Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-26
ALLOWED TO RESIGN
Presidents Decision in Case of
Capt. Wynne.
COURT MARTIAL SENTENCE
To Be Dismissed the Service; Guilty
on All Charges.
sECRETARY's RECOMMENDATION
Followed by the Chief Executive
That He Be Given an Oppor-
tunity to Resign.

Although not officially announced, it is
known that the verdict of the court martial
was entirely against Capt. Robert F.
Wynne of the Marine Corps the court find
ing him guilty on all three charges and
fixing his punishment at dismissal The
charges on which the captain was tried
were: First, neglect of duty in not re-
porting the guard at quarters; second, will
full disobedience of orders, and, third. con-
duct pre1udicial to good order and dis
cipline.
capt. Wynne was arrested May 81 on
the order of Lieut.. Commander Bryan of
the Alabama. Capt. Wynne at the time
was assigned to duty on a board OF in
quiry, which duty he interpreted to mean
| that he was exempt from other service.
Following that construction, on the morn
Ing of May he failed to report when the
call TO quarters was sounded aboard his
ship. Lieut.. Commander Bryan noted his
absence and sent to Capt Wynne's quar-
tersto ascertain why he had not appeared.
Capt. Wynne sent back word that his as
signment on the board of inquiry relieved
him from any other duty and STAYED in
his quarters.
Lieut.. Commander Bryan then directed an
offlcer and two marines to bring Capt
Wynne on deck. Capt. Wynne refused at
Ai@k ~ iSPoi tiiS sltudiiCIi ilndliy DScOm-
ing so serious that a subordinate officer a
friend of Capt. Wynnes, went to him and
persuaded him to report to Lieut.. Comran-
der Bryan in order to avoid any further
trouble.
Medical Inquiry.
In addition to his court-martial Capt
/ Wynne also had to face a medical board of
inquiry That inquiry was held few days
after the court-martial adjourned, the board
hot 4
ard E. Ames of The battleship Maine. Sur
geon John F. Uric of the armored cruiser
Pennsylvania and Passed Assistant Surgeon
Richard B. Williams of the armored cruiser
West Virginia. The medical examination
was the result of the testimony offered at
the court-martial to the effect that owing to
a sunstroke Capt. Wynne suffered in the
Boxer troubles in China he was not In a
condition to appreciate his obligations to
his superfors properly and that he should
be retired from the service. Capt. Wynne
appeared before the medical board and tes-
tlhed that on August 6, 1900, while on the
march to Peking for the relief of the lega-
| tions he suffered a sunstroke near Yang
Tsun. In 1903 while at Guantanamo Cuba
and again in March of this year at the
same place he was prostrated by the heat
as result of the sunstroke in China.
The medical board found Capt. Wynne
sane in every way, but it is understood to
have recommended that in the future he
should not be assigned to service in the
tropics. This report is part of the rec
ord which has been forwarded by the Sec
retary OF the Navy to President Roosevelt.
Mr.. Theall's Brief.
E. S. Theall, counsel for Capt r. F..
Wynne. United States Marine Corps, ap-
peared before Secretary Bonaparte this
morning and submitted brief In the ma
ture of protest against the proceedings Of
the court-martial in the case of Capt
Wynne, which is now before the President
for final action. Mr.. TheaH's brief states
that three of the six members of the court
martial. one of them a surgeon, being In
doubt on that point. recommended that
board be appointed to determine the men,
tai condition OF the young officer. The de-
tense was based almost wholly upon the
theory that Capt. Wynne had been render
ed temporarily mentally unsound by sum
stroke and prolonged exposure incident to
the service. Rear Admiral Evans appointed
the medical board, which. as Mr. ThealI all
legged, having no knowledge OF the pre-
ceding testimony In the case. and without