The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-19
DAYTON IS
 CENSURED CrOWninShield Scores the
 Captain. OFFICERS OF THE CHICAGO Another Chapter of the Venice
 EScapade. Commander of Cruiser Criticised for Not Seeing That the Accused Men Were Given a Fair and
 Impartial Trial.

ing of the court of inquiry into the case of the United States naval officers inn prisoncd at Venice in the latter part of April throws a new and important light on the affair. It now appears that the United States consul at Venice. Henry A. Johnson. and the lawyer provided by him for the defense, urged the officers to plead that they were violently drunk. This they utterly declined to do.
 Rear Admiral Crowninshield, command ing the European squadron, in reviewing the findings of the court, severely cen- sures Captain James H. Dayton, com- mander of the Chicago. for not personal ly attending to the defense of the officers. and comments on the "revolting indigni- ties' suffered by the officers while con fined at Venice. Under the circum- stances. Admiral Crowninshield holds, "a court-martial would be farce"
 Captain Dayton's court of inquiry min utely traces the movements of the officers of the Chicago on the day of their ar rest. and says Lieutenant J. s. Doddridge and Surgeon R. E. Ledbetter were ''af- fected 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 af- fected by drinking"
 The disturbance arose when Captain Robert F. Wynne. commanding the ma- rine guard of the Chicago, seeing Dodd- ridge and Ledbetter sitting outside Flo rian's cafe. gave hail, unusual in this place. resembling 'Yi Si Vi Si. Yi!'
 Lieutenant Doddridge and Surgeon Led better ran toward Captain Wynne, up- setting chairs and two small tables. X large crowd and the police immediately surrounded Lieutenant Doddridge, who endeavored to explain.
 Then the crowd pressed on, shouting and gesticulating. and were not we'll con trolled by the police. The police seized Lieutenant Doddridge, and. apparently at the same time. the crowd attacked him. Lieutenant Doddridge was roughly han dled by the police. and 1t required the as- sistance of citizens to effect his arrest. But there were no means of distinguish ing the persons assisting the police from those who were wantonly attacking the prisoners.
 Captain Wynne, Surgeon Ledbetter. Ma val Cadet J. Press and Langley Marines all attempted to aid Lieutenant Dodd- ridge, retalating for the assistance of the civilians, but not attacking the po- lice.
 At the station" it is added in the find- ing of the court, there was much excite ment. The crowd was at first allowed therein. and no one appeared to be in high authority. The crowd shouted and gesticulated and the officers made de- mands and protests Their treatment in prison was severe and extremely humil- iating. but there is no evidence that the prison rules were exceeded"
 The officers pleaded se1f-defense against civilians, that no police were knowingly resisted, and that their intention was not to rescue Lieutenant Doddridge, but to protect him from violence.
 The court refers to the disadvantage at which the officers were placed during the trial owing to their ignorance of the Ital- ian language and laws and says:
 "The interpreter, who was a consular clerk, was not successful or satisfactory. The strong feeling against the officers among the audience was frequently man. ifested and efforts were made by the magistrate to suppress the manifesto tions.''
 In summing up, the court finds that while the actions of Cadet Kress were indiscreet. no further proceedings against him should be taken. The same conclu- sion is arrived at regarding Langley.
 The court recommends that Lieutenant Doddridge Captain Wynne and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried by court-martial for conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman; that Lieutenant Doddridge and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried for be- ing noticeably affected by liquor and up- setting tables and chairs;" and that Cap tain Wynne be tried for his unusual hail in the quiet of St. Marks Square and running among the chairs and ta- bles in d public inn"
 In quashing all the recommendations for court martial Admiral Crowninsheld says:
 After a minute examination. it appears that there was not sufficient evidence ad- duced by the court of Inquiry to estab- fish the allegations against Surgeon Led better. Lieutenant Doddridge and Cap tain Wynne. Weight of evidence shows that the two first named were not notice ably affected by liquor. The matter ap- pears to have been forced to trial on ac- count of the representations of the civil ians. who are in no way under the au- thority of any branch of the Italian gov ernment, national or municipal. and whose character was such that the of ficers were Victimized. That the matter did come to trial. resulting in notoriety detrimental to the reputation of those in- volved and the good name of the service, was due at leaot in part to the failure to observe that custom of the service where