The morning times., 1897-01-12
FOR NEGLECTING His DUTY
Court Martial of Ensign Coleman at
the Navy Yard.
Testimony That His Work Was Ex-
hausting, But Not Incapacitat-
ing for Clerical Labor.

Proceedings were instituted yesterday
afternoon, at the navy yard, in the court
| martial of Ensign Noah T. Coleman, for
| cuipable neglect OF duty, while stationed at
| Harrisburg, to inspect steel material used
| in the construction Of government vessels
The court was opened at | O'Clock by
| Commander z. L. Tanner, and Mr.. Coleman
was formally arraigned by tie Judge adj
vocate, Lieut.. II. l.. Draper, who read the
/ lengthy specifications. Mr Coleman is
| accused in the first charge, Of negiecting
| to inspect a quantity OF steel boiler riyets,
| and i'll the second Of failing to report
| the result or certain Inspections and
| analyses, made by him. to the board of
| steel inspection, as required by the regu-
| Iations OF the department. From the
charges preferred, the department accuses
Ensign Coleman of ''culpable inefficlcncy
| in the performance of his duty" and for
falling to forward explanations at the com
| mand OF Capt. II. F. Day, president OF the
board, of steel inspection, he is further
accused of 'disobedience of the lawful
order of his superior Officer
Ensign Coleman, through his attorney En-
! sign EveThart, pleaded guilty TO the charges
made by the various specifications, of
neglect of duty, but not guilty 10 the
! secondary accusations or ''culpable inef-
| ficiency" and ''disobedence."
| During the trial he VIII present various
| circumstances which, he hopes, viii satis-
| factorily explain his actions. Al inspec-
| tor at Harrisburg, Ensign Coleman had un-
| der his supervision, the output OF six roller
| mills, within u radius OF fifty miles OF
| that place. The work required of him
| was correspondingly heavy, and during
| July, August and September, when all OF
the mills were turning out government
| material, he was unable to complete the
| many necessary inspections, withiuthe time
| required by the department This condi-
| ton of affairs is an extenuating circum
stance which will be DIV elt upon in his
| defense.
The strain of overwork told severely on
Mr.. Coleman'S health, and he notified the
board OF inspection that after working all
day in the various mills he was physically
| unable to do the clerical work required
in formulating reports, and asked for the
assistance of a clerk. No action was
| taken by the board, and the inspector was
unable to keep his reports up to date.
Mr.. Coleman also claims that the depart
inent failed to provide him with suitable
| office accommodations, and that this seri-
OuSiN lnteTltTtt Will tue
ance Of his duties
Capt. II. F. Day, president OF the board
OF steel inspection. was the first witness
called for the defense.
Capt. Day, after being sworn, was ques-
toned by the accused and testified that
the quantity nf work performed by the
inspector at Harrisburg had been very
great during the summer months, and ad-
rivets used in the construction of govern
ment vessels was made at the SternbefSh
mills at Reading, and inspected by Ensign
Coleman. Further questioning brought nut
also, that Mr.. Coleman has analyzed the
greater part of the nickel used by the
government, and while the work involved
is easy enough, a great deal of time rs
required by each analysis.
He testified that letters had been Ie-
ceived from Ensign Coleman complaining
OF overwork and asking for assistance, and
also OF lack of suitable desk room, but
that no action had been taken by the boarI
Capt. Days testimony will be used chiefly
to bear out the claim of overwork, which
will be put forward by the defense.
Past ssistant Engineer A. W. Freeman,
member of the steel inspection board,
tour of inspection, spent day with Ensign
Coleman going from mill to mill He adj
mitted that the exposure to weather, and
10 oextreme es of temperature to which he was
subjected, together with the hard work
! done by the Inspector, had evidently told
on his health, but in answer to a question
by Judge Advocate Lieutenant Draper said
that in his opinion Mr.. Coleman was not
sick enough to be prevented from making
out reports or attending to his duties.
With the testim ony of these two witnesses
the hearing ad. .oHrned until 10 O'Clock this
morning. The detail Of the court is as fol-
lows: Commanders, 2. L. Tanner, j. E.
Merry and J. N Hcmpnill; lieutenant COM
manders, K. II. Reeder and G. Il. Harber;
lieutenants, I. s odgers, r. F. Nicholson,
c. II. Harlow and Ensign H. X. Benham.
Lieut.. II. L. Draper is acting Judge adj
vocate and Ensign Everhart as counsel for
the defense.
nd Dnfu