The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-01
FOR NEGLECT OF DUTY.
Captain Sumner to BIO Tried by Court.
martial,

-
martial.
WASHINGTON, August 31.-Secretsry
Herbert has ordered court martial for
the trial Ct Captain Sumner for negli-
gence in the docking Of the United
States crniser Columbia at Southamp-
son. Commodore Sicard will be chair
man of the court. The other members
OF the oourt-martisl are: Com 10 lore
Rush X. Wallace and OAptsins Allen ",
Reed, Alfred T. Mahsn, Norman a.
Fsrquhar. James o Kane, Henry B.
Robson, Winfield s. Schley, John w.
Phillip, Silas Casey and Louis Kempff.
with First Lieut.. Herbert L. Draper, of
the marine corps, as judge advocate.
This Is considered an exceptionally
strong board. Il will convene at The
New York navy yard next Wednesd ~
at one O'Clock. Secretary Herbert took
up the report Of the preliminary court
OF inquiry upon his return to the d a.
partment to-day and after reading the
testimony and the recommendations OF
the board and consulting with Assistant
Secretary McAdoo and Admiral RAMSAY
decided on the courtmartial.
While the trial was ordered upon the
finding of the preliminary court, the
report made by this board was not given
to the public. 1t is understood, how,
ever, that 1t represented Captain Sum-
ner to be solely to blame tor the damage
sustained by the cruiser when she waa
put In the dock at Southam pton last
July. The trial will be based on three
charges made by the Secretary of the
Navy as follows: l. Culpable ineff-
cheney In the performance OF duty. Q
Suffering vessel of the navy to be
az q nd nA in fNta
clause OF the eighth article of the arti-
clss for the government OF the uayy.
8. Neglect OF duty.
The specifications on the first charge
allege neglect and failure to see that
the necessary preparations for docking
we're made by the railway company with
which Captain Sumner contracted for
the docking. He Is also charged with
failing to see that the supporting blocks
were put in proper condition for receiv-
Ing and sustaining her weight, sin con-
sequence of which neglect and failure
on the part OF the said Captain Sumner,
the said vessel, was, when placed In
dock at or about noon on the eighth day
OF the month aforesaid subjected to &C.
we're strains which resulted in damage
to her hull, and necessitated repsirs
costing in the aggregate about one
thousand dollars; and the said Sumner
was therein and thereby culpably incl
f1cient in the performance of his iuty.
The specification in support OF the
second charge alleges that after the
vessel had been locked, noewithssand~
Ing Captain Sumner wag aware that tho
dock was not in proper condition to sus-
tain its weight he failed to have the
dock flooded until the next day, thus
allowing the ship to remain in. posi-.
ton of great strain ard hazsrd for about
thirty hours The third specification.
that In support Of the charge OF neglecs
of duty. is based on the fact that Cap
tain Sumner ordered the payment of
$3.50 to the dock company for Its SER
vioes, notwithst landing the faulty and
hazardous manner of the work.
Commodore Sicard, who becomea
president of the board, was formerly
chief OF the bureau of ordinance of the
Navy Department, and Is credited with
being the founder OF the Washington
gun Factory. Captain Mahsn is the
we'll known historical and naval writer;
Captain Scbley is the Attic explorer;
Captain Phillips YVES the first Captain
of the New York; Captain Farquhar
comm anded the Trenton when lost at
Samoa, and Captain Ksmpff WIS for.
merly IN command OF the Monterey.