The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-27

An Explanation OF the Charges Pubi''ne'
lestergav.

The telegraphic dispatch from Washington
pabhsbed in HE TINES yesterday, stating
that court OF inquiry bad been appointed 80
meet March lst on board OF one Oh W
monitors in the James river near hlchiuOIi1,
TO investigate allegations against toihlAHN,
James -. Graham. in command or luo nv
tors ia susceptible of explanation tu'e 10
il II all the gravity that tar PeFUSA' "a 80
dispatch might convey. Indeed, IL . a" 10
ton in which any officer OF the nafy mt
bo piecei. Charges were mhle -
him rs the officer in command OF the l.ou'I
tors. OF rregu artles IN keeping eecou",S ~
deeciencies IN naval stores, and the N"'"'
Department could not DO otherwise INN ~
ye.tigate rs - their truth or ia.slly' ""C ~
shadow OF blame should rest on 80
mander Graham until the ihNes1 .sN.'o-'
i made. II there : sufficient Rloung a. =
animation a c0urt-martlal Will be ofdeIeu 4oi
trial OF tle charges or Commander GI"nam
will be exonerated without trial Some Oh lis
subOrdiuate officers and men VINO were
IN the city yesterday SPEAK III tuo
highest terms OF respect tor their cOniiauucl.
ard attribute the charges 10 spite on the PAU
81 men VINO we're dis har.ed by COMMANDER
Graham for lneffcency. An ex-navM oiucer
i'm this city who Is familiar win
This matter saws any cOmmauder Is
likely 70 have such charges preferred against
him and that the Irregularities referred 10
probab.y extended beyond the beginning ol
Commander Graham term. lie has the rep
utat!on 4 being strict diclplinarian and very
exact in all hi- official transactions, and az
those who know him best are satisfied that he
Will come out with clean hands.
Commander Graham has made 80 d many
friends in Richmond, and his standing ID WIS
community for honor and Integrity IS beyond
criticism.
Another weil-knOwn officer in this city, now
-. 81 al vr-nn IL
versaut with this and cases OF similar char-
acter. in conversation with iiHls reporter
Yesterday said. Tho article which appeared
In the State under the heading charges
against Commander Graham. was written uy
one James D. PTentiss. ships NFtsI' WHO
was discharged by Commander Graham be-
cause Of his ncompetelcy, lot beng able 10
smell the most common word correctly. The
duties OF a ships writer are similar - those
once performed by Captain Clark. The pay IS
so per mouth. including h.s ratl0ns, and
IL IS considered sufficiently high %
command the services Of a young
man who can at least read. write and spell
correctly. Neither OK these accomplish
meuts Prentiss possesses. As for the
specifications. this man presumes TO
enumerate. and even state. what they
will be. and does It IA the language
of a one who is utterly and thoroughly an ig-
norant man who knows nothing o. naval or
military usages. The officers who compose
the court DO not know what the specifications
will be. precept viii be furnished the
court by the Judge advocate OF the navy and
no one outside of his Office can possibly
know what the specifications Will 10
Until the precept Is received by tho court
This man through spite has waged war
against Commander Graham Tor no other
cause than that Commander Graham DID not
care 90 leave 20 hIs successor a man SO utterly
and thoroughly incompetent. Tho charges
arc irregularities 10 keeping accounts and
deficiencies IN stores These Deficiencies
were discussed by Commander Graham and
reported 10 the Nevy Department by MN.
which called forth board investigation last
fall and occurred before Commander Graham
took command OF the monitors. This court
is ordered 10 inquire when these Deficiencies
occurred and who j. the officer responsible
Knowing as much as / do about the affair. /
am sure that Commander Graham will not be
found 20 be the culpable man. / will safely
saw that Commander Graham is in posses
sion OF q letter from THIS man Prontiss
that would send him 90 the state
prison If Commander Graham had chosen 70
prosecute him. This latter information 10 OBJ
tanned from very prominent lawyer IN the
city. but he advised Captain Graham 20 re-
serve tho letter and not prosecute tue Fellow.
Commander Graham'5 tern has been eX-
tended one month from February lyth' by
which timo the investigation Will be maze
and q new appointment probably be received
Commander Graham duties have recently
kept him closely on the monitors. and he has
not been IN tho city for several days but no
does not lack for friends 20 tight ms battles
Nr. Prentiss resides AZ the extreme south
end of Pine street and was rec0mmendeu I'd
Commander Graham by Phil. hearney fost'