Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-02
CHARGES FOR M ULATED
Those on Which Capt Sumner is to B
Tried by Oourt-Martial
Culpable Inemciency and Neglect of
Duty MS to Docking of the
Columbia Alleged.

AS was stated in Saturdays Star, Capt.
Geo. w. Sumner the commander of the
cruiser Columbia, will be tried by court
martial, the order having been issued d.
recting the court to convene at the Brook
lyn yard next Wednesday. Two commo-
dores and nine captains will compose the
court. They are Commodore Montgomery
Sicard, Commodore Rush R. Wallace,
Capt Allen V. Reed, Capt. Alfred 7. Ma
han, Capt. Norman H. Farquhar, Capt.
James O'kane, Capt. Henry B. Robson,
Capt Winfield S. Schey Capt John w.
Philip, Capt. Silas Casey and Capt. Louis
Kempff. The judge advocate of the court
will be First Lieut.. Herbert l.. Draper of
the marine corps.
The following are the charges and speci-
ficaions of charges preferred by the Sec
rotary of the Navy against Capt. Sumner
Charge 1. Culpable inefficiency in the per-
Torrance of duty.
Specification. In that the said George W.
Sumner, a captain in the United States
navy, being in command of the United
States steamer Columbia at Southampton,
england, having, on or about the 4th day
OF July, 1898, arranged with a representa-
tive of the London and Southwestern Rail-
way Company for the docking of said YES
sci at Southampton, England, and having
delivered to the representative of said
company the docking plan of naval vessels,
did neglect and fail to see that the neces-
sary preparations for such docking were
made by said company, and that the sup
porting blocks were put in proper condition
for receiving and sustaining her weight;
in consequence of which neglect and fail
ure on the part of the said Capt. Summer
the said vessel was when placed in dock at
OF about noon on the Sth day of the mon tn
which resulted in damage to her hull and
necessitated repairs, costing in the aggre-
gate about $1,000 lawful money of the
United States; and the said Sumner was
therein and thereby culpably inefficient in
the performance of his duty
charge ,. Suffering a vessel of the nayy
10 De hazarded in violation of the eleventh
clause of the eighth article of the articles
Tor the government of the navy
Specification. In that the said George w
sumner a captain in the United States
Ltvy being in command of the United
states steamer Columbia at Southampton,
eighth day of July, 1885, had said vessel
docked in the London and Southwestern
Railway Company's dock at Southampton.
england. and well knowing that the sup
placed in proper condition to receive and
sustain the weight of said vessel, whereby
she was being strained. did, nevertheless
fail to cause the dock to be flooded in order
TO relieve the vessel of such damaging
strain, but did permit her to remain in
such condition until at or about O'Clock
pest meridian. of the 9th day of July 1895
during which time said vessel was subject
ed to strain and was haZarded.
Charge 3. Neglect of duty.
Specification. In that the said George W.
Sumner, captain in the United States
navy. being in command of the United
States steamer Columbia at Southampton
England. having. at or about noon of the
Sth day of July, 1895, had said vessel locked
in the London and Southwestern Railway
Company's dock at Southampton, England,
and knowing
in proper docking of the vessel by said COM
pf.ny. she had been strained and damaged.
and it being, therefore, his duty to suspend
payment for such docking. did, nevertheless,
on or about the 10th day of July. 1895, the
vessel having been unlocked on the 9th
day of said month. order Paymastcr George
H. Read. United States navy. attached to
said vessel. to pay to the London and South
western Railway Company the sum OF
S.233 30, lawful money of the United States,
for the docking of said vessel which sum
was accordingly paid; and the said Sumner
was therein and thereby negligent i'll the
performance of duty.