The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28
AS TO HEALY'S |NEBR|ETY,
The Captain Of the Bear Crit
cized for Having a Secret
Hearing.
Lieutenant Daniels Accuses His Su-
perior Officer of Insulting
Him-Other Charges.

The investigation of the charges pre-
ferred against Captain Healy of the rev.
enue cutter Bear will occupy more than
month yet in the hearing, it is expected.
1t went on yesterday morning where it
had left off at the close of last week, and
again the urpermost floor of the Apprais-
ers building was gaudy with the blue and
gold uniforms of the regular and petty
officers who have been called to testify
whether Captain Healy was intoxicated
on the 18th, 18th and 18th of September
last, while in Alaska. For these are the
charges now being heard. There are other
charges, many others-one, for instance,
to the effect that Captain Healy spat in
the face of a subaltern officer, and Sc veral
charges, also, OF over bearing conduct
| toward under officers, coupled with that
| widely general charge of conduct unbe-
coming an officer and gentleman.
But the investigating board has decided
to take up the charges chronologlcalIy and
at present the only question to be consid-
cred is whether on the dates specified the
accused was intoxicated The evidence.
SO far, has been rather contradictory, and
while it appears from much of the testi-
mony that on the 10th and 18th of Septem-
Der, The dates respectively of the smoker"
held in the wardroom of the Pheasant and
the dance given at the com pany's house at
the weather'-at least little bit-it also
appears other officers in the service were
not entirely sober a. that time and place.
On the 18th, the charge is that Captain
Healy was intoxicated while on the wharf,
and that then and there he used abusive
language and did other things unbecom-
ing to sober gentleman.
Captain II. D. Smith of the Perry was
the first witness of the day. His testi-
mony was rather general in its nature, and
to the effect that he had seen Captain
Healy take a drink occasionally, but never
saw him under the influence of liquor
while on duty. Captain Healy's friends
considered this testimony as favorable,
though Captain Smith and all but one of
the witnesses Yesterday were called for the
prosecution. The single exception was II.
G. Fassett, in the United States Fish Com
mission. He was called for the defense
out of turn because he sails to-day on the
Albatross. He had known Captain Healy
a long time and had never seen or heard of
hir- being under the influence of liquor
while on duty. He spoke in the highest
terms of Captain Healy as an efficient
officer and as gentleman.
Another witness deemed favorable to
the defense was Ensign W. G. Miller, U.
S. N, who had known the accused for
many years.
Lieutenant K. w. Perry of the Grant
testified that Captain Healy was intoxi-
Gated on the three dates in question and
also once when on board the Grant, when
he used insulting language toward the
witness.
First Assistant Henry O. Slaton of the
Corwin also gave testimony unfavora ple
to the accused.
First assistant engineer of the Hartley,
Eugene 7. Weber, gave testimony of the
same tenor. Mr.. Weber was one of the
signers OF the original charges.
Lieutenant f. q. L. Wadsworth of the
Rush was at the smoker on board the
Pheasant. He thought Captain Healy
was partially" under the influence, but
in other respects he spoke very nicely of
the efficiency of the accused as q navi-
gator, though at times he was rather gruff
to the subalterns.
Lieutenant ]. G. Ballinger of the Rush
mentioned several times in Alaska when
he had seen Captain Healy take a drink
that was stronger than green tea.
Chief Engineer DAILY of the Bear gave
testimony adverse to the accused At the
smoker" Captain Healy staggered, he
said. And this was also the character of
the testimony given by Lieutenant Car
mine of the Perry. Nor was the evidence
of First Assistant Engineer Henry o. Sla-
ton OF the Corwin any more favorable to
the captain. 1t is impossible to tell ex-
actly what transpires within the inyesti-
eating chamber. for the doors are barred
and doubly guarded against the press.
Friends of the accused Yesterday declared
that Captain Healy realized his mistake in
deciding upon secret hearing of the
charges and that before long the doors
might be thrown open to the press and the
public.
Those who are not friends of CAPTAIN
Healy criticize him strongly for deciding
in favor of secrecy. If he mad nothing to
fear from publicity he should have left the
doors wide open, they declare. 1t is ex-
pected that some very interesting testi-
mony will be developed soon on both sides
OF the case Lieutenant Daniels it is who
will testify that Captain Healv insuIted
him and then hid in his cabin.