The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-29
WHEN "TOMMYoWASJUDGE
BEING 4. TRUE REPORT OF AN W.
RECORDED COURT. MARITAL.

RECORDED CoURT- MARTIAL.
Having CauEtt Jack In tho Attempt TO ROB
lsiu,, Ee Convened tho Petty Onlcsrs,
Tried ana Sentenced Him to Death
How the seutepce was Net Carried Out.
several officers were remaining at the mess
table ono night after dinner, smoking md spin.
ming yarns. rs is fhe custom, the yarn spinning
varied. perhaps. by an argument on any subject
from A TO lizard. Tho night was stormy out.
aide, and perhaps It was because OF the contrast
Of the warm, brilliantly lighted mess room, in
ducinr that innate desire OF all men TO talk of
perilons times when most at their case. that the
yarns had drifted into tales Of shipwreck. Tho
surgeon had spun q GOOD ono of the China seas;
q Samoan survivor had %recounted a few unpub-
lished facts, and another survivor" a Lieu
tenant, introduced his yarn by saying that
"miae IL a oourt-martial yarn, and tho funny
part AZ 1T is that it is all true"
He moant no reflection on the others-surely
they didn't feel was only a way OF saying
thatthc yarn was first hand--second and third
handed yarps have never lost in the telling.
However. hure 10 tho yarn, almost in the words
Of the BfeutenAnt, though 1t Is not recorded
Just Sshure the puts Of his cigar came in, or the
calling for a light then It went out, but that is
not material TO the validity of the proceedings.
as q Judge Advocate would say.
"Our. ship was stranded ON an island in the
Caribbean Sea, and as the island was desert
and without water. 1t was at once evident that
some one must be sent for assistance. Brown
that will do FOR his name-bad had long cxpe-
rience In the handling of small boats while in
the Coast survey, so he got the detail. He took
the sailing launch. which was tho best Of all the
boats We had saved from the wreck, rugged her
to his satisfaction with such gear as was at
hand, then with a midshipman as his subordi-
nate and n crew OF twelve men set sail, followed
by a hearty cheer and n prayer for a successful
voyage from those Of us left Oh tho island.
1.-THE sailing launch arrived safely at a small
island Off the Honduras coast, and on which
there was a small settlement OF Dagos. Here
Brown. leaving the launch in charge OF the
midshipman. chartered a schooner and sailed
for Colon, In search of a relief steamer.
You survivors know that for some several
days after being wrecked your nerves re.
main q little stretched, and this midshipman.
whom I shall call Tommy, was no exception.
Perhaps this explains his actions. which in
calm. sober moments, would have been very diff
fcrent; at any rate, he felt his responsibility
koenly, the more SO because the alcalde had
declared that he would have nothing to do with
'ei ItdrinerO Americdno.'
Things went smoothly for about three days.
then. rum came aboard the launch and made
yolver about him, tighter, and said nothing.
Things eliminated on the fifth night. when
pockets. to get gold. wherewith to buy more
rum. In an Instant Tommy was awake, ordered
smith bound down on a thwart; Placed q sentry
AS early in the morning, as possible, he
and Told them they were constituted a court.
martial, and that he would be Presiding officer
and Judge Advocate combined. The case OF the
prosecution was short and TO the, point. The
witness. Tommy again, testified that the ac-
the money from the officer in omman and
pointed out that tho money was not only neces.
officer to provide supplies for their comrades on
the island. The accused being asked Il he had
anything to state in his behalf replied, Guilty
hic-sir! and promptly went to sleep.
Tommy, then, ss presiding officer. made a
what . holnous crime had been attempted. one
in which the lives OF their shipmates might have
made mad and wound up his argument BY Quoting a az .
much as he could remember of the twenty-frst
afIissss for and the %e soy sepnTased from 8f nhG she eSy sEi 1h st
her loss or destruction are subject. TO all intent
and Pss or @%se t. the he same sniS. di # Faep ib Ss. there ia
only ono sentence that Is commensurate with
the erime--death!'
Tho prisoner was informed OF his impending
fate, and was advised to prepare to meet his
God, His answer was a snore.
Tommy took upon himself the. execution of
tho sentence. The prisoner, with his arms bound
behind ,his back. was brought ashore and propped
up against a tree near the beach. Then Tommy,
backing off. slowly drew his pistol, cooked. and
Smith. up TO this time. had not realized what
was going on. but now, sobered completely BY
the sight Of the cooked revolver. he fell on his
For Gods sake don't shoot mel! Don't shoot
mel ai Tem ms 1q Y w 1ae a m snpr Shmn @omeDt, rh,
men, gathered around. were intentlv watching
has t sSs ssyw mSy reaii,y 81 the ss sifaat Mas ne Tb % is
flashed like lightning through the boys mind.
81 shall have a life to answer for
Beads OF perspiration gathered on his fore
bead, and slowly the muzzle of the revolver was
hand clenched. and the bullet ploughed into the
g q hS , z ysri = away; An hour later Tommy
shaking with uncomfortable sohs.
The comedy came later. It had come clearly
Swfui mess. Smith might make a report against
him. He might make a report against Smith,
ings wsro bound to come out. In tho light of
sober Thought he realized that he had used un.
Of himself, and finally stood every chance of
being . court-martinlled. This was his so.
t eaIisd the se crow sh toss atihi''su toidi them one that day h co he
sidered that smith had been sufficiently pun.
i iers. to U save wf the man me h from Sf isnth shFp paGnish tnsne,
the Incident had best be forgotten,wiped out of
man 70 raise his hand and INC Is so ia,asq s swear st tSsGs
he would never breath a word OF the matter to
Jack is q simple: big.heartoa fellow. as we
had been black against smith, now It was to
synpsthy WAS for him. Willingly came the
";Tommy and ! were good friends. and he
looked upon me as a sort of mentor. One night,
seated out OF hearing on the after deck OF the
steamer that brought Gs home. he told me the
story and asked my advice, which was to keep
his mouth shut. ] am relir ved of the bond OF
secrecy now. as for several years Tommy has
been practicing law in one OF our Western
towns. When he becomes n Judge he will re-
strained"
POISON IN FOURTH TIFE,S RODr.
May he Due TO the EmbaImIuE ~Fluld-Zanou
FORMALLY lhnrEad With RainanInr IIar