The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-22
PAYMASTER NICHOLSON'S TRIAL.
Admiral Evans Scores the Court and the
Officers Who Recommend Clemency.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2l.-Rear Admiral
Robley d. Evans, commander-in-chief OF
the Asiatic feet, has made o scorching
review OF the findings Of court-martial
which tried Assistant Paymaster Richworth
Nicholson. who was charged with drunken
ness and scandalous conduct, tending to
the destruction Of good morals. 1t was
alleged that Nicholson, while on shore at
Chefoo, China, assaulted an old man. and
otherwise conducted himself In a scandalous
manner while under the influence OF liquor.
and afterward committed a falsehood in
denying the charges.
The sentence of the court was reduction
Of five numbers in grade. Three officers
Of the court, Lieut.. Williams and Pay
masters Venahle and Briscce went 80 far
as to recommend clemency.
Rear-Admiral Evans in his Endorsement
disapproved the findings Of the court as
being totally. Inadequate. In the record
aGe e the Msyy Part tHdsy
offence was gross and that he should have
been sentenced to dismissal from the SER
vice. As for the three officers who recon-
mended clemency, Admiral Evens pays his
respects to then, in this vigorous fashion:
These three officers have proved to The oon-
Veuluy 6uJuOGIty anu 70 tn0 ueeI tnelT IN
in a position OF passing Judgment upon other
RsnSr ana dsna q ths naval ss4Va
Referring to the failure Of the court to
properly punish Nicholson, Rear Admiral
Evans SAYS: b..
Never before within the knowledge Of the
converting ,n,, authorlties. and. doubtless. not
vice, has such a travesty OF justice been COM
mitted as was done by the court in the case
W With s tat = II
oourt-martial order must 60 before the service
PromugatihS such trial. and the fact that
partiallty, according to the evidence before
t. nd q 5db e ths of
guilty, and then 50 completely to lay y aside aside
tenoe 60 totally different from that which they
1t is sufficient to make their brother officers
among the command Officers Of the navy. at
required by law to have arrived at the find
ings and sentence In this .caee-who. have
60 little interest IN maintaining the honor.
small an idea. Of the binding quality Of the
oath. which they took as members OF the
court.
The fact says the Admiral, shat Mr..
NICHOLSON mo- tNlu q 1dlbenOOO was e6s
tablished beyond a scintilla of doubt"
Tie members Of the court thus rebuked
were: Capt Uricl Sebree, president; Conn
nlandet William A. Marshall, Lieutenant
Commander Arthur W. Dodd, Lieutenant
Commander Thomas w. Kincaid, Lieut..
Philip Williams, Paymast er Harry f. Brscoe,
Passed Assistant Paymaster George ID.
Venable, and Lieut.. John T. Tompkins,
Judge Advocate.
No Colorado Troops for Army ManGuvres.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 2l.-A telegram was
received at the War Department this morn
ing from the Adjutant-General Of the
State Of Colorado, as follows:
We regret very much to say that owing
to the entire National Guard of Colorado
with the exception Of one company, being
in active service in Cripple Creek district
on account Of the strike. 1t will be Impossible
for. the STATE of Colorado to furnish pro-
,visional battalion to participate in the ma
nGuyres at Fort Riley In October.
SHERMAN M. BELL. Adjutant- General.