The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-23
TO BE CoURT-MARTrALED.
Receipt OF an Alleged Spurious
Telegram.
TAMpERIN0 WITH
NAMES.
Commandment ftowison Makes Spe-
cific Complaint Against Surgeon
Richard Ashbridge.

AS soon as the Olympia returns from
her trial trip a court-martial OF more than
ordinary interest will be held at Mare
Island Navy-yard. The return OF the new
cruiser has TO be awaited, as several men,
bers Of the court are on her trial board. so
It viii probably be the first of next week
before the inquiry into the merits of the
case are considered.
Richard Ash bridge. passed assistant sur
geon, q. S. N, is the man to be court
martialed, and the charges are preferred
by Captain Henry L. Howison, command
ant of the nayy-yard. There are three
counts against the offending officer,
namely: First, conduct prejudicial to
good order and discipline; second. false
hood; third, seandalous conduct, tending
to the destruction Of good morals.
Following is the story of the episode
which led TO the charges being made. 1t
was related yesterday to a reporter for
The CALL by naval officer who had just
been made acquainted with the facts:
Surgeon Ashbridge had been made
member OF the examining board at Mare
lsland, and few weeks ago he sa w fit to
differ with the commandant of the yard
regarding the order OF examining officers
who came up TO pass for promotion. DIR.
Ashbridge stated that the physical exami-
nation should take place first, while Cap
tain HOWison ordered that the candidate
should be tested as 10 mental requirements
before the surgeons passed upon him.
Instead Of yielding his point the surgeon
persisted that he was correct, and was alb
ruptiy ordered TO obey his superior officer
and say no more about it,
The next morning the commandment
found telegram upon his desk, and on
opening IL was surprised TO ind L a dis
Nav ha
ordering him 10 have candidates for pro-
motion undergo physical examinations
before the mental ones. Captain Howison
wondered why the Secretary should thus
listen to junior officers state ment with
out hearing the other side, and wondered
still more that such 3 hasty decision had
been given. He examined the telegram
closely. Ii seemed all right. The usual
check marks were upon 1t and il bore the
time of reeeival at the Vallejo Office of the
1 Western Union Telegraph Company. But
nc one around headquarters could tell how
this message had come.
SO Captain Howison dispatched an aid
10 Vallejo, who shortly returned with the
Information that no such message had been
received at the telegraph Office. Then
message was sent to Secretary Herbert,
and. upon the receipt OF an answer, the
conmaudant Terminated the charges
against the surgeon, in the specifications of
which he sets forth that thu Glassage pur-
porting 20 COME froiEl tb5 Secrefsrv of the
Navy was either written or con, -ad by
Richard Ashbridge, and fer no
pese than to carry 2 p0IBs whit
NtssS;:is - Ssf 4 4 ,is4s s.lts SO. 80
ffonted with the message from
tary he surgeon at ,iFst denied
plicity in the spurious telegram,
these facts the first (wo charges
The third charge, that of $ Alous
conduct tending 20 tha destructi II good
morals" involves the more spec charge
OF inebrety.
Richard Ashbridge is one of !the most
popular men in the navy and has host of
friends in this city. He was appointed to
tha receivng-ship lndepafdsnce October
q, 1892, and during snd past year has at
tended many social events in San Fran
cisco, Oakland and Vallejo. He Is man
OF pleasing personality and liked wherever
met. He was appointed to the navy from
Pennsylvania as assistant surgeon July 8,
1876. October II, 1881, be was promoted to
passed assistant surgeon with the rank
OF lieutenant He served at the Norfolk
Navy-yard and on the ships Powhatan,
Colorado, Swataras st. Lous, Richmond
and Independence.
Ii is said that his defense at the court
martial will be that of Temporary in
sanity"