The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-23
WILL DELVE DEEP
into HUFF CASE
Secretary Daniels Anxious to
Know if Shipbuilders Tried to
Reach" Naval Man.
OFFICERS STORY OF FIGHT
Only One Reference Made to
Situation During Trial Be
fore Court Martial.
OFFICERS STORY OF FIGHT

Washington. March 22.--Grcat inter-
est is being manifested In the investi-
! cation which Secretary OF the Navy
Daniels will mako into certain
features Of The LEA, case of Leg ne,
veloped at the time of that officers
cour,-martiai In Norfolk.
what facts IS any lie peslnd asser
lions by Huf's friends that his en-
counter with J. Philip kicsecker which
result of attempts by officials Of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock COMPANY TO induce Commander
OF the compauy's work on tho new
battleship Texas.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Huff was
| material for tho Texas and his friends
asserted that because of his efficient
service the company was under extra
head Of the correspondence division of
the company. was designated to "reacm
HUFF.
In tho trial of Commander Huff only
one reference to this situation was
made. and this was by Commanders H.
r. Pollock. who acted as Hufs coun-
sci, who said:
"Iiuff's efficient work in behalf of
the goyernment was costing the New
| Company $4,000 Il day, as he was hold
ing up the acceptance of the Texas
Daniels VIII Ask Pollock.
Secretary Daniels will write to Com
mander Pollock and ask him If he
meant to insinuate that the shipbuild-
ing company was behind the apparent
efforts or kiesecker to establish friend
~ social relations with Lieutenant
Commander and Mrs Huff, which led to
the hstic encounter between the two
men.
Commander Hun said on the stand:
my own mind that Kiesecker knew he
was personally Objectionable to me. for
had clearly shown him it in every
the only method that would he under
stood by man OF his type. I adopted
down and deliberately insulting him
don't know what ii takes to insult
man of that type.
and kiesecker met first at a dance at
9. golf club in Hampton, Va. of which
about month or six week before their
fight.
huff Mulfj according to his statement. in;
times with Mrs. HUFF. that they were
anxious TO take the last car back TO
Newport News. and it appeared that his
! conduct arose from the fact that. in
spite of his warnings about the, car.
ing until the last car had gone.
- dance given on the night of Feb
brought on the final encounter.
Mis-. HUFF had three times declined
to dance with Mr.. Kiesecker," said Hun
and was finally pulled into dance
with him, which she could have avoided
only by raising Il scene. He was drag
| ging her about tho room when I neared
| them with my partner and requested
! him TO stop, and he said in super
cilious manner: Your objection is over
ruled
a told him, my objection was not
Mrs. Hun to her seat He made no
effort to do this until he saw that I
left my partner and went toward him.
Falls to Find Kicsecker.
Il finished the dance with Mrs Huff
and We went UP to our room. went
down below later 10 speak to Mr.
Kiesectcr and did not see him any
more that evening.
Kiesecker's account OF this Incident
did not differ materially from that of
tuff's. the civilian informing the court
that he was at the time at loss to
understand Huff'S attitude.
The following morning went down
(this in the same hotcD to see him
and happened to meet him coming i'm
the door OF the hotel" Hun testified
him. He adopted the Same fawning
manner toward mo that he had always
used and endeavored to paw mo and
MT him on the jaw
Other testimony showed that Hufp
not only hit Niesccker once, but struck
him again when he got up.
The record of the court clearly in
bers were with Huff. The court. how
ever, had to judge as to the facts, and
not rs to the motives involved,
consequently, the verdict OF guilty
was brought In, with Il sentence of n
loss OF five numbers. and a reprimand
but with the additional recommcnda-
ton by some Of the court that tho
Secretary of the Navy consider Huns
IN the case and exercise executive
clemency.