Sunday morning globe., 1901-10-20
U. S. s BANcRoFr,
NAVY Yam, BOSTON MASS, -Nay7, Iool


Z. S. S BANCROFT,
NAVY YARD. BOsrON, MASS, HaV7, I00I.
SIR: L. ! respectfully submit the follow
ing statement in regard TO my application
for discharge and stating that would leave
the ship if the same was not granted and
also the report placed against me for in
subordination, upon the recommendation
contained in Bureau Of Navigation, fourth
Endorsement upon said application
O. Concerning the commanding officers
Endorsement, paragraph 2, ! wish to state
that consider my reas ons true in every
respect
Z. In paragraph 3, the commanding officer
states that was very insubordinate since
the arrival Of the ship at Key West, Feb
ruary IS, 1901, notwithstanding the fact
that three officers, with whom 1 served on
this and other vessels stated on oath (when
/ was tried by court-martial on March TO-
IooD after the above Endorsement was
made, that up to the time Of overstaying my
liberty, from March to March 8, my char
acter had been very good or excellent; con-
sequeutly some one has made wrong state
meut In the same paragraph l am accused
Of suffering from debauCh but the com
handing officer does not state that always
drilled the powder division daily, when ON
board al setting up exercise, infantry and
pistol driIl, and quite often single sticks,
and being % charge Of the forward part of
the division during other drills under the
supervision of the divisional officer. If in
a debauched condition why was I marked
clean and sober by the officer of the deck
when returned from liberty
cannot conceive why was permitted TO
perform any duty if I was iu the condition
stated. especially TO look after men under
the influence of liquor and the general
police duties of the ship. In the same
paragraph the commanding officer states
that knew the ship was going along side
the wharf To- coal, this was true as coal was
needed, but no date was designated, nor
was any order issued prior to my going ON
liberty nor did the ship go alongside the
wharf until about eight hours after my leave
had expired and did not commence coaling
until the following morning, about
twenty-four or more hours after my leave
had expired, which can be proven by the
ships log.
A. In paragraph A. the commanding officer
considers an offeuse committed by me more
serious than by landsman, but does not
consider that was punished with confne-
ment the same as any landsman, and that
my authority with the ships company and
the discipline Of the ship was weakened by
his action in permitting such punishment
to be executed For this act the command
ing officer received a communication, No.
2S,167, S. c. NJ, dated April 49, 1901, from
the honorable Secretary Of the Navy, which
can be procured from the records of the
Judge Advocate General / contend that IL
treated as a landsman I should be punished
as one. ] wish also to state that upon the
recommendation Of the officers Of the court.
martial by which ! was tried, the COM
mauding officer remtted one-half of the
fine imposed by the Court, and owing to
the same recommendation and also my
previous excellent record, the Secretary Of
the Navy remitted the remainder of said
fine
s. In paragraph S Of the comman ing
oiiiccr's Endorsement he calls attention to
the following statement made in my applica-
tou. If his discharge was not granted he
would be compelled TO leave at the first op-
portunity" By not completing the above
sentence the commanding officer causes my
statement TO be construed as a threat TO de-
sert the service; SUCH however was not the
case my statement was as follows: IF not
discharged / shall leave the ship at the FIRST
opportunity and report for dufY eise7eheye,"
as can be seen by reading my application
By the above statement ! wished to con-
vey to the department that would rather
abide by such punishment as the depart
ment saw fit TO impose on me and the
probability of being ordered to duty else
where than to remain longer on this vessel
under the then existing circumstances.
There was no intention, or even thought Of
my leaving the service except legitimately.
O. In paragraph o he relieves me from
duty awaiting the action Of the department
regarding said letter, but was restored 70
duty temporarily (by HIM about fifteen
days prior to the receipt Of my application
on board this vessel. donot know whether
the commanding officer was acting within
his right, but certainly did NOT actin accord
auce with his own Endorsement
NV conversation was 10 the effect that on
various occasions men we're granted liberty