The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-06
PRIVATE GREEN'S
CASE.
SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN No GROUND
FOR CHARGES.

Supt. wainwright Makes n Report
in Which He Says That Green Re-
eeived Every Attention and Was
Subjected to no Unnecessary Hard
ship, and That His Death Resulted
From Uncomfortable Causes-CiviI
Witnesses VIII BE Asked to APP
pear ana Give Their Testimony.
Washington, Jan. 5.-Secretary Long to-
day received the report of Commander
Richard Wainwright, superintendent of
the Naval Academy, in the matter of the
sickness and death of Hobart Green, phi
vate L. S. NJ. c. This case was brought
TO the notice of the Navy Department by
Representative Rixey of Virginia, 1t was
represented that Green's death was due
to improper treatment by the officials of
the Naval Academy. Secretary Long re-
ferred all the papers in the case 10 the
superintendent of the academy, with in
structions to make a full investigation
and report the result to the department.
supt. Wainwright's report considers the
written charges of ]. A. MacGregor and
the various newspaper articles in refer
ence to the case seriatim and says:
The charges have been carefully inves-
tigated, as directed There is not the
slightest foundation for any of the
charges"
Continuing. Commander Wainwright
says:
Private Green was admitted to the sick
list on Dec. Il, 1900, with 'catarrhus cpl
demicus On the 18th diagnosis was
changed to pneumonia and the case ter
minated fatally at 1855 a. m. on Dec. Is
Green was seen frequently by a medical
officer, and was constantly attended by
hospital nurse. His cot was provided with
blankets and clean linen, and was screen
ed off on the gundeck to insure protec-
ton from drafts and disturbance. The
ship was well-heated, and there was no
unnecessary cleaning in the Enclosure
where he was. His medicines and stimu-
lants were given at specified times by
nurse. His diet was milk and a special
diet drawn from the hospital stores, of ex-
cellent quality, given al frequent intervals
by nurse He performed no duty after
being admitted to the sick list. He receiv-
ed the same assiduous professional at
tention and nursing care accorded TO
every serious case, and his death result
ed from uncomfortable causes. After
death the remains of Private Green were
taken charge CT by the undertaken, pre-
pared for burial, and on the afternoon
of the 18th, inferred in the National Gem
etery here with military honors, as pre-
scribed by the navy regulations"
Representative Rixey to-day received a
letter from Secretary Long advising him
that the persons said to have information
regarding the ill-treatment of Private
Green on board the Santee will be asked
to appear at Annapolis and give their tes-
timony, the navy department paying the
expenses of the trip. These witnesses are
]. M. McGregor of Stafford, Va, who
went to Annapolis and made an investi-
CATION which satisfied him that Green
had not been properly cared for at the
time of his fatal illness, and Rev. j.
Howard Gibbon, an Episcopal minister
and DR.. Payne. both of Stafford, who saw
the body when it arrived at Stafford
dressed in shirt and trousers and not IN
the uniform said to be required by the
regulations. In view of Secretary Longs
assurances that the circumstances OF
GREEN'S death will be thoroughly investi-
gated. Mr.. Rixey will take no further
step pending the inquiry. which is expect
ed to occur as soon as the Virginia wit
nesses can proceed to Annapolis.
Secretary Long said this afternoon that
the navy department was prepared to
make itself, or permit to be made, any
investigation within reason if it should
be thought necessary to follow up the
report of superintendent Wainwright
upon the conditions under which the ma
rine, Hobart Green, died at Annapolis.
AT Representative Rixey's instance he
had directed Superintendent Wainwright
to summon to Annapolis at the govern
ment's expense and examine before the
board conducting the inquiry, the clergy
man referred to by Representative Rixey
as having some knowledge of the case
The inquiry closed and the report was
forwarded by the board before this in
struction reached Commander VAIN
wright, but there will be no objection on
the part of the department to re-opening
the case if Representative Rixey so de-
slres. or as Secretary Long puts it, TO
doing anything within reason to develop
the facts.