Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-18
NO COURT MARTIAL
Of Chicago's Officers Arrested
in Venice.
DAYTON CENSU RED
ITO
FOR NOT BEING PRESENT AT THE
TRIAL. ~
Admiral Crowninshield Sets Aside
Findings Of the Court Of
Inquiry.
DAYTON CENSURED

InSS OF the court OF inquiry IN the case OF
the United States naval officers imprisoned
at Venice in the latter part of April throws
new and important light on the affair. IT
now appears that the United States consul
at Venice, Henry A. johnson, and the law
yer provided by him for the defense urged
the officers to plead that they were violent
ly drunk. This they utterly declined to do
Rear Admiral Crowninshield, commanding
the European squadron, in reviewing the
findings of the court. severely censures Cap
tain James II. Dayton, the commander of
the Chicago, for not personally attending
to the defense of the officers, and comments
on the 'revolting indignties suffered by"
the officers while confined at Venice. Un-
der the circumstances Admiral Crownin-
shield holds "a court-martial would be a -.
farce"
Captain Daytons court of inquiry minute
ly traces the movements of the officers OF
the Chicago on the day of their arrest, and
says Lieutenant John S. Doddridge and
Surgeon Robert E. Ledbetter were affect
ed by liquor to a noticeable extent, but
were not intoxicated in the ordinary. mean
Ing of the term, and there is no evidence
that the other parties were affected by
drinking"
How the Trouble Arose. 80
The disturbance arose when Capt. Robert
F. Wynne, commanding the marine guard
of the Chicago, seeing Doddridge and Led
better sitting outside Florian's cafe. gave
a hail, unusual In that place, resembling
VI! vi. Yi!" Lieut.. Ooddridge and
Surgeon Ledbetter ran toward, Capt.
Wynne. upsetting chairs and two small
tables. A large crowd and he police i'm
nediately surrounded Lieut Doddridge,
who endeavored to explain. The crowd
the findings continue, pressed on. shout
ing and gesticulatng. and were not well
controlled by the police. The police seized
Lieut.. Doddridge and apparently at the
same time the crowd attacked him. Lieut..
Doddridge was roughly handled by the
police. and it required the assistance or
citizens to effect his arrest. But there
were no means of distinguishing the pei r
sons assisting the police from those who
were wantonly attacking the prisoner
Capt. Wynne, Surgeon Ledbetter. Naval
Cadet James c. kress and Langley. ma
rine. all forcibly endeavored to help Lieut.. J
Doddridge, retaliating for the assistance Of
the civilians. but not attacking the police.
AT the station it is added in the find
ings of the court. there was much excite
ment. The crowd was at first allowed
therein, and no one appeared to in high
authority. The crowd shouted and gestic-
u!ated, and the officers made demands and
protests. Their treatment in prison was Sc
we're and extremely humiliating, but there
is no evidence that the prison rules were
Plea of Self-Defense. - oar.
The officers pleaded self-defense against
civilians, that no police were knowingly re-
sisted. and that their intention was mot to
rescue Lieut.. Doddridge, hut to protect him
from violence inflicted by outsiders.
The COURT refers to- the disadvant ge' at
which the officers We're placed during the
trial, owing 30 heir agnorahca of the Itat.
ian language and laws, and says: 20 a..l
The interpreter who was a Consular
clerk, was not successful or satisfaction
The strong feeling against the officers
among the audience was frequently mani
tested, and efforts We're made by the mag
istrates to suppress the manifesto ionsf'
In summing up, the court finds that while
the actions of Cadet Kress were indisoreet
no further proceedings against him should
be taken; the same conclusion is arrived at
regarding Langley. and the court RECON-
mends that Lieut.. Doddridge. Capt
Wynne and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried by,
court-martial for conduct unbecoming an
officer and a gentleman" that Lieut.. iDoti-
bridge and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried for
being noticeably affected by liquor! and
upsetting tables and chairs" and that
Capt. Wynne be tried for "his unusual hail
in the quiet Of st. Marks Square" and run
ming among chairs and tables in a public
cafe.
In quashlng all the recommendations for
courts-martial Admiral Crowninshield says.
Admiral Crowninshield's Position,
"After a minute examina ton 1t appears
that there was not sufficient evidence ad-:-
duced before the court of inquiry to estab-
lish the allegations against Surgeon Led
better. Lieut.. Doddridge and Capt Wynrie.s
The weight of the evidence shows that the
two first named were not noticeably af-
fected by liquor. The matter appears to-
have been forced to trial on account of the
representations Of civilians who were in
no way under the authority Of any branch
or the Italian government, national or mu-
nlc1pal. and whose character was such thai
the OfhcerS were victimized.
THAT the matter did come to trial result
ing In notOriety detrimental to the reputa-
tion OF those involved and to the good
name OF the service. was due. at least in
part, to the omission to observe that Gus
tom of the service whereby the comm arihtf...
ing officer of United States naval vessel
In case of the arrest on shore of one Of l1iy'
command, himself either makes Immediate
and direct representations for his relief 9ottt'
appears in court to aid in seeing that JUS
tice Is done, or designates an officer to pef.t
form these duties Without this customary
assistance all the parties were suffering re-
voting indignities during the period of
their confinement, and even in court such
as are unknown in the case OF the lowest
criminal in our own country, and though
these matters are apart from the question
they are the cause Of much of the noto-'
riety attendant on the case.
Bottom Facts Of the Matter.
1.-The sum total Of the matter is that two
officers had dispute with waiter there.
and ran among chairs and tables. ali the
tables and chairs being. deserted al The
time; that one OF them upset tables, and
chairs and that another called out In loud
tones in the deserted square. While some
or all Of these actions may be considered
indiscreet or lacking in dignity, none Of
them merit court-martial and none can
be characterized as bringing scandal or dis
grace on the naval service Hence the
court of inquiry clears the officers of resist
ing public authority or unwarrantabIy ats
lacking citizens, which are the principal If
not the only points on which the italian
court found the parties guilty. The gov
eminent is relieved Of the embarra ssment
Of bringing the parties to trial, when no
ofense exists. simply to keep a possible
though entirely unauthorized promise that
court-martiaI should follow the court of
inquiry. The parties will be admonished
to so conduct themselves in the future as
to avoid If possible a repetition of the oc-'
currences leading to this court of inquiry"
IL H.,