The Washington times., 1902-06-24
Freed FROM PRISON
TO SEE Dying MOTHER
Naval Seaman to Hurry
Across the Country.
SENTENCE THOUGHT SEVERE
Had Been Good Seaman, But Hot
Temper Got Him Into Trouble Sew
eral Times - Kindness of Secretary
Moody.

Oscar Z. Bundy. seaman in the navy
will be released IL a few DAYS from the
naval prison at Mare Island, Cal. by
order of the Secretary of the Navy, and
Bundy will then hurry across the con-
tinent to little town in the New Hamp-
shire hills. where his mother, who is
dying OF consumption, clings to lie only
on the strength of the hope that her son
will come to he- before she passe.
away. Bundy is apparently young man
Of education. His people are refined and
of high standing In South Sandwich. N
H. His father. Rev. Mr.. Bundy. is a
Baptist clergyman there. The story OF
Bundy's trouble as disclosed by the Off
cial records is interesting.
When the war with Spain began
Bundy, then residing at North Sand
wich. was wild to get into tho navy.
He believed there was a better chance
to distinguish himself there than in the
army. From all accounts, he enlisted
from purely patriotic motives. He is on
the record as saying he would enlist If
"he had to scrub the decks" He saw
service in the war with Spain, and at
the expiration of his enlistment joined
for another three years.
Lost His Temper.
While one of the crew OF the
gunboat Don Juan de Austria. in
the Philippines, his high temper got
him into trouble, and while confined
in irons for breach of regula-
tions he refused to obey an order to
change his clothes. When brought to
trial before a court-martial for refus-
ing to obey this order he pleaded that
rust from the irons he had worn ruined
the white uniform he was wearing. and
that to change 1t meant the ruination
of another uniform. He did not have
any blue clothes, he said. The court
convicted him and gave him a short
sentence at the naval prison at Cavitc.
This was reduced considerably for good
behavior, and he was ordered back to
kong Bundy asked to be sent to some
other vessel. but the request was not
granted. When he went aboard the Don
Juan he renewed his request for trans
fer to Commander Charles C. Bowman.
Of that vessel. Commander Bowman
declined to sanction 1t.
Four Years Imprisonment.
Then Bundy lost his temper again. and,
according to specifications. INDUCED in
abusive. profane and threatening Ian
guage." He was Immediately placed un-
der arrest, and the court that tried the
case sentenced him to four years i'm
with loss of pay and allow
ances, and to be dishonorably dis
charged. At the trial Bundy said that
Il was his nature to act on the impulse of
character Of his offense. and could not
ask for cIemency. Rear Admiral Remey,
hen commanding the Asiatic station. re-
luced the sentence OF Imprisonment to
-hree years, and sent Bundy to the Mare
Island prison to serve 1t out.
In reviewing the record OF Bundy's
case recently, the Navy Department came
10 the conclusion that the sentence i'm
posed on him was too severe. The loss
Of pay and allowances. actually hne,
would amount to nearly $780, and the i'm
prisonment was particularly heavy. So
Secretary Moody decided to reduce it
and when he received ply
sician's certificate showing that the
Young mans mother was dying, he is
sued the order to release the sailor with
, dishonorab1e discharge. Bundy has al
ready served nine months OF his SEN
tence at Mare Island He will be given
s25 as he leaves the prison.