Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-19
)R. KERSHNER'S CASE
The President Has Finally Acted. but the
Result is Not Known.
A General Impression Thnt the Sem
teDce Of Dismissal Has Been
Mitfgated.

The somewhat celebrated case Of Medical
Inspector Edward Kershner of the navy
has at last been disposed of, but the char
acter of the action has not yet been male
public. Action was taken yesterday as a
result of a conference between the Presi-
dent and the Secretary Of the Navy. No
case in recent years has attracted so
much attention in naval circles as this,
probably more because of the length of time
1t has feen under consideration than from
any other single circumstance.
DIR. Kershner's troubles began a little
over a year ago, while he was serving
on the New York as fleet surgeon of the
North Atlantic squadron, and was the
immediate result of difference of opinion
with Admiral Meade, commanding the
fleet. and with Capt. R. B. Evans. COM
manding the flagship New York. The ves-
sci was at anchor in a West Indian port
at the time. A sailor was sick on mer-
chantn.an lying III the same harbor. and
DIR. kershner was requested by its captain
to go to his relief. Capt Evans indorsed
the request. DR.. Eershner declined to GO,
however. on the broad ground that the man
might be suffering from contagious fever,
in which event his going there might
jeopardiZe the health of the warship. He
suggested that one of the local physicians
he summoned to attend the case.
Saatcmehk lAhckkeus
Considerable correspondence followed be-
tween Admiral Meade, Capt. Evans and
DIR. Kershner. in the course of which it
was alleged that the medical officer WAS
guilty of making false statement, par
ticularly in having denied furnishing a
statement Of tie case In vindication of
his own action to a frienI in New York
city, through whom it found its way into
n mar In fnI Han nf
regulation prohibiting naval officers IRON
making comments in the public prints on
official matters.
DR.. Kershner was tried by general court
martial on several charges, the most serious
of which was that he had told a falseho ID
He was found guilty, and was sentenced
to be dismissed from the service. In the
regular course of events the case was con-
sidered by the Secretary of the Navy, who
approved the sentence and submitted the
case to the President for his action. This
was in May last. and the case has been in
the Presidents hands ever since. The
medical officer had an excellent record prior
to this affair, and has many strong friends,
who have male strenuous efforts to
induce the President to mitigate The sem
tence and save him from the disgrace CT
dismissal on such a charge.
Effort of His Friends
Mr.. E. c. Benedict Of New York, he
Presidents host Of last summer is one of
Dr. hershnerS stanchest friends, and is
credited with having SO far prevented his
dismissal from the navy. The Secretary of
the Navy today wrote letter to Dr. Kersh-
ner who is now in arrest in New York
city, informing him of the President $
action Cn the court-martial proceedings
Out of courtesy to him the Presidents ac-
ton will not be made public until after It's
communication to him. Inasinuch as he
will undoubtedly receive the Secretary's let
ter tomoi row, 1t is probable that the official
PRONUNCIATION of the. result Will not he de-
layed beyond that date.
The general impression in naval circles is
that the President has approved the find
1ngs, but has mitgated the sentence Of
dismissal to long period of suspension
from rank and duty. 1t is possible, how
ever, shat he has decided to give Dr.
kershner another chance, and has ordered
reconsideration of the entire case.