New-York tribune., 1894-04-07
END or THE NAVAL COURTS-MIRTI4L.
FINDINGS IN THE LYMAN AND SHEPARD
CASES SENT TO WASHINGTON.

FINDINGS IN THE LYMAN AND SHEPARD
CASES SENT To WASHINGTON.
The calendar OF Navy courts-martial for this sta
ton was cleared up yesterday. 50 FAR as the ocally
promulgated record was concerned by tho compile
ton OF the case OF Captain Eiwn NJ Shepard. "Ao
was charged with "condIc; to the prejudice OF gooo
order ana discipline in the Navy" aud Of viola
ton OF lawful regulation issued by the Secretary
OF the Navy" These charges were based upon
letter which Captain SheDsrl wrote In defence OF
a reflection upon him. as commander OF the training
ship Minnesota, made by Captain Francis VI. Bunce
commandant OF the War College aIi o; the Training
Station at Newport. in which Captain Bunce com
plalned that apprentices sent 10 Newport from New
York were badly provided with clothing. TIE COM
plalnt was transmitted to Captain Shepard. who
wrote In his reply: Men a rule. are prone to
find fault with the methods OF others. and IN this
matter l am under the impression that Captain
Bunce is acquiring. either consciously or uncon-
sciously. a reputation for thoroughness at the ex'
pense Of others"
The above quotation was interpreted by the Secre-
tary of the Navy as A gross violation OF Article ~
of the Navy Regulations. which reads: NO officer
shall use language which may tend TO diminish the
confidence ln respect due TO. a superior oficer.
Captain Shepard wrote the letter on March D, ana
three days later after having had time for reflection.
he wrote to the Secretary requesting permission
to withdraw his letter and acknowledging mat he
wrote II In the heat OF irritation; but this reques;
April g. a delay in transmission that is credited 70
the netiiciency OF the postal service. Had me ie,.
Captain Shepard would have been court rtmartalled.
on March 81. however, the Navy Department OF;
he was put under arrest-that is. his sword was
taken from him. and he was suspended from duty.
The court which met 10 try the case yesterday was
composed OF Commodore Charles c. Carpenter, cap
tains Joseph n Miller Montg9mery sG9rd JOIN ar,s; ~
OKane. Frederick Rodgers and b. +. Day win
Lieutenant Commander Adoph Mark as Judge-Aa'
Captain Shepard appeared in his own defence s,s ana
admitted writing the letter slIHged ,2 s eSsrge b.
writing the part that reflected upon Captain Bune;
the the s' Navy. Which acknowIedged the receipt Of hi:
request to withdraw the letter and his heat ,.r. 9.
Lieutenant Commander Wells L. Field. at presenai
in command of the NAUTICAL school-shp 81 Mary,s ~,
Minnesoa. under Captain shepard and Lieutenant
Walter J. Sears. for the last two years an osss onsn
was refutation OF the reports that the appren,iS
boys sent to New-York were poorly clothed IN any
sense. ,,-
After Captain Shepard had presented his defenNcs:
Lieutenant Commander Mark made strong os'
GERS in their verbal or written expressions o: Opn,
ION The court then Closed and within twenv
instes emse and d a he pgnshmen UR tSa should he inflicted
and had drawn up its report and mailed Il 70 IN,
the court found the accused guilty In part only sne
decided that reprimand would be suficieh' !"
Captain Shepard is the officer who. when in CON- c1
mand OF the Kearsarge. wrote TO the Navy ~ az
partment that Frederick Douglass, the newly ~
pointed Minister TO Hayti, could not be accoIr
modated with passage on board because OF me NC
OF quarters and the want OF bed linen and o'nu
bed clothing Captain Shepard was promptly
neved from command. and Captain w, D. whirsS wsinss
who recently married An Fong. the chine"
heress. succeeded him. and took Mr.. p9usIass
to Hayti furnishing the bed linen from his PER
sonal possessions =, -,
The court-martial OF Lieutenant Charles H. hy
man. in connection with the loss OF the warsssays
Kearsarge actually finished yesterday i.s
court met and reviewed its 'smooth-log. OF .ni
port of its findings TO the Navy Department. AN, an,
then forwarded II to Washington. As the Ss,s S,,
cannot dissolve itself the members must renssS
here and report each day at the Navy Yard cons coas
room until the Secretary has decided wne.asss
testimony reconsider its findings.