The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-16
His Counsel Says Steward Vas
Treated Worse Than " as
Dreyfus.
ALREADY SENT TO PRISON
Personal Appeal on Behalf OF
Convicted Man Will Be Made
10 Secretary Meyer.
rsnecial 70 The Times-Dispatch. ]


Norfolk. Va. December 15.-Follow-
ing the announcement yesterday of the
ccurt-martial verdict sentencing W.
W. Dickey. chief commssary steward
on the Sattleship Kansas. to five
years Imprisonment at hard labor for
.scardaious conduct. tending to the
destruction of good morals R. RAN
dolph Hicks. counsel for hickey, has
t,led with the Secretary OF the Navy a
sensational brief. 1t is featured by
the declaration that falsely incrimi-
mating statement was extracted from
the steward through duress. solitary
confinement and finally the threat OF
irons
Although Secretary of the Navy
Meyer has ordered delay of final action
on the sentence IN order 10 hear
Dickey's appeal from the verdict, and
in face of habeas corpus proceedings
shat are pending in his behalf. the
convicted steward has 'oeen sent on
10 Portsmouth. y. H. where he will
serve the sentence IL IL is sustained
by Secretary Meyer
At the order of the commander-in-
chief of the fleet. he was taken away
iast night on the Merchants and Min
ers' Line
experimenting information given as
to the contents of his brief to the Sec
rotary of the Navy Attorney Hicks. in
an interview to-day, branded Dickey's
treatment as outrageous oppression
without precedent in modern civiliza-
ton. save in the persecution Of the
Jews In Russia"
Mr. Hicks declared t<at Dickey had
been treated worse than was the cele-
- Il f~h fed
ana sentenced he said upon false evil
.ience. nevertheless knew what the
charge against him was. Il say UNI
hesitatingiy." asserted Mr.. -iicIs.
that Dreyfus was not treated as
badly as this man"
After reviewing the circumstances
Leading up to the arrest Of the steward
on a charge Of "scandalous conduct.
tending TO the destruction OF good
morals" the attorney stated that the
charge. which he declared said nothing
definite. had never been known TO
either civil or military law. The spec
ihcstions on which the steward was
arraigned. he pointed out. did not
convey TO the accused man any def
mite knowledge OF what ne was 10
stand trial for. Conflicting statements
BY Dickey concerning confessions incl
Ofhf 10 lNf lINfSiiE8NtNH u
irregularities in the purchase OF com
ryiSSary stores were cited In the spec
iticaiious. but no intimation was given.
he said. os which % the statements
no would be called upon to prove was
false and which true.
Referring 20 events preceding The
arrest Of she steward on specifications
alleging ~scandaious conduct" Mr..
Hicks declared that Tor nearly two
months Dirkey was kept IN s0iitsr'
confinement AM rcfUsed permission 10
employ counsel when there was not
ScirtllIa % charge against him.
Captain Marin. who ordered his con-
frcmcnt. and who was judge-advocate
NJ tho court martial testified in the
trial that the steward vss confined
- material witness Tor tie inNesti-
CATION 4 conmisssry irregularities.
Mr.. Hicks claims. however. that ~"
confinement was oppression by which
60 force the steward 20 sign state
uert relating % com.missary trreEu-
iarities which the steward had refused
70 sign. To this he adds The story
tola nv Dickcy that after nearly two
months IN fhe brig. he was Informed
that his ship would soon sail and D.
would - Transferred 90 the receiving
shin Franklin either q free man OF
IN irons " h. signed the confession.
fcortlnuc3 % Serond Psge)