The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-19
Findings of the Court of Inquiry Con-
Quoted on the Cruiser Chicago Dis
approved by CrOwninshieId.
CAPTAIN DAYTON CENsURED
FOR NOT ATTENDING TO THE DE-
TENSE OF ACCUSED OFFICERS,
Who Were Inundated and Subjected
to '.RevOlting IEdignities" While
i'm IN Italian Prison.

LONDON, June 1S.-The text of the find
ings Of the court Of inquiry in the case
of the United States naval officers i'm
prisoned at Venice in the latter part of
April throws a new and important light on
;he affair. Il now appears that the United
States consul at Venice. Henry A. John
son, ana the lawyer provided by him for
the defense, urged the officers TO plead
that they were violently drunk. This they
utterly declined 10 do. Rear Admiral
Crowninshield. commanding the European
squadron. in reviewing the findings of the
court. severely censured Capt. ]. II. Day.
ton. the commander of the Chicago, for
not personally attending TO the defense of
the officers, and comments on the re
voting indgnities' suffered by the officers
while confined at Venice. Under the cir
cumstances Admiral Crowninshield holds
"a court-martial would be a farce"
Captain Dayton's court of inquiry mi
nutely traces the movements of the officers
OF the Chicago on the day of their arrest
and says Lieut.. ]. s. DOddridge and Sur
geon l.. T.. Ledbetter were affected by
liquor to a noticeable extent, but were not
intoxicated in the ordinary meaning Of the
term. and there is no evidence that the
other parties were affected by drinking"
The disturbance arose when Capt Robert
f. Wynne, commanding the marine guard
Of the Chicago. seeing DOddridge and Led
better sitting outside FIoTlen's cafe, gave
a hail, unusual in this place, resembling
III! yii vi yi!' Lieutenant DOddridge
and Surgeon Ledbetter towards Cap
tain Wynne. upsetting chairs and two
small tables. a large crowd and the pO-
lice Immediately surrounded Lieutenant
DOddridge, who endeavored to explain.
CROWD NOT WELL CONTROLLED.
THE crowd the findings continue
pressed on, shouting and gesticulating
and were net well controlled by the police
The police seized Lieutenant Doddridge
and apparently. at the same time. the
crowd attacked him. Lieutenant Dodd-
ridge was roughly handled by the police.
and it required the assistance of citizens
TO effect his arrest. But there were no
means OF distinguishing the persons as
sisting the police from those who were wan
tonly attacking the prisoners. Captair
Wynne, surgeon Ledbetter, Naval Cadet
James .. kress and Langley a marine
all forcibiy endeavored TO help Lieutenant
Doddridge, retaliating for the assistance
of the civilians, but not attacking the po-
lice.
AT the station. it is added in the find
Ings Of the court. there was much ex-
citement. The crowd was at first allowed
10 reign. anc no one appeared TO be in high
authority. che crowd shouted and gestic-
ulated and the officers made demands and
protests. Their treatment in prison was
severe and extremely humilating but
there Is no evidence that the prison rules
were exceeded"
The officers pleaded seIf-defense against
civilians, that no police were knowingly
resisted and that their fntentton was not
10 rescue Lieutenant Doddridge. but TO
protect him from violence inflicted by out
siders. The court refers 10 the disadvant-
age at which the officers were placed dur
Ing the trial, owing 10 their ignorance of
the Italian language and laws, and saws:
Inc interpreter, who was a consular
clerk. was not successful or satisfactory
The strong feeling against the officers
amongst the audience was frequently man
ifested and efforts were made by the mag
lStrate 10 suppress the manifestations"
In summing up, the court finds that while
the actions OF Cadet kress were indiscreet
no Iurther proceedings against him should
be taken, the same conclusion is arrived
at regarding Langley. and the court reconn-
mends that Lieutenant Doddridge Captain
Wynne and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried bv
court-marual for conduct unbecoming an
officer and gentleman that Iieute1anf
DOddridge and Surgeon Ledbetter he trisd
Tor being notlceably affected by liquor
and upsetung tables and chairs" ard that
Captain Wynne be tried for his unusual
hail in the quiet OF St. Marks Square
and running among chairs and tables in
public cafe.
CROWNINsHIELD' STATEMENT.
In quashing all the recommendations for
courts-martial Admiral Crowninshield
says: After minute examsaati il ap-
pears that there was not sufficient evidence
sdduced before the court OF inquiry TO es-
tablish the allegations against Surgeon
Ledbetter, Lieutenant Doddridge and Cap
tain Wynne. The weight OF the evidence
shows that the two first named were not
noticeably affected by liquor The matter
appears 10 have been forced to trial on
account OF the representations of civilians
who were In no Wav under the a1tbo~tt,.
OF any branch OF the Italian government.
national or municipal. and whose character
such that the officers were victimized
That the matter did come 10 trial result
ing IN notOriety detrimental 10 the reputa-
ton or those involved. and 10 the good
name OF the service. was due. at least IN
part. 20 the omission 10 observe that Gus
tom OF the service whereby the command
ing officer OF a United States naval vessel
in case OF arrest on shore OF one OF his
command. himself makes immediate and
direct representations for his release, or
appears in court 10 aid in seeing that JUS