The Washington times., 1901-09-22
THE MEADE ENQUIRY REPORT.
His iccusers ENoherated, md Hi.
own COurt-NnrtiaI Urged


The court of enquiry convened at the
| New York Navy Yard on July 25 in the
| case of Col Robert L. Meade. United
States Marine Corps. has rendered its de-
| csion to the Secretary of the NAVY. An
abstract of the proceedings is as follows:
I'm the opinion of the court Major
Charles II. Lauchheimer. United States
Marine Corps. should be fully and hon
orably exonerated of all the charges made
against him by Col, Robert l.. Meade
United States Marine Corps
Further, in the opinion of the court
Col. Frank L. Denny. United States Ma
rine Corps, should be fully and honorabl
eXonerated of all the charges made
against him by Col Robert l.. Meade
u. S. Marine Corps.
And in the opinion of the court fur
ther proceedings should be had against
Col. Robert L. Meade. United States Ma
rine Corps and that officer should be
tried by general court-martial."
Secretary Long has not yet acted on
the recommendations of the court and
probably will not do so for several days.
The review of the records was completed
some time ago by the Office of the Judge
Advocate General, and Secretary Long.
after brief enquiry into the facts. has
recommitted the papers to the Judge Ad-
vocate General for further review before
he acts.
The announcement authorized by Secre
tary Long confirms the statements pub
Iishcd unofficially some time ago that the
court of enquiry had exonerated Colonel
Denny and Major Lauchheimer and had
recommended the court-martial of Colo
mel Meade. The controversy between
Ts.,rn ,.ta
officers was largely personal and resulted
in the appointment of a court which
was ordered to investigate report made
by Major Lauchheimer, who as assistant
adjutant and inspector reported to the
Navy Department that Colonel Meade,
who commanded the marine barracks at
the navy yard In New York, was intoxi-
Gated while on duty on the occasion of an
official inspection of the marine barracks
made by Major Lauchheimer
The court was further ordered to inves-
tigate a report made by Colonel Denny,
quartermaster of the Marine Corps, charg-
ing Colonel Meade with intoxication on
two occasions when Colonel Denny Off
cially visited the barracks on duty con-
nected with repair work there.
Colonel Meade In a report made counter
charges which the court was also ordered
TO investigate. He charged that Major
Lauchheimer had made false and mali
cious reports against him; that Colonel
Denny had made false and malicious re-
ports against him and had been guilty of
certain Irregularities in connection with
contracts for repair and Improvement
work at the barracks which Denny, as
quartermaster. had under his supervis-
ion In exonerating Colonel Denny and
Major Lauchheimer, the court adds its
opinion that Colonel Meade should be
court-martialed.
The enquiry, conducted by the court in
secret, presented a number of interesting
features and the record in the case is
long and full Of technical testimony. One
feature that has excited much comment
was the objection by Colonel Denny and
Maicr Lauchlieiner made about two
weeks after the hearing was begun,
against Commander Clifford II. West as
a member of the court. The other mem
bers of the court sustained the objection,
but instead of selecting third member.
Commander West wak merely excluded
from jurisdiction in the case and the
hearing proceeded before the two remain
ing members.
Colonel Meade entered the naval serv-
ice from Tennessee, June 4. 1862. He has
an excellent record for service and was
in command of the American forces at
Tientsin during the early stages of the
Chinese trouble.