The evening times., 1895-12-23

- The board of naval officers who were
called upon to investigate the charges of
haZing made by the colored members of the
class OF seamen gunners at the Navy Yard
against their white. classmates have made
a report to the Secretary of the Navy. with
the Recommendation that four members
Of the class be called upon to answer before
q court-martiaL
The names of the accused are as folio VS.:
Ramsey w. Smith. Edward Murphy. Archi-
bald j. Lamont and Raymand w. Fox.
The court-martial will convene at 10
o'clock next Thursday morning. in the court
martial room at the Navy Yard. The per-
sOnnel of the court Is as follows: Capt.
Purneil H.. Harrington. president: Com
mander Richard P. Leary, Commander
Joshua Bishop, Lieut.. Commander joseph
n. Hemphill, Lieut.. Dennis H. N ahan. Lieut..
Charles Laird and Lieut.. John Hood. En-
sign Warren j. Terhune Will act as Judge
advocate OF the court.
The outcome of the sessions OF the court
will he awaited with the greatest interest
by members OF the navy generally. 1t will
. practically decide the future OF the colored
man in the navy, and Will Doubtless put
Stop to the practice of haZing, that la $ been
going Oh to greater or less extent
among enlisted men for several years past.
THE CHARGES.
The charge iHatle by the Department
which the men will have to answer before
the court martial is: Conduct to the
prejudice OF good order and diseiI,line.'
The specification follow this brief charge
and mlnutely outlines the specific acts
each or the accused seamen is said TO have
committed in the haZing. The sDecifica-
tion sets forth generally that the men. be-
tween September IA and November Ia.
last, conspired amongst themselves and
with others for the unlawful purpose or
driving from the class the following le-
gally constituted mempers thereof: namely. tY y,
lam johnson, seamen. Cnlted States navy.
by hooting at and leering said men. ana by
singing derislve song IN their presence.
with intent to annoy them.'
Smith is individually charged with throw
ing a bucket Of water on the three coiored
men from a window in the seamen's quar-
ters on the evening OF. November IL. He
is also charged with throwing a shraDnel
ball at both Jackson and THOMPSON.
Fox will have To answer. the specification
says, for calling Thompson a black -
and for challenging the coiored man TO fight.
Smith is also accused OF something Il Tight
and is charged with emptying Il salt cellar
on Thompson,
Johnsons cot while the latter was sleep
ing in it and threw his shoes at him. Smltn
is again charged with saying we VIII nave
to Eilr' these men, and :" IL we suck TO-
gether we will rival the James gang.
Murphy joined in requesting the colored
men to remove from the table. ii is said.
A SERIOUS OFFENSE.
Secretary Herbert ha decided that hazn2
is as serious an offense among enlisted men
as it is with naval cadets and that the prac-
tice shall be speedily stamped out. Since the
esta adjustment of the Annapolis academy bv
George bancroft. haZing in various degrees
asprevailed, but onlyin the last two months
has it extended 10 other branches OF the
service. Sailors invariably play pranks ON
one another and frequently cause a good deal
OF annoyance to landsmen Joining the serv-
ice but il was never expected that the Ar
hapolis custom would be seriously taken uD
by the apprentices. -,
. if the cuIprits are found guilty. they will
be trea ted lust as the naval cadets are and
dismissed the service. Hazing has always
been regarded by the navy as an unmanly
offense, but until recently 1t has been i'm