The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-20
Great rials of History.
TRIAL OF CAPTAIN McCALLA.

Captain Bowman II. McCalla, IA naval
officer. who attained considerable dts
tiuction during the spanish American
War, and eventually became a rear
admiral In the United states Navy. was
Tho subject of a naval court-mart!al
which attracted considerable attention
during 1890, with tho result that he
was for time relieved OF hia com
tnaui.
This court-,nar,lai trial was ordered
hS Secretary of tho Navy Tracy. and
at tho complaint OF . number Of petty
officers and men attached 10 the United
states slocp Of war Enterprise. u, tho
time commanded by Nccallu II vas
held AT The Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
those who sat In Judgment were Rear
Admiral Lewis y. Nimborly Commo-
dorc William i. Mccain. Captain Oscar
T. stanton ana Judge Advocate Perry
Gnrst. All wcre il fun uniform.
McCaila had as his counsel Joseph
II Choate. tho eminent lawyer. aud
Guslavus y. Ncnsc2, who WAS u class
mate In the training school with tho
Defendant Tho order creating IN"
court By TIA" Secretary az tile Navy
Was dated March {. nud required them
to inquire into the management OF
tho eutc!priso. tho systcm Of discipline.
aud amy cases % cruelty or oppression
pf any OF tho officers or crew upon her
cruise from October :. 1857. the dale on
mission, TO the present time"
Eleven men had volunteered TO give
testimony against McCaiIa. Including az
cnsilsn. chief engineer, ds we'll is
other petty officers ana scanen. Tho
talking of testimony was begun Of
March y. 1890. tho cxuInininy judge
being Garst. The rrst to testify was
licut'nout InEerson. who said hc re-
carried all the puulshiucuts In accord
nncc with the regulations when
no" sailmakcrs mate had been
placed IN irons ana smut up in one al
the coal huUkcrs for gcttiu, drunk
II" gave the maine OF five scaInen who
were placed IN strait-iackets for
N;Olous oi.uscs. and that others wore
der bT means OF hammocks. Ho also
iold now, when Fireman John L.
Walker cursed and abused tho captain
McCHila ordered him gagged, that
nucket OF water tie thrown In his face
and finally JhAt hc drew his sword an6
struck Walker on the head Win Il.
inEerson also testified that the En-
i"FuIisc hdd an exceptionally tough
l''' on board. y most important VT
ness was Lieutenant Samuel g Lem
10y VINO testified regarding the IN
kovernablc temper Of Captain Nc
Gala. and how. upon one instance.
where he Imagined {, sailor had smiled
sArcas ilcaliy at him. McCalia sent 70,
MS sword. and. hrandishing IT. said to
the sailor: Nov, blast you, is sou
hear" I'll kill YOU"
additional testimony was given q,
the hearing relative TO McCalle's c-uel-
- to the crew, which demonstrated
tHat there was at least an unusual sort
OF discipline maintained on hoard
PaYmnster Mudd and tho ah!p.s sur.
seon testified iavorably for the cap
tam. pnercnt sailors related how Mo.
Gala had Kept members OF hi, crew
iFoned together for eight and nine DAYS
az Il tline' ana upon ono occasion ten
men were ironcd hand and fco. in "A
iino, and that he had strung -hero ~,
ny the wrist AS the trial dcvcloped
- was brought out that L!tutenants
ihfcrsol1 ana Mulligan were as cruel
to The sailors as McCaila
Just before tho trial wa. concluded
n number OF officers testified as 70 thu
conduct Of some OF the sailors ana
petty officers, and that nothing had oc-
Cured in the way OF punishment that
was not In strict accord with tho rule
on board ship.
the remainder OF tho trial was h.Id
behind closed doors. II was ANAL,
concluded on Aprn 30 The court,s
findings were sent TO Washington ava
on May 10 tho Secretary Of tho Nav
'lNde puhIic his action In the case Il
was TO tho effect that the court bau
found McCalla guilty of all nv. cb.-na,.
OF which he was accused. and tho tecre
t"ry sentenced him ito he Suspended
IRON rank and duty for q period ~
'hree years, and to continue his pres.
cnt number on the list Of con1mondcr,
"hiIc or suspension" His nav Uos
mus reduced from $4,000 to about
Il. 100 per annurn
me sentence deprived Captain Mc.
|oiul IRON wearing his uniform, from
leaving the country, and from visi,t
me Navy Department during that linz
McCaiia ala not serve very LONG son,
tcncc, and lived 20 make his name -,
ored by his country through his bril-
, ,rSmt acn,eVements during the war
petition. for which ne received co,,
gressi"nal medal. tie was retired &,
Juno. 1906. and died In California -,
May 6. 1910. o"