New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-20
Lieutenant Davis, of Med
ical Corps, Found Guilty
of Accepting ? Bribes
Ensign PAUL Beck
Il Under Arrest
Several Enlisted Men Also
Held and Others Srss-
pected, Says Daniels

WASHINGTON. Feb 10 The
naval scandal in the New York dis
uict may assume the proportions of
widespread conspiracy to defraud
the government, involving numerous
officers and men, ii developed here
to-day.
Two commissioned officers, Lieutenant
Begqmn Davis. OF Plymouth, Penn.
surgeon in the medical corps, and
Ensign Paul Beck, OF New York City,
pay corps officer are now under
arrest awaiting court-martial. A
lhiFd officer. whose name is withheld
By the Navy Department. is expect
cd to be tried by naval court. Secre-
tsry 0. the Navy Daniels admitted
today
In addition. several enlisted men
ia tho Third Naval District arc being
held. and may face court-martial pro
.sedngs # The evidence now being
,ahered warrants it. Daniels said.
lieutenant Davis. the Secretary
sid. has ten charges Of Irregularities
'gaiuat him.
y have preliminary report from
nsiu John G.. Muir. who is CON
ariiae he Investigations in the Third
Nsra District" Secretary Daniels
sa.d, ~end IT looks as if several Off
crs ana number of enlisted men
sill he involved m the conspiracy.
Full Publicity Later
Il nave been asked by Major Muir to
WITHHOLD the name OF the third officer
arrested until he completes his investi-
cation. Announcement at this time
might seriously interfere with the prog
ress Of the inquiry. When the depart
ment rece.yes complete report on the
ehargqs, however, full publicity viii be
gwen 70 The men involved and the nat
ire Of the offences
Il have instructed all officers in 'he
ihird Naval District TO give her
cooperation to Major Muir and his 4.
Investigators, and they have been
nfeeted TO sift the charges TO the bot
i9m"
Secretary Daniels admitted tnat
!stematlc course of fraud mad been
soing on for some time in the New
i'rk district. He declared that evil
eence already gathered indicated that
Lieutenant Davis and Ensign Beck had
'sceIved sums OF 81 900 and $500 for
iaVors' to men in the service
ASKED # any evidence had been pro-
roeed involving Chief Boatswin Lloyd
easey' Mr. Daniels replied tnat Case
known 10 have received gifts and
soS;s"
Ar: Daniels disclosed that Lieuten-
.a' Davis had been found guilty by a
sasfal court martial OF accepting $500
ION one man and $500 from another
a. connection with their physical cx-
~ va me DAVIS case Secretary
oanleis sad, (which gave the depart
zen, the first mixing OF the trouble
a tne New York district He was
gasicled and ordered dismissed from
sae service
When the papers came to the de
sa''hient declined 10 approve the SEN
~aee or the ground that the punish
4s -ehs was inadequate, and sent il back
= me district. He was tried second
m'ae and given sentence Of three
vars imprisonment. His counsel, how
s,st' mas made showing that some Of
sss evidence against DAVIS was hear
-, ana asked that execution Of the
.ssence be deferred until an oppor-
SLaNy - given to submit more evi-
zee Davis is beng kept locked up.
s:.sse sssste are ten other charges against
nhen the Developments in the Davis
~ ~ made certain that others were in
reg Secretary Daniels directed that
6 o,scharge of men IN the third dis-
~ e,,pe pe susuended
,sshile the actual money which
Asssed hands IL not more than few
ss.Vssand dollar8," Secretary Daniels
80 "e took stcps at once TO pre-
sm any guilt man from cvading the
sty o. naval law b. MS discharge.
49, 49, lar ne haze actual evidence only
.ssealhs' Tour or five, but We are de
s~1.a'ns several as Witnesses or per
a.. ~ ~fo may be implicated by evil
'ss ag now beng collected
E,"e intend - take drastic steps TO
sf@2 me guilty parties TO trial, and
H. het hesstate ~ give the facts 70
L. pubic ~ quickly az We complete
- ''Fsztigation.'