The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-01-24
FELL FROM GRACE
WHILE N HONOLULU
Surgeon Munson Became IntOx-
icated While the Buffalo
Was in Port.

VALLEJO, January S.-Commander
Clarence NJ. Stone, commanding officer
Of the naval auxiliary Buffalo, who pre-
ferred the charge Of scandalous conduct
against Passed Assistant Surgeon Fran
els M. Munson, which resulted in his
being tried by court martial at the
Mare Island Navy Yard yesterday, is
coming in for no small amount of quiet
censure at the hands of many Of his
brother officers, particularly in view of
the fact that yesterday he took the
stand as witness for the accused, tes-
tifying to Doctor Munson's good char.
acter and general ability, and further
stating, indirectly that in the event
of Munson again being assigned to his
ship for duty he would be glad to have
him serve under him.
The incident out of which grew the
charge of scandalous conduct occurred
at Honolulu, wnen the Buffalo stopped
there en- route home from the Philip
pines. Munson, as well as several Of
the other officers who returned on the
Buffalo, had served several years on the
Asiatie station, and when they reached
Honolulu, always beloved of naval Of
tieers, several of them went ashore.
Friends were met, and, so the story
goes, wine flowed freely.
While this was not, brought out In
the testimony, it is stated by brother
officers of Doctor Munson that several
OF those in the party were feeling pretty
happy when they returned 10 the ship,
where Doctor Munson invited Com
mander Stone to join the wardroom
mess at dinner.
This he did, and during the dinner,
at which wine also was served, Mum
son dropped off into little doze. AS
a result, the matter was brought to
the attention Of the navy department
and Munson was ordered to appear be-
fore a court of brother officers at Mare
/ Island on the charge Of scandalous con
duct, the specification under the charge
being intoxication aboard ship while
the Buffalo was at Honolulu.
Short Trial.
Commander Hugh Rodman presided
as president of the court when it con-
vened ut the navy yard yesterday, the
other officers being Commander Guy
Brown of the receiving ship Independ-
; ence, Lieutenant Commander Mark st.
G.. Ellis, Lieutenant.C Commander Gate
wood s. Lincoln, Lieutenant Samuel l..
Graham, Surgeon Charles 2. Kindelber-
= ger, Passed Assistant Surgeon Ulys Rob-
ort Webb, Passed Assistant Surgeon
= Robert L. Hoyt and Captain Frank j.
5 Schwable of the Marine Corps. Lieu
8 tenant Ward Ellis of the Marine Corps
s appeared as counsel for the accused
officer.
Z Munson pleaded guilty to both the
4 charge and the specification, and as Q
o result the prosecution was unable Il
: introduce any witnesses, according tC
G naval usage.
/: The only ones to take the stand were
o Commander Stone and Lieutenant Viii
s liam II. Toaz, executive officer of the
5 Buffalo, both of whom were called by
. Doctor Munson, and both of whom ties
r titled to his excellent character and
splendid record.
The session lasted less than three
quarters of an hour, and yesterday aft
ernoOn the findings were forwarded Il
: Washington. That Doctor Munson viii
, receive nothing more than a reprimanC
is the general opinion here. Meanwhile,
he is confined to the receiving ship In
!, dependence, to which he was trans
U ferred, following the orders for hi
court martial.