The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-22
DANIELS WILLDELYE
DEEP into HUFF CASE
Secretary Wants to Know II
Ship Builders Attempted to
"Reach" Naval Man.
OFFICERS STORY OF FIGHT
Kiesecker "EndeavOred to Paw
Me and l Hit Him in the
Jaw" He Asserted.

MHTCn sl.-GTeat INTEREST
is manifested here in the investigation
which Secretary OF the Navy Daniels will
make into aspects OF the case Of Lieu
tenant Commander Charles p. Hun not
developed at the time of that officers
court-martiai in Norfolk
The Secretary Is particularly anxious
to learn what facts. II any. lie behind
assertions by Huffs friends that his en-
counter with J. Philip kesecker. which
brought on his trial, was really the result
Of attempts by officials Of the Newport
News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com
pany to induce Commander Hun to be
less rigid in his inspections OF the com
panys work on the new battleship Texas
Lieutenant Commander Hun was then
acting as inspector OF ordnance material
for the Texas and his friends asserted
that because of his efficient service the
company was under extra expense. Kie-
seeker. they charged. as head OF the cor
respondence division of the company. was
designated to reach" Hun.
In the trial OF Commander Hun only
one reference to this situation was made
and this was by Commander f. X. Pol
lock. who acted as Huns counsel who
said
'Hur's efficient work in behalf OF the
Government was costing the Newport
News shipbulding and Dry Dock Com
pany $4,000 day. as he was holding up
the acceptance of the Texas"
Daniels to Ask Pollock.
II Is probable that In a day or two
Secretary Daniels will write TO Com
mander Pollock and ask him II he meant
to insinuate that the shipbuilding com
pany was behind the apparent effort. of
Kiesecker to establish friendly social re-
lations with Lieutenant Commander and
Mrs Hun. which led to the fistic en-
counter between the two men.
Commander Hun said on the stand:
There is not the slightest doubt In my
own mind that Kiesecker knew he was
personally Objectionable to me. for had
clearly shown him II in every way possi-
BILE. and believe I adop0A -ths only
method that would be undeystood by a
man Of his type. I adopted every means
outside of knocking him down and de-
liberately f.sultins him. don't know
what II takes to insult a man Of that
type"
The testimony showed that the Huns
and Kiesecker met first at dance at
a golf club In Hampton. Va. of which
Kiesecker was secretary. This was about
a month or six weeks before their fight
Hum. according to his statement, in
formed kiesecker. who danced several
times with Mrs. Hun. that they were
anxious to take the last car back to
Newport News and II appeared that his
first deep resentment OF Kieseckers con-
duet arose from the fact that in spite
of his warnings about the car Kiesecker
last car had gone.
A dance given on the night of Febru
airy u at hotel in Newport News
brought on the final encounter.
Mrs. Hun had three times declined 10
dance with Mr.. Kiesecker" said Hun.
land was finally pulled into a canoe with
him. which she could have avoided only
by raising a scene. He was dragging her
about the room when | neared them with
my partner and requested him to stop
and he said in superclious manner
Your objection Is overruled.'
81 told him my objection was not over
ruled and he would please take Mrs. Hun
to her seat. He made no effort 10 do this
until he saw mat j leIt my partner anu
went toward him.
Fails TO Find kiesecker.
81 finished the dance with Mrs. Hun.
and we went up to our room, | went
down below later to speak to Mr.. kiesecker
and did not see him any more that eve
ming"
Kieseckers account OF this incident did
not differ materially from that OF Hun Il,
the civilian informing the court that he
was at the time at a loss to understand
Huff's attitude.
THE following morning I went down
(this in the same hoteD to see him and
happened to meet him coming IN the door
OF the hotel" Hun testified. II called
him to one side to speak to him, He
adopted the same fawninS manner toward
me that he had always used and en-
deavored to paw me and hit him on the
jaw"
Other testimony showed that Hun not
only hit Kiesecker once, but struck him
again when he got up.
The record OF the court clearly indi-
Gates that the sympathies o. It's members
were with Hun. The court however, had
to Judge as to the facts and not as to the
motives involved.
Consequently. the verdict OF guilty was
brought in. with a sentence of loss Of
Ave numbers and a reprimand. but with
the additional recommendation by somt
OF the court that the s,crtary ~ the
Navy consider Huns xc,iieat record. u