Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21

turned to Lieut.. Col. B. r. Russell. COM
manding the Marine barracks TOR state
| ment as to the reasons on which the leader
| of the band based his approval. In reply
he stated that he approved the application
| for substantially the reasons given by the
| applicant.
Thought He Was Disseminated Again
Lieut. Col. Russell, having been called
| upon for a report, said he had questioned
| Musician Esputa as to whether he had
| other reasons than those stated in his re-
| port for discharge, and he said that the
| reason he had done so was because he
felt he had been unjustly treated by the
| leader Of the band. He considered himself
! a first class musician, and Mr.. Santelmann
had promised to recommend him for pro-
| motion to first-class musician when
| vacancy occurred; he had not done so, but
| had recommended for promotion man who
| had been in the service very short time;
| that he has a feeling OF being discrim-
| mated against
On receipt of this statement General
Haywood. commandant, directed the COM
handing officer to make a thorough inveS-
view Of their serious character, an investi-
cation should be made in justice to the
leader of the band.
Thereupon Lieutenant Colonel Russell ap-
pointed a board of marine officers. consist
ing Of First L!eutenants B. F. Rittenhouse
and Thomas H. Lyons, and Second Lieuten-
ant r. c. Dewey to investigate the charges.
This board subsequently submitted the fol-
lowing testimony and report:
Report of the Board.
William H. Santelmann. leader Of the
band, appeared and testified in substance
as follows:
THAT he had never promised to make
Second-class Musician ]. Esputa a first
class musician, and at the time Esputa APP
piled for his discharge there were no va
cancies in the grade of f1rst-class must
clans. He stated that he had considered
the ACCESSIBILITY Of promoting second-class
Musician Esputa to f1rst-class musician,
but decided that Second-class Musician
Pfarr was more proficient, and therefore
recommended him, although he had been
in the band but short time. He stated
that Second-class Musician Esputa was an
excellent musician. but considered that the
band would be better off without him. Es-
puta had been frequently on the sick list,
and that he believed that such sickness
was due to alcoholism.
"Walter H. Smith, second ltader Of the
band. testified that, SO far as he knew,
mind against Second-class Musician Es-
puta; that Esputa was a fine musician,
but, in his opinion, Second-class Musician
Pfarr was a better man. He also stated
he thought the CHASING OF the band as
done by Mr.. Santelmann, was done in a
just way.
Esputa's Testimony.
'Second-class Musician Esputa testified
that his reason for wishing his discharge
| was on account Of the advancement Of
Second-class Musician. Pfarr instead of
himself. and not because he could not sup
port his family, stated in his applica-
ton. He testified that Mr.. Santelmann had
promised to make him a first-class must
clan, and upon not doing SO he desired to
leave the service. He also admitted that
he had criticised the band leaders ap-
pointments before other members of the
band.
" In response to an inquiry of the senior
| member, Medical Inspector Dickson, u S.
N, informed the board that the medical
records showed no record of alcoholism in
the case Of ]. Esputa, second-class musician.
Second-class Musician A. Tregina tes-
tilted that there was no cause Of complaint
| in the classification; that both Esputa and
Pfarr were good musicians, and that the
| classification Of the band was now good.
civilian H. Walton, second-class mu-
stefan, testified that Mr.. Esputa had crit
| icised Mr.. Santelmann's appointments, and
that Mr.. Santelmann was fair and impartial
| been drunk off duty; was noticed once
slightly under the influence Of liquor on
duty. Esputa had boarded at his house for
| nearly year; was somewhat frequently
| drunk, and was generally sick the next day.
Hans Wunderlich. frst-class musician
| testified that both Esputa and Pfarr were
good musicians, and that Mr.. Santelmann
| had shown no Partially.
| Theodore Sevenhuysen second-clas So
| musician, testified that Mr. Santlemann had
1 shown no Partially.
| The Findings.
! 1--WE find that Mr.. Santlemann was fully
warranted in promoting second-class musi-
| clan Pfarr instead of second class musician
| Esputa, and that in so doing he has con-
| sidered only the best interests of the
| service.
| "'There is no evidence to show other than
| the statement of Musician Esputa, which is
| denied by Mr.. Santelmann, that the latter
| at any time promised to recommend Musi-
clan Esputa for promotion to frst-class
musician.
There is no evidence to show that Sec
| ond-class Musician Esputa has been dis
| crimipated against.
| 1--WE find that the reasons given In the
| application of Second-class Musician Esputa
| for discharge are untrue and not substan-
| tiated by any evidence.
1--we believe that it would be to the in
| terest of the service that the application OF
| Musician Esputa for discharge be granted
but not on the grounds set forth in his APP
| plication. but rather because his attitude
toward the leader of the band Is detrimental
| to discipline In the band, and we recommend
that he be discharged as unfit for the
| service"
Filed a Petition.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Esputa filed a pc
| tition at the Navy Department averring
! that an injustice had been done him In
connection with his discharge from the
Marine Band. Lieut.. Santlemann was
called on for report in regard to this Pc
! tition and replied as follows:
II emphatically deny at any time favor
ing any person either in respect to promo
| tions or in the allotment of private en-
gagements of the band.
II also deny that have assigned the
petitioner to any instrument that he did
not enlist for. At the time OF Esputa's
enlistment the position of baritone was va
cant. and 1t was after an examination as
to his proficiency upon the baritone, and
with full understanding that 1t was this
| instrument to which he would be assigned
that he enlisted. In this connection l de-
sire to state that have proofs of his hav-