Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-24
GRAHAM TO BE TRIED.
THE couRT-MARTiAL TO CONVENE
ON THE MONITORS NEXT MONDAY.
Detail OF the Tribunal and the Charges
Commander Piemsn Arrives to Take
Charge OF the Fleet.

Commander James d. Graham. OF the
United States monitors anchored few
miles below this city, is to be tried by
general court-martial.
This intelligence came from Washington
in telegram received by the DISPATCH last
night.
The court was ordered yesterday by the
Secretary of the Navy TO convene at Rich
mond next Monday, and this is the detail (:
Commodcres-James A. Greer, United
States navy (president). and Joseph y.
Skerritt, United States navy; Captains
Montgomery Sicard, Edmund o. Matthews.
Charles s. Norton, Francis Nj. Bunce, AL
fred Il. Mahan, Theodore +. Kane. John
w. Phillip, John +. McGlensey, and Ben
jamin Il. Day members. and First Lleuten-
ant Charles II. Lauchheimer. United States
marine corps. judge-advocate.
THE LIST or CHARGES.
The action of the Navy Department is
based upon the record of the court OF in
quiry. which met here the first day OF
March and spent nearly three weeks inyes-
tisating the charges that had been prefer
red against the commanding .ofticer
by ex-Ship's-Writer Prentiss. This
court concluded its labors here last
Friday, and while the utmost secrecy
was maintained with reference to
the recommendations made, the pre-
yailing impression among those ae-
quainted with the proceedings OF the body
was that further action would be ADVISED.
The action of yesterday confirms this be.
lief. The evidence taken by, the court OF
inquiry was quite fully published IN the
Richmond papers and there are very few
phases of the case with which the readers
of the DISPATCH are not acquainted.
The telegram from Washington gives the
following as the list of charges on which
the officer is to be tried:
Charge /. Violation of the twentieth
clause OF the eighth article OF the Articles
for the Government of the Navy.
Charge 2. Scandalous conduct. tending
to the destruction of good morals.
Charge 3. Falsehood.
Charge 4. Conduct unbecoming an off,
Ger of the navy.
Charge s. Conduct 10 the prejudice of
good order and discipline.
The material comprising the court is OF
very high rank, every member except the
Judge advocate being a senior OF Captain
Graham.
THE NEW COMMANDER HERE.
Commander G.. w. Plgman. who has for
some time been on waiting orders at An
Dapolis, received telegraphic instructions
Yesterday morning to come to Richmond
at once to relieve Commander Graham.
This officer arrived on last nights train
and is registered at Murphy's Hotel. He
will 20 down to the monitors this morn
ing and take charge at once, provided
Commander Graham has received his de-
tachment orders.
The new commander was seen by DIS
PATCH reporter while at supper last eve
ming. He is about 40 years of age. Of me-
dium statue, rather handsome, with black
hair, eyes. and whiskers, and as ehable and
pleasant gentleman as one could wish TO
meet. He is native of Indiana,
and has already served thirty-one
years in the navy. having entered
1t IN 1861. Commander Pigman, in
speaking with the news-gatherer, ex:
pressed his pleasure at having been located
here, although he had twice declined to
take command of the monitors. lie said.
however, that he had afterward decided
that he should like TO come here and asked
that he be sent to Richmond when the
present Commander should have been pro-
NOTED.
COMMANDED THE ENTERPRISE.
Commander Pigmans last duty was as
commander of the Enterprise while she
was attached to the North Atlantic squad
ron. This ship has since been turned over
TO the Naval Academy.
In reply TO q question by the scribe, Com
mander Pigman stated that he had wife
and four children. and that he would pro-
badly bring them TO Richmond TO live.
They at present reside IN Annapolis. He
said he was acquainted with quite num-
Der of Virginians. and though be had never
lived South he felt quite sure that he
would like the people and customs of the
Old Dominion.
The new officer knows Commander Gra-
ham and Paymaster Lowell quite well,
though he has never met any of the other
officers OF the ships.
The Commander called at the West
moreland Club last night and asked for a
few friends. but as none of them were
there he returned to his hotel.
Commander Graham and his wife are
still living on board the monitors and will
probably remain there until after the in
vestigation, provided the court Is to be
held on the ships.