Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-10
MISCONDUCT NOT SHOWN.
Testimony Regarding Treatment of
Cnptives on. Prize Vessels.

j. n. STRIPPING United States attorney for
the southern district of Florida has trans
nitted to the Department Of Justice copy
of the testimony recently taken by order
of Judge Locke of that district in the mat
ter of the charge made in April last to Ad-
miral Sampson by Naval Cadet Needham
Lee Jones. In these charges, 1t is alleged
that the officers of the Spanish prize
ste amers Catalina, Algonquin, Pedro and
MIGUEL Jovar were treated in an insoent
manner by the United States marshal and
other officers connected with his depart
ment and further charging them with
pilfering and stealing from these YES
sells. The testimony tends to show that
the charges of Ca0et Jones We're entirely
unfounded. By instructions of the court
the officers of these Spanish vessels APP
pet.red before the court Capt. Fano of
the Catalina, in answer to inquiries, stated
ca;egorically that the United States mar
shat did not give him orders in very
summary and insolent Manner that Gu
bars did not come aboard and scatter over
the ships, not sparing even the cabins of
the captain or the state rooms of the Off
GERS as charged by Cadet Jones; and that
no person who came aboard the ship used
any offensive language guilty of
offensive conduct. Capt. Fano also stated
under oath that the United States attor-
neg and prize attorney did not refuse to
Eehd him an attorney, as charged, nor did
he near any offensive remark of any char
acter rejecting upon the Spaniards; that
at no time We're the guards guilty of any
misconduct offensive TO him or to the Off
GERS of II e ship or crew. NO, sir" said
Capt. Fano. they all behaved very we'll"
In answer to inquiries by the judge Capt.
Fano made his denial of all of the charges
even more emphatic than before.
Manuel Morales. first officer of the Gaia
lima, was called and in answer to inquiries
stated that nothing had been pifered
robbed from that ship; that the conduct of
the deputy marshals and officers had been
always correct and gentlemany, and that
there was nothing of which he could COM
plain in their conduct.
Capt. kirchotfer of the Miguel Jovar,
after listening to the charges preferred by
Cadet Jones, said that he had nothing in
that respect to say but thanks for the
treatment he had received during his stay
in port. The conduct of the officers and
guard he said, was very friendly with the
crew and officers aboard his ship. He de-
MED that there had been anything abusive.
insoient, arbitrary or improper in anyway.
Not the least thing to complain Of" he
said. The captain also denied that he had
said to any one that the men We're taking
what they pleased or that they We're going
through his personal property. Il could
not say that he said. because no such
plfering going on, and I have not the
Least thing to complain Of
Vicente Detroit. first officer of the Miguel
Jovar, said: II DO not know of anything
that has been taken from her, and the way
they have treated me could not he better"
Sebastian Bonet. captain of the Pedro,
and Malvlno Lagos, master of the Argo-
nauta fully corroborated all of the state
mcnts OF the officers of the other vessels
and CON pletely refutcd the charges of Ca
Diet Jones.
The officers of the courts and the United
States marshal's office We're also sworn in
heir own behalf. denying in detail all of
The allegations hat had been made by Ca
dot Jones. Upon the evidence the court
Huds as follows: THE court fails to find
any satisfactory evidence of any mscon-
duet on the part of any of the officers or
Employees of this court which would call in
any way for any action whatever"