Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-15
STOLE FOR HIS WIFE.
A Case I'm which the Secretary of tho
Navy Had to Act.

Secretary Herbert has been called upon to
act in case presenting special features of
pathos and hardship. August NJ. Cabral.
ships cook on the cruiser Raleigh, at Nor
folk. was recently tried by court-martial for
the theft of a gold watch. valued at SGD,
the property of Daniel Atkins, ships cook
He pleaded guilty. and was sentenced to be
confined for a year. to lose 1854. nearly all
his pay during that period, and then to be
dishoLo rably discharged
Pathetic Statement.
In mis- defense Cabral submitted the fol-
lowing written statement in mitigation of
his offense:
came to the Raleigh with very little
money. and left behind me in New York
my wife and little baby. nine months old
Al the first issue of monthly money / drew
u5- could not get more under the regula-
tons. which require a months pay to be
retail ed on the books. / sent nearly all
this money home, as my wife was sick and
aiifng- 1 tried TO borrow money from the
men, but could not. They had no money
The next month 1 drew So which 1 sent
nome: my wife was getting worse. and doc
tors bills and rent accommodating. She kept
writing me for money. as she was sick, and
the baby also began to sicken- / could not
get money. I knew she needed 1t. My child
needed It, i was desperate. The watch was
In the chest in the galley. I was desperate:
III cii cNl LOOK IL 10 nelp my vile
and child. did not intend to keep it. i in
tended pawning it. and, when l could get
morey. redeem IL and return 1t. / pawned
the watch In New York. was detected and
confined Now my service of fourteen years
Is as nothing. My character is ruined. My
wife is III. In desperate circumstances, with
no money. My baby is dead
The Secretary Action.
In reviewing the proceedings of the court,
Secretary Herbert says:
The statements cor tanned TN the written
defense of the accused concerning the sick
ness Of his wife and child and the death of
the latter are borne out by original letters
AMI a copy of a telegram from the wife.
and further by original letters from ]. W.
Brown, real estate agent in New York
Two only of the seven members of the
court, however. have recommended Glenn
ency, In consideration of previous good
character, and of the fact that the wife
and Child of the accused were sick and con-
stantly appealing to him for money, and
tfat these circumstances may have moved
the accused to commit the offense.
The sentence inflicted by the court is not
belieN ed to be excessive for the offense of
which the accused has been found guilty
but In view Of the above, and particularly of
the pitiful circumstances surrounding the
case, and of the great temptation to which
the accused was in consequence subjected,
the proceedings, finding and sentence of the
court are approved. but that portion of the
sentence which~requires Cabrars confine-
ment is RENTED, and he will be discharged
from the service in accordance with the
terms of his sentence SO much of the sen
tence as provides for the dfShonorable dis
charge of the accused is carried into effect,
as II Is believed that the best interests of
the service demand that. whatever the nit
fgating circumstances, a man who has been
found guilty Of theft shall not be retained
therein"