mourning for some time
,tsa a conversation with some officer of the
aim. lie said How long have We to wear
els mourning? was under tho impression
at we had to wear it for three months but
.eor looking 81 the order found il was to be
,,,rn thirty days. Then | said. We have
,,-n Il overtime and ordered il 70 be taken
colonel Meredith then asked Commander
c-,ham in reference 20 his alleged remarks
about Admiral Porter when he was aboard the
e-vectOT boat
commander Graham said. do not remem-
hsrusing such words. Dr. lumsden was on
tse boar j rarely make use of the term son
commander Graham then told how he hap
re.ei 90 20 down 20 the monitors on the in
saett0rs boat with Dir. G. ID. Langhorne. and
aided. Ii would have been difficult for any
,sned the cabin. Dr. Iumsdens relations
vih me have been strained. think he has
treated me for the past eight months IN an
nnWaTrantable manner. lie bias avoid
el me on every occasion. / have been
walking the deck on inspection duty
and he would 20 around the
turret ia order 10 avoid me. have passed
lr Iumsden day after day and he only gave
ne the regulation salute lie once asked me
.l nave a special boat leave the monitors at ]
o'clock. when be had only entered on the
discharge Of his duties at II o'clock. / refused
o 10 so.
Was MIR. Ianghorne in the cabin during the
tip on the inspector 3 launch
10 the best of my recollection he was.
FARCE.
Did you say that wearing of mourning by
Yea for Admiral Porter was "A farcef
have no recollection of using such Ian
ruAee. What ] said was that rules OF the
military aud naval service which would make
s. oficer wear an emblem OF grief Tor one he
did not like was absurd
What about the interlineatiOn on the log
book,
was plancing over the iog-book and
iced that those words or words 70 that
eject. had not been put in. ] told Prentiss
~ insert the words but he failed TO DO SO.
ana not thinking / took my pencil and made
tie luterlineatOns. / did not make the
change for the purpose of deception. IL
would have been absurd for me TO have made
tie change for that purpose, for well knew
that the smooth log WAS IN Washington.
made iuterineatons previous 10 that time
about 0the, matters
Did YOU receive q letter from the Secretary
Of the Navy The letter referred 10 the
ALLEGED cursing Of Admiral Porter by Com
mauder Graham
remember the receipt of the letter from the
Secretary OF the NAVY. 1t contained an anony-
nous letter purpurung 10 have been written
bv some member of the crew. IL was the
same letter that the Judge Advocate read a
few days ago.
Did you al the time when you made such
Endorsement believe that you were writing
what was false
No. did not believe il to be false then,
nor DO believe il false now. | have no re-
collection of using any similar words or oaths
about tho late Admiral Porter.
Did You address Fife with curses when he
came % the carpenter-shOp on one occasion
did no. use the words as quoted from the
specifications. / remember reprimanding
life There had been a great deal Of trouble
shout the abuse of the tools Of the carpenter
shop. ] gave orders that no one should 90
into the shop except the carpenters, except
when 1 sent them. j found that the canvas
over the turrets was rotten and made requl-
sition for lumber to build roofs for the
turrets At the time referred 70 l was
talking 20 Mr.. Fuller / saw Fife 60 into
the carpenter-shop / said TO him. What
do YOU want thereY He told me, and re-
Piled that If he wanted wood he should 60 to
lie mast and get It through the proper chan
pels + said: You are continually disobeyng
nv orders. IL You do not stop it ! will put
Won IN shore. meaning that | would apply for
lis discharge | did not curse tlfe on tha'
occasion. neither did / use the words with
irrominv.n ! never make use Of such words
Flies narrative of the occurrence gwen n
tbs court is not correct. / did not use the
language he said / used
DID you send for Oliver when he returned
with the launch.
non the return of the cutter the littl,
boat was ahead and / concluded that olive
Lad disobeyed my orders. / sent for hin
when he returned and reprimanded him a.
tie mast wish 10 say that ! did not SAY
Won Iut -- - it, you have dis
obeved my orders / was very angry anC
have u0 doubt that did swear at him. ! was
frgrv because i thought the man had showr
arant OF consideration for his shipmates by
burning coal when bis shipmates and mess
mates were suffering with the cold.
AS TO FFr.
I'D YOU see Fife after the carpenter shoI
incident,
He came 70 my Office and said: / wish to
give YOU copy Of report | intend sending
g. the Secretary of the Navy. / asked HIN
what abusive language had / used, and he
said You wounded my feelings at the car
pslter shop by saying that you would put me
on the beach with ignomlny. 1 then SAID: III
what way Lave ] hurt your feelings: ana he
ssd. Mr. Fuller viii think that you meant To
Iut me on the beach with ignominy. l then
called Mr.. Fuller and made "a proper explana-
tnn of my words 10 him.'
I0r what purpose did you make the explain
Gu0l,
simply as an act Of courtesy 10 the man,
t..ause be sand / have grieved his feelings.
au emphaticallv sure that Fife threw the
original letter or charges IN my cabin ire.
DID lot use the expressions which flie has
testified that did use. j have gwen 10 the
best " my knowledge the conversation as il
occurred.
Tile court at this point adjourned for lunch
When tie court TecOnyened NJ l;5O o'ciocH
C.0ae. stern announced that Commodore
Weaver and Lieutenant Waller had arrived IL
te cty from the Norfolk navy-yard. ah1
asked permission 20 suspend the examination
Of a. mmander Graham and hear their teStl
l0ly. Tie request was granted.
coMMoDORE WEAVER.
Commodore Weaver was then put on the
stand aud stated that when he took commane
commander McCurley was IN charge OK we
monitors. Commander Graham succeedeu y
Tie position about two months later.
Nl4t have you had 10 do with the moni
To-.
Recently during the prospect OF war VIII
l-l the WyandOtte was sent down 10 Nor
all. fa1 have DnsStl