Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-20
THE SUNDAY GLOBE. WASHINGTON ID. c. OCTOBER POI 1871

j. cIbson is reported as suffering from the
effects of q debauch and yet. although
suffering from said dcbauch the commander
needed his sctvccs' and would permit
him 90 perform them but that Jacobson went
ashore and staid FIVE days
When the general court-martial which de-
graded Jacobson and inflicted such heavy
penalties ON that unfortunate officer met,
Jacobson made a defense which irrtatcd
rather than coucihatcd The court Here Us
his memorandum sent TO Congressman
Bromwel. Jacobson is a constituent of
Mr. Bromwcll, of Cincinnati
SIR The following comments are made
by me 20 illustrate TO you that was rather
mild in stating that prejudice was shown.
! should have said 10 was q case of personal
malice L, was not iu the interest OF dis
ciplne that ] was tried, as q close review of
my statement win show.
If about fifteen very serious cases we've
dropped ou account of the ship being or
dered out of commission why was not my
case dropped aiso'
That is what makes any flirmInded per
son think that malice was shown in my
case.
Unfortunately. the Secretary of the Navy
cannot be rccouciled TO tle fact that there
was no intention ON my part of making a
threat Now even allowing the matter as a
threat, why am I sentenced TO a, year con.
fucmcnt whereas if I had actually left the
ship and reported elsewhere without leave
and the m3Ximum punishment for that
oicuse Is only six O6I months con6nc.
ment with corresponding penalties. Con
-equeutly this implied threat according TO
the Secretary of the Navy, is worse than the
actual commission of the ofense Rather
an odd ruling where the threat TO commit
am oGense is greater than doing so.
IN reference 90 the summary court-martial
for ovcrstayiug leave, why did not the com.
mandiug officer couhue himself TO his own
schedule of puuishmeuts in my case as well
as any other Case3
still there was only one schedule for q
whole crew, and as that includes chief petty
officers as well as any other enlisted man
maintain that was uniustly court martialed
at that time The ships company seeing
the injustice of the commanding officers
action, dcputed three l3I chief petty officers
to lay the after before the commanding
officer, and was informed that If I would
withdraw my letter Ia copy of which you
have), he would reconsider my case, but
that he would make no bargain. Why did
ne WISH INC TO MALNNIdW lUt ltNkEIF De
eau he knew it to contain only the truth
I do not think the Navy department can
produce another case where a man was
courtmartaled for overstaying leave, il
being the FIRST ofense of any nature on the
ship and having record as good as mine
and as much service Had any man on
that ship ever been court-martialed for
overstaying leave I would have made no
complaint
Any enlisted man has a perfect right
according to regulations, to lodge a COM
plant against any officer, provided he is
not treated fairly or is abused in any way
My statement will show you distinctly that
that the discipline of the ship was not at
stake, but looking into the matter as it
actually stands there is only one conclusion
TO arrive at, and that is either a case of in
justice, prejudice or malice, so I struck
medium and selected prejudice
When I entered my plea at the time was
tried for writing that letter. / pleaded not
guilty to the charge aud guilty to the speci.
ication, and stated that at the writing Of
that letter there was no intention on my
part Of violating any regulation. There
was absolutely No e1iaeHCc introduced TO
show that had any intention of violating
the navy regulations still was convicted
To show the confidence placed 100 me by
Lieutenant Howard, y. S. n, then com.
manding the Bancroft, I was not even
placed in arrest, either before or after MY
trial, and owing TO the scarcity of officers
available for deck duty, was even placediu
charge of the ship while he was absent. this
occurring after my trial by general court
martial
The reasons in my statement are by no
means an. Auotherreasou why desired TO
get on SOME other vessel was that was con-
stanty aiing from attacks of malaria or
fever of some nature, being ill at almost
regular intervals, being laid up in my ham
mock ON several occasions receiving treat
ment from both the surgeon and hospital
steward. During my illness 7 made appli.
cation 90 the Navy Department for transfer
to the Pacific coast agreeing to waive all
claims TO transportation 20 the Atlantic
coast at the time my enlistment would eX-
pire and 20 pay my own transportation
and expenses 10 the Pacific coast The
loss to me attending such a transfer would
amount to about two hundred ls2OoOo)
dollars II was my intention to apply for
my discharge sometime before overstaycd
my leave and ! consulted the executive
officer Lieutenant Howard) about the mat
ter and he advised me TO wait as / only had
six l6l months to complete my enlistment.
At the time / overstayed my leave was on
the verge Of mental collapse and a change
was necessary so / took one, and returned
when I was in fit condition to make a fresh
start.
did not remain over leave to shirk any
duties as I always worked just as hard as
any other man in the ship. Regarding
criticzing my superior officers, any man that
does right and performs his duties con.
scientiously need never fear being criticized.
If a man is wrongfully treated what is he
to dor Submit like a dog or a horse That
might be all right in monarchy, but hardly
in a republic You may think that this is a
little severe, but the facts cannot be altered.
During all my service, have never been
with a ships company where so many men
were so utterly disgusted You may ask
why never made proper complaint and
stated the matter to the Navy Department.
The reason Is that there was a complaint
made by a man on board and addressed
TO the proper authorities but 1t never
reached its destination, it being the only
communication that ever left this ship that
a1 tH. H.aft.t.Ht4s4 nff1tar