Arizona republican., 1914-07-27
TRIAL OF
CAPTAIN CREIGHTON

One of the most gallant OF lile carry
officers of our navy was Captain john
Orde Creighton who entered the SER
yice the first year of the last century
and served with distinction during the |
War of 1872 Creighton's first i'm
1ortant service was under Preble before |
Tripoli. and in 1907 he was attached |
10 the "Chesapeake", as a lieutenant |
and was in the interesting engagement |
between that vessel and the "Leop-
ard" He was afterwards attached to
the president and was first lieuten-
ant in her action with the Little
Belt" on May 16, 1911. In 1913 he com
manded the brig "Rattlesnake," with
the rank of master commander, and |
was made captain April %, 1916.
But shortly after he became a cap
tain he was placed on trial by court
martial under orders by Commodore
Isaac Chauncey, on charges brought
against him by a midshipman, John
Marston, Jr. for having violently in
suited him and otherwise for actions
a naval officer. At the
time Captain Creighton was in COM
mand of the Washington a ship at
tached to the Mediterranean squadron.
The trial was begun on board the fri
gate constellation" in the Bay of
Naples, on the 26th of August, 1916.
The captains who sat in judgment
were John Shaw, president; Charles
Gordon, Oliver H. Perry, W. NJ. Crane
John Downes, with Dr. Robert S. Kear-
ney as judge advocate. The charges
as read were that on the Sth of July
lin contempt and in direct violation of
the laws for the better government of
the navy Captain Creighton, while I'M
der way in the harbor of Gibraltar,
violently struck John Marston. Jr..
while in the execution of his duty
much to his discomfort and disgrace"
And that on the day following he
falsely accused MarstOn of telling a
mischievous falsehood and when Mar
ston denied the accusation. Creighton
threatened to throw him overheard.
Creighton pleaded not guilty, where
upon the court proceeded to hear wit
nesses. The first to testify was Joseph
Odion, a seaman, followed by Mid
shipmen Talmadge and Derby, after
which Midshipman Marston made a
charge as follows: ION the Sth of July
when we were standing out of Gibral-
tar Bay, | was attending as usual on
the quarter deck to the commodore. |
received a blow on the back l turned
around Captain Creighton said damn
my blood why don't you attend to hav-
ing the fore brace hauled in. | saw
the order executed. The next day 7
wrote a letter to the commodore, stat
ing that Captain Creighton had struck
me. Creighton called me on the main
deck and said my report to the COM
modore was a mischievous falsehood.
4 short time, afterwards he called me
to the starboard gangway. and made
use of the same expression. On deny
ing his assertion he told me he would
shrow me overheard
After Marston's testimony the pros
ecuting witness was questioned by the
court. during which it was brought out
that he frequently was in the habit of
striking subordinate officers. He was
followed by witnesses for the defence,
including Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
Lieutenant Shubrick and Lieutenant
Dudley. After the witnesses We're all
examined the court was cleared and the
minutes read over by the judge advo-
cate and the following sentence was
pronounced
THE court having maturely and de-
lberately weighed and considered the
whole matter. agree that the charges
and specifications are not proved, and
do, therefore, adjudge Captain Creigh-
ton to be acquitted" and added: THE
court do believe that the prosecution
was persisted in from malignant mo-
tives, and they feel it duty they owe
the service to express their decided
disapprobation of such malicious. fri
volous and vexatious accusations"
Attached to the findings. when sub
mtted to the house of representatives
as directed, was long letter addressed
to the court in his defense by Captain
Creighton But accompanying this was
also a letter addressed to President
John Monroe by forty -four midshipmen
who complained of existing conditions
in the navy which no doubt had much
weight in future. restrictions as to the
power of commanding officers.
This communication, it was stated,
| had no particular reference to any
specific case but the midshipmen
complained that the laws of the SER
vice do not, in effect. secure them
| against personal injury from the few
| commanders and other officers who
We're disposed to infringe upon their
feelings or do violence to their per-
sons by striking with the first, sword
or any other weapon.
| The strongest paragraph in their let
ter was that Eve are free to assert, as
| the facts have been unequivocally sub
stantiated, indeed acknowledged, thai
upon this station American sailors have
not only been cursed, abused and in
suited, but actually struck by certain
| commanders for which no adequate
penalty, redress or correction has beer
adjudged by Commodore Chauncey, MOI
by legally organized courtmartials
This letter resulted in a close inves-
tigation with strict orders to com.
manders as to their powers and privil-
| eyes when in charge of vessels ant