The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-19
Attaches of Chicago Roughly
Treated in Venice.
cRoWHINSHIELD IS LIBERAL
UNITED STATES NAVAL OFF.
GERS JEERED IN COURT.

surears that the United States consul
ar Venice. Henry A. Johnson, and the
LAWYER provided by him for the de-
farea urged the officers to plead that
they we're violently drunk. This they
declined to- do. Rear Admiral A. S.
rrauufnshied. commanding the Eu-
rartu squadron. i'm reviewing the find
rgs of the court. severely Censurss
rgutain James III. Dayton. commander
of the chicago, for not personally at
tending to the defense of the officers,
and comments on the revolving indig-
mites" suffered by the officers while
confined at Venice. Under the circum-
stances. Admiral Crowninshield holds
"a raurt-martial would be a farce"
Dayton Makes Charges.
Captain Dayton's court OF inquiry
mfuuteIv traces the movements of the
officers Of the Chicago on the day Of
their arrest and says Lieutenant John
s. D0ddridge and Surgeon Robert r.
Lndbettcr were affected by liquor to
q noticeable extent. but were not in
t0xicated I'm the ordinary meaning of
the term. and there is no evidence that
the other parties were affected by
drinking
Wyune commanding the marine guard
of the Chicago. seeing Doddridge and
Lcdbetter sitting outside Floriau's cafe,
gave "a hail. usual i'm this place, resem-
bling "yi. sri. yi"
Lieutenant Doddridge and Surgeon
T.ndhntter ran toward Captain Wynne.
upeeuiug chairs and two small tables.
A large crowd and the police immedi-
atalv surrounded Lieutenant Dodd-
ridge. who endeavored to explain. "The
crowd" the findings continue. pressed
ON. shouting and gesticulaIing. but were
not we'll controlled by the police The
police secured Lieutenant DOddridge
and apparently az the same time the
% crowd attacked him. Lieutenant Dodd-
ridge was roughly handled by the pO-
lice and it required the assistance Of
citizens TO effect his arrest. But there
were no means Of distinguishing the
persons assisting the police force from
those who were attacking the prison
cr"
Captain Wynnc. Surgeon Ledbetter
Naval Cadet James @. Hress and Lang
ley. "a marine all forcibly endeavored
90 help Lieutenant DOddridge, retaliat-
ing for the assistance Of the civilians,
but not attacking the police.
Excitement at Police Station.
AT the station" it is added in the
findings of the court. there was much
excitement The crowd was at first
allowed therein and no one appeared TO
boz boz high authority. The crowd shout
ed and gesticulated. and the officers
made demands and protests. Their
treatment i'm prison was severe and
extremely humiIiatng, but there is no
evidence that the prison rules were eX-
gecdcd."
The officers pleaded self-defense
against civilians, that no police we're
knowingly resisted, and that their in
tcuuon was not to release Lieutenant
Doddridge. but TO protect him from vio-
lcuee inflicted by outsiders.
officers at Disadvantage.
The court refers to the disadvantage
az which the officers were placed dur
ing the trial. owing 20 their ignorance
of the Italian language and laws, and
says.
The Interpreter. who was a consular
clerk was not successful or satisfac-
tory. The strong feeling against the
officers amongst the audience was fire.
guonly manifested and no efforts were
made by the magistrate to suppress
the manifestations.
while the actions of Cadet Kress were
iDd.screet no further proceedings
against him should be taken. The
same conclusion is arrived at regarding
Langley. and the court recommends
that Lieutenant DOddridge Captain
Wynge ana Surgeon Ledbettcr be tried
10y cuurt-martial for conduct unbe-
coming am officer and a gentleman"
that Lieutenant DoddridSe and Sur
Eeou Ledbetter be tried for "being no.
u.eaHy affected by liquor and upset
ting tables and chairs" and that Cap
laIU Wyuue be tried for "his unusual
hail One TIE quiet Of St. Marks square.
and running among chairs and tables
in "a public cafe
Crowninshield's Explanation.
Iu quashing all the recommendations
f1r court martial Admiral Crownin-
shield says.
After "a minute examination. it APP
pears that there was not sufficient adj
aueej before the court Of inquiry TO
establish the allegations against Sur
-"'n Ledbettcr. Lieutenant DOddridge
ana Captain Wynne. The weight of the
evidence shows that the two first
named We're not nOticeably affected by
INHnr. The matter appears To have
Deem forced 60 trial on account of the
organizations of civilians who were in
N" Way under the authority Of any
branch of the Italian government, ma
l.nal or municipal and whose chdrac-
,.7 was such that the officers were vic
.a.l"d- That the matter did come TO
ld. resulting I'm notOriety detrimental
,' '1e reputation Of those involved and
.' The gOod name of the service, was
.a.. ~ least i'm part TO the omission
.' 'oservc that custom of the service
whereby the commanding officer OF q
.".ei states naval vessel, in case Of
.f" arrest ON shore OF one of his COM
...a. himself either makes immediate
... direct representa- tons for his re-
pei. or appears in court To aid i'm see
.- That justice Is done. or designstes
- ''Hccr tO perform these duties
without this customary assistance all
La.''s were suffering revolving indig-
r..'N during the period of their con-
....H."Hi and even iu court. such as are
Unknown i'm the case of the lowest Grim
...A'-y ln our own country and. though
..r. matters are apart from the Ques-
.. OF The cUlpability of persons ar
.N.'a. they are the cause of much of
90. A'ioriety attendant upon the case.
should Not Be Court-martialed
The sum total OF the matter is that
Two officers had q dispute with a waiter
..Ig ram amongst chairs and tables.
an ,le chairs and tables being deserted
o.. -Ne tfmei that one of them upset
', and chairs. and that another
-.."a OUT jon loud tones on the deserted
Square.
while some or all Of the actions may
Considered indiscreet or lacking I'm
'-lily, none of them merit a court
'laL and none can be characterized
b, bringing scandal or disgrace upon
-. naval service. Hence the court of
.tlIE clears the officers OF resisting
',I' authority or unwarrantably at
MnE citizens. which are the princi-
% not The only points on which