New-York tribune., 1895-09-07
END OF THE SUMNER TRIAL.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR BOWLES TESTIF1Es
IN THE CAPTAINS FAVOR.
HE HOLDS THAT THE DOCK PEOPLE ARE RE-
COLUMBIA A STRONG ARGUMENT


spoNs1BI.E FOR THE INJURIES TO THE
COLUMBIA A STRONG ARGUMENT
FOR THE DEFENCE.
The public proceedings of the court martial which
has been trying Captain George w sumner OF the
cruiser Columbia for negligence or duty were coseu
yesterday The last witness was Naval Cohs'ruc-
tor Francis T. Bowes. who admitted mat ne shouio
consider the dock master OF the Southampton DOCKS
esnonsibe for the injuries sustained by the cruiser
while IN the dock Lieutenant Commander Mark
counsel for Captain Sumner questioned him coseiy,
and in answer TO his questions Mr. Bowies sa'u
that the injuries to the Columbia were plainly iocai
and not structural. With regard 10 the s'ahc"lons
his opinIon was that the vessel was not supplied
.i,h enough OF them originally. and he added that
the docking plans did not show where the keel
'blocks were TO be placed when the ship was put IN
drydock. .
The question was asked: WHO would you con-
slider responsible for the docking OF the Vessei II II
the captain supplied you with docking plans ana al
80 tnowledge necessary for the safe docking OF
the vessel?
"rf the captan gave me the docking plans ana the
o.her information l should consider myself responsi-
ble for any injuries the vessel might SUSTAIN i'o'"
improper docking was the reply 49, 49,, 49,
"As Naval officer. or as a ciViiiah asNeu No'"
ynodore Sicard the president of the court
"Oh as a civilian, was the reply
This was one OF the most important points OF 'le
day and was a surprise 10 the he"O'i9
court Captain Sumner having SHOWN 'ha' '"e
docking plans were supplied to the oochlds'vi VI
the SOUTHAMPTON company, this was pTdcuod"y 1"
s,-a.,on tha, the constructor thinks that the
so,,nos,er sbould be held responsible for the dam
age 10 the Columbia
Arguing FOR THE CAPTAIN
,,.or Mr. Rowles had ended his testimony the
,,ors witnesses were called in and had an oppor-
tuntv OF revising their testimony ana 'heh Lieu
tenant Commander Adolph Mark began MS summing
nm for the defence He made strong di suiien'
t favor of Captain Sumner. in the course OF "hlch
he said: when the charges ana spec''ic"'o"s "7ie
erg, rece,ved they were carefully scanned by us
for we were fully prepared TO ADMIT any "ioNe
committed by him. The unfortunate chah oi
circumstances indicated that some blame must DE
attached somewhere. and he was READY 10 ackho"i-
edge any wrong of which he might nave peeh su'''y'
Ru, the wording OF the charges made TINS impos-
sibe and the plea Of not guilty to all OF them had
"a he entered These pleas. we believe nave oeeh
fully justified by this tria; .,a. "Ca,,air
referring TO he second charge ne salu. 'di'dIl
sumner was intrusted with the command OF , rne
snip and his opinion as TO her n1ds his COM
manG BY his testimony II has be beeh m sn9wn 40 " y
that he made a thorough examination OF me stale
~ affairs as soon as the ship had settled ana was
convinced that whatever damage hsd DeeI uohe ~ ~
that time would be all that would be done, IN ID
th;s he was backed up by the dockmaster and the
testimony OF the navigator chlel eneIieei anu ~,
assistant engineer shows that they were OF 'ne
'ln regard 10 the third charge. sald Mr: MdrIH
al can DO no more than refer to captain sumner
evidence TO have an American man-of- war leave
8 foreign port without having paid her DIS would
not have been pleasant report 10 nave had spfeao
ahou especial,y as these things are always more ol
less garbled The payment under protest VIII,
believe be considered the proper course ior captain
sumner 10 have pursued. The standing OF captain
Sumner and his reputation need not be toucheG
upon here He Is an officer of high rank ana wei
known 10 you all -, .,.
This ended the defence, and as the prosecutor
rested i,s case with the evidence taken during
The trial the court adjourned until 10 o'clock this
morning, when the work OF preparing It's report VIII
begin.