Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-18
CAPT. MiTCHELrS CASE.
Found Guilty by the Board That Tried
Him.
The Finding and Sentence Approved
ny Secretary Carlisle, and PromuI-
gated I'm nm Omcial Order.

The long-pending case OF Capt. Mitchell
of the revenue cutter Crawford. charged
early In the fall with certain things tba,
| revenue or other officers are not supposed
TO do has been settled at last Secretary
Carlisle last evening approved the finoine
OF the board of investigation that pro.
nounced him guilty as charged and sen.
| tenced him to lose eighteen numbers in his
grade. placing him next but one to the hot.
tom, besides being placed on waiting or.
ders." under suspension for a year. This
severe penalty is short only of dismissal
Capt. Mitchelrs offense, as charged. con.
sisted Of overindulgence in spirituous bo.
uors. besides entertaining on board his sbir
while she was lying in the Potomac. nea,
this city, certain females who did not travel
In the highest social cicles. The board
investigating the charges met on the eth
of September and made a report to the
Treasury Department on the Sd of October
The result is best told in the terms of the
following order, issued last evening by Sec.
retary Carlisle:
The Secretary Order.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov IL 1888.
First Lieut.. Thos. d. Walker, attached to
the revenue steamer Crawford, having pre-
ferred charges of habitual and excessive
use OF intoxicating liquors and of scandal
ious conduct against his commanding OFF,
Ger. Capt John c. Mitchell of the revenue
cutter service, the following named officers
Vi the service were designated by the de-
partment as q board to Investigate the
charges: Capts. ]. A Henrioues George
w. Moore and j. w. Congdon.
me board convened at the Treasury De-
on fhn Es l.
aIter nearing and thoroughly weighing ali
OF the evidence in the case have found
capt John c. Mitchell guilty of improner
indulgence in the use of intoxicants and OF
other conduct unbecoming an officer of the
revenue cutter service and they recon1mend
as proper punishment for these offensas
that he be reduced in rank. SO that b:s
name snail stand on the register next after
that OF Capt. Warrington D. Roath; that
ne De suspended from duty for one year,
ana that he be reprimanded
The findings of the board are annrov.,
and 1t is hereby ordered that Can't. Jobn q
Mitchell be reduced eighteen numbers in
MS present grade as an officer of the
revenue cutter service, whereby his name
shaii appear upon the register next below
tnat OF capt. Warrington d. Roath; that
he be relieved of his present Command and
De placed on waiting orders for the period
OF one year, and that this order be read nv
the commanding officer of each revenue
NSssei III connInisslon at muster of the
officers of his command
y. G. CARLISLE, Secretary"
The Boards Intention.
1t was the design of the board to place
Capt. Mitchell who stood about midway up
the list of captains, at its very foot. but
pending action by the Secretary on the re-
port promotion occurred to the grade of
captains, and 1t was not thought fair to
place the newcomer in the grade over the
officer so reduced.
Lieut.. Walker. who made the charges, is
now IN command of the Crawford. which is
stationed at Baltimore. No permanent de-
tall or a commander has been made Vet
This is the vessel that was used freouent-
~ during the spring and summer for semi
omclai Trips up and down the river When
the scandal occurred she was in the service
OF entertaining some of the visiting Rus
sian navai officers, who were stopping here
on their way from Chicago.