New-York tribune., 1902-06-19

London June 1s-The text Of the findings of 1he
court cf inquiry in the case CT the United states
naval officers imprisoned at Venice IN the laIteF
parr Of April throws a new and important Esht
on the affair. It n9w appears, 10 quote tne and-
iugs that the United States Consul ar venice
Henry =. Johnson. and the lawyer provided oy nm
for the defence advised the officers TO plead tha'
they were violently drunk This they declined %
do Pear Admiral Aren't 3. Crowninshielc, com
rnanding the European squadron in reviewing the
findings OF the court. severely eensures captain
James H Dayton the commander OF the Chicago.
for not personally attending to the defence OF ths
officers and con~ents on the revolving Nlt'4s
mites suffered by the officers while confined az
yAnfoe Under the circumstances Admiral Crown
insheId holds "a court martial would oe farce'
Captain Dayton's court OF inquiry minutely traces
the movements the officers Of the Chicago on the
day Of their arrest and says Lieutenant Johh =
Doddridge and Surgeon Robert E Ledoetter were
affected by liquor to noticeable extent. but were
not intoxicated in the ordinary meaning OF tn7
term and there is evidence that the o'her
PARTIES were affected by drinking
The disturbance arose when Captain Robert r
wynne. commanding the Marine Guard Of the Chi
oago seeing Doddridee and Ledbetter sitting out
side FIoran's cafe. gave hail, unusual IN thls
place. resembling vi! vi! VI Lieutenant
Doddridge and Surgeon Ledbetter ran toward cap
tain Wynne upsetting chairs and Two small tables
\ large crowd and the police Immediately sur
rounded Lieutenant DoddEidge, who endeavored 70
expIain The crowd" the findings continue.
pressed on, shouting and gesticulating and Were
not well controlled by the police Inc poi-Ce
seized Lieutenant Doddridge- and apparently al
the same time the crowd attacked him LisateH-
ant Doddrfdge was roughly handled by the police
and II required assistance Of cltlzens 10 e7c'
his arrest. But there were no means OF olsIln-
gushing the persons assisting the ponce from
those who were wantonly attacking the prisoner
CAPTAIN wynne Surgeon Ledbstter, Naval Cadet
James {. Kress and Langley. marine all torcloly
endeavored to help Lieutenant Doddridse' retaAa1-
ing for the assistance OF the civilians out not at-
tacking the police
AT the station it is added in the hndlnss o.
the court there was much excitement The
crowd was at first allowed therein, and no one
appeared to be in high authority The crowd
shouted and gesticuIated. ard the officers made
demands and protests. Their treatment IN prison
was severe and extremely humiliating, but there
is no evidence that the prison ruieS were eA-
ceeded."
The officers defence was self-defence against
civilians. that no police were knowingly resisted
and that their intention was not to rescue Lieu
tenant Doddridge but protect him from violence
inflicted by outsiders.
The court refers 70 the disadvantage at whicn
the officers were placed during the trial owing TO
their ignorance of the Italian language and laws.
and says:
The interpreter. who was a consular CLERK 7s Was
not siccessiul or .1T51ieTS was fre-
gSe0tly manifested. and efforts were made by tH@
In summing up. the court finds that, while the
atfors or cadet Kress were indiscrest, further
nroreedi0gs against him should be taken; the same
conclusion Is arrived regarding Langley. and the
court recommends that Lieutenant Doddrldge. cap
tain Wynne and Surgeon Ledbetter be tried oy
court martial for conduct Unbecoming an oLlCsE
and gentleman: that Lieutenant DOddridse and
Surgeon Iedbetter be tried for being uotlceaoY
affected by liquor. and upEettns tables ana cnalTS'
and that Captain Wyuue be tried for his unusuaI
hail in the quiet Of St. Marks square. and run
ming among chairs and tables in public cafe
In quashing all the communications for courts
martial Admiral CrowninshieId says;
After a minute consideration it appears that
there was not sufficient evidence adduced De
TONS against Surgeon Lad6etteE; LisLtenant Dod
drtdse and Saptan " yGus, 1 nrst named we're not
notfceabIy affected by liquor The matter az
TO have been forced to trial on account OF tHe
/ under 4 = authority OF any branch OF the ltaIian
Character was such that the officers were vic
timzsd. That the matter ala come 10 trial
ing in nOtOriety detrimental 70 the reputation OF
/ those involved and to the good name OF the ser
y+ce was due at least In part to the omission 70
commanding officer OF 4 United states naEaI Fesse4
in case the arrest on shore OF one OF MS COM
mand himself either makes immediate and dlrecI -
representations FOR his relief, or appears IN cour.
an officer 10 perform these duties. Without tnls
us ai;irt frdigniTi4s during the period OF their
/ confinement. and even in court sucn as are un-
I
/ own country and, though these matters are apart
from the question OF the eulpa olAty OF tne persons
arrested they the cause OF much OF the noto-
riaty attendant the case
The sum total OF the matter Is that TWO officers
had a dispute with q waiter there and ran amongst
chairs and tables. all the tables and onalrs oelng
deserted at the time that or them upset taotsS
and chairs. and that another called out in loud
! tones in the deserted square. While some or all
of these actions may be considered 1ndlscreet or
/ lacking in dignity. OF them merit court
martial and none can be characterized bringing
/ scandal or disgrace the naval service Hence
the court of inquiry clears the officers OF resisting
public authority unwarrautably attacking citl-
! zens. which the principal il not the only
points on which the Italian court found the parties
guilty. The government is relieved of the ernoar-
raSsuent bringing the parties to trial, when no
/ offence exists, simply to keep possible though
entirely unauthorized promise that court martial
should follow the court OF inquiry The parties Will
be admonished conduct themselves IN Ins
future as avoid, if possible repetition OF the
/ occurrences leading this court OF Inquiry