Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-22
NAVY STIRRED
BY CHARGES OF
BRIBE TAKING
Already More Than Ten Wear
erS Of Gold Braid Are En-
meshed in the Graft
Scandals.
by Universal Service

(By Universal Service.l
Washington, Feb. 2!.-A coterie
OF naval officers in the third naval
district is TO be brought up for trial
on the charge Of conspiracy 10 de-
fraud the government.
Already from 9 to II men, officers
OF the American navy, have been en-
meshed in the graft scandals which
have shaken the naval establish
ment from stem to stern.
The charges against these officers
involve alleged bribery enlistment
Irregularities, and the selling Of
soft Jobs and safety first" jobs. TO
enlisted men.
Has Facts Laid Bare.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has
laid bare the information the depart
ment already has i'll its hands fol-
lowing an extensive investigation
carried out by his orders as a result
Of facts brought out in the trial of
1t. BENJAMIN Davis.
Here is the list of results as given
today by Secretary Daniels:
Lieutenant Davis. medical
corps, U. S. NJ, has been convicted
of receiving brides and sentenced TO
three years Imprisonment
2-Ensign Paul M. Beck is. under
arrest charged with receiving money
unlawfully. Beck is resident Of
New York City who was appointed
following the outbreak of the war.
Officer Received $1,000
ga third officer is under arrest
charged with receiving $1,000 cor
ruptly. The name of this officer is
temporarily withheld at the request
of Mai. John e. Muir. marine corps,
the navy's special investigator in
the graft charges.
4-Chief Boastwain's Mate Casey
is charged with receiving gifts.
5-Seven enlisted men have been
tried for receiving gifts but The rec
ord of their cases has not yet
reached Washington.
6-Four or more officers rave
been caught in the net and will be
brought to trial on similar charges
h as soon as the investigators see fit
TO move.
Secretary Daniels made the fol-
\ lowing statement to the Universal
4 Service:
Came Out at Trial.
"These cases grew out Of the
trial of 1t. Benjamin Davis. He
was tried on the charges of having
received $500 from one man and
$500 from another He was con-
victed on these charges and or
dered. to be dismissed When the
record came here for review, how
ever, we refused to approve it and
sent it back 70 the trial board on
ne ground that the sentence was not
adequate. Then the board took up
the case again and the sentence this
girne was three years Imprisonment,
His counsel, however, protested that
the evidence was not sufficient; that
some of it was hearsay and that
there was new evidence he wished to
submit. @
'In the meantime, however, we
had Davis locked UP and 10 other
charges developed against him and
arc now pending.
Demand Full investigation.
This led to the unfolding Of the
other present and future cases. Judge
Advocate General Clark and Captain
Leonard, Of his office. saw by read
ing the testimony that there were
other men involved and | saw that
myself. When that became certain
determined upon a full inyestiga
ton.
Il instructed Mai. John G. Muir,
retired, of the marine corps, TO fol-
low out every possible trail. He
was given by my, orders all possible
assistance, so lie has secret service
men, bureau Of intelligence men and
others to worl; Under him.
Il gave him orders winch secured
all the assistance he could possibly
use and full power-to do almost any
thing.
Il do not know how many men
will be involved in these proceed
ings. but the report that seven army
officers have been arrested and that
NO odd enlisted men and yeomen
have been detained was very much
GAASB EldtGut 6aNS 1AuNAaf VI
course, that all who were likely to
BE wanted in the district for the
purpose of the inquiry should be
detained in orded TO expedite the
inquiry.
Receive Full Punishment.
Lieutenat Davis is the only one
SO far who has been court-martialed,
but there are others against whom
ii is very likely that cases will be
made.
"Ensign Paul M. Beck is one Of
the men who is supposed TO have
taken money and he is under ar
rest. Others are under arrest, but
in several cases it is only as wit
uesses.
Il am going to sec this mater
through and am going to see that
those who are convicted shall re-
ceive the punishment and penalty
that their cases demand.
"As to those whom we suspect.
it looks as if the possibilities Of
arrest were great. We do not know
6s4tpf trffit what several al them will