Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-15
DIR. KERsHNER TESTIFIES.
Did Not Refuse Medical Aid to the
Bark Having Fever.


Bark Having Fever.
In the court-martial at the Brooklyn
navy yard yesterday of Fleet Surgeon
Kershner, some delay was occasiened by
the absence of Capt. Glass of the Cincin-
natl whose testimony was desired by the
court. When the captain had taken the
witness chair he swore that he had been
appointed, by Admiral Meade, president OF
the court of inquiry held on board the
United States cruiser New York, Of King
ston, Jamaica, on April g. The court was
appointed to investigate how certain mat
tiers pertaining to the Naval Department
had come to appear in the newspapers. he
administered the oath to DR.. kershner and
the doctor had testified that he had only
sent a copy of the second Endorsement to
the surgeon general of the navy IN per-
sonal letter. The doctors testimony was
read over to him, and SO was the testimony
of every other witness.
Mr. Choate began to cross-eXaEline capt
Glass, and Lieut.. I.aucheimer watched his
every motion very closely. The senior
counsel for the defense asked Capt. Glass
IT, when he arrived at the navy yard, he
DID not have a conversation with the judge
advocate in reference to the case.
Lauchemer objected, and Mr.. Choate put
three or four other questions in the same
vein. to each of which the judge advocate
objected.
The court was cleared. and in two min
We're sustained.
Mr. Choate asked the witness if the judge
advocate had not told DR.. Kershner that
the object of the inquiry was to find out II
any verbatim copies of the reports and in
dorsements had been sent out by him.
Lieut.. Laucheimer objected, and once
more the court was cleared The objection
was overruled. The question was rhen re-
peated. and Capt. Glass said he did not
think the word verbatim was used dur
ing Dr. Kershners examination.
Mr.. Choate then read from the reports
of the inquiry in which the word yer
batim'' occurred.
AS soon as Capt. Glass left the chair
Lieut.. Laucheimer asked for an adjourn
ment on the ground that the stenographer
had much notes as he could conveniently
transcribe by this morning. The prosecu-
tion however, consented to have the de-
Tense open, with the proviso that they (the
prosecution could call other witnesses later
If they so desired.
Lawyer Hinsdale began in a very brief
speech the opening for the defense. He
claimed that the accused doctor had prob
ably been examined in a hasty manner
without counsel. and based his defense on
the ground that DIR. kershner was exam
ined as to sending verbatim copies Of the
reports.
DR.. kershner on the Stand.
The doctor was then called to the stand.
In reply to Mr.. Hinsdale he said he en-
tered the navy on September 2, 1861. While
eeon at the time that ship was sunk, he
was the last man to leave the vessel. He
remained on board attending to the wound
ed below long after the order to abandon
ship was given. He crawled upon deck,
when he saw there was no chance of saw
ing any of the unfortunate men below, and
the ship sank from under his feet in Hamp-
ton Roads, The official report of the battle
giving the doctor honorable mention was
then offered in evidence. Witness said he
remained in active service until May, 1865,
and then was assigned to government
cruisers. He told of all the different ships
on which he had since served, well as
the shore duty which he performed, up to
the time of his appointment to the cruiser
New York, in 1888
Coming up to the cruise of the North
Atlantic squadron early in this year, the
witness said that he was fleet surgeon, and
was very careful SO that no fever could
possibly come on board.
While off st. Lucia he believed that there
was fever ashore, and he persistently re-
fused to allow any water from the shore to
come on board. His suspicious as to fever
on shore were afterward found to be well
founded.
When the ship anchored off Bridgetown,
Barbados, which is about eight miles from
ST. Lucia, the witness said he was still very
Watchful that no contagion should come
near her.
When the request for assistance came
frCm the Nova Scotian bark the doctor,
after hearing the description of the sick
men, felt sure that he showed symptoms of
yellow fever.
when Capt Evans spoke to me-" said
the witness, Il told him of the danger of
either going myself or sending an assistant
to the bark, fearing to bring contagion
aboard. If had not spoken so to the cap
tain would have been derelict in my duty
did not refuse to go send a doctor, for
II the captain had ordered me to do So I
most certainly would have obeyed As il
was, however, Capt. Evans went and saw
Admiral Meade, as he did not dare to take
|
self When he came back and told me that
the admiral had ordered assistance to be
sent, Immediately sent DIR. Cook"
At this point the court again adjourned
until today