The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-01
NAVY COMMANDER
GRAFT TRIAL BEGUN
Marsden Is Highest Ranking
Officer Accused of Shield
ing Boys Afraid of War.

Lieut.-Commander Christopher Mars
den OF the Naval Reserve was placed on
trial before a court-martial yesterday
at the New York Navy Yard to answer
charges containing fourteen specifica-
tons. alleging the acceptance of money
and presents from men who desired soft
berths" with the Naval Reserve force
during the war Marsden pleaded not
guilty to each of the specifications. sfie
is the highest ranking officer to be
brought before a court in the several
prosecutions and convictions which FOL
lowed the stories of wholesale purchases
of easy jobs in the Navy by men who
feared the draft.
Commander Marsden, who Is SO years
old and a resident of Flushing. was In
charge of the receiving ship in this port.
Before entering the navy at the start Of
the war he was an officer In the mer-
chant marine and has been seafaring
man since he was IA years old.
Seven of the specifications recite,
among other things, that Marsden con-
spired with Lieut.. Benoit j. Ellert, while
| both were attached to the New York
office of the Third Naval District, in
August, 1918. and unlawfully received
from Lieut.. Ebert $50. The none. was
given. the complaint states, as compen-
sation and reward for Marsden's con-
sent to the transfer OF George Einstein,
a second class seaman, from the district
enrolling office to the naval headquar-
ters at $50 Broadway"
EIIert to BE Chief witness.
Lieut.. Ellert pleaded guilty to four
| charges on August 4, and the prosecu-
ton hopes to establish the guilt OF
Commander Marsden on the testimony
| OF the Lieutenant.
oh m
Marsden received from, Selig Sobel of
| 70 West 18th street a woman's watch
| valued at $50 for enrolling Sobel as a
| storekeeper, third class. with the N r.
! +. He also Is charged with enrolling
! on August 8. 1918. seven men in viola
| ton OF an order of the Secretary of the
| Navy and effecting their entrance into
| the service through a conspiracy with
| Lieut. Ellert and a civilian who is de-
scribed as Louis Markowitz. a jeweller
of 1886 Liberty street. Marsden also is
accused of having accepted 5000 from
! Markowitz on September IL. 1913, for
enJisting Michael Schear OF 104 East
/ Efghty-hfth street as storekeeeer,
! third class.
| Marsden is being defended by Will
lam A. Brady of 141 Broadway. on be-
half of the defendant Mr.. Brady issued
the following statement:
"Our client has denied all the charges,
We shall prove that instead OF his en-
| ga aging in n conspiracy. he has been con-
spired against. He is here because of
circumstances"
! Sensational Disclosures Htnted.
! The greater part OF yesterday was
taken up by the introduction of official
applications and papers. The markings
! nd Nd ~ he
| Identified by Lieut.. Ebert and Theodore
Hoffman. chief custodian OF records for
the Third district. Developments of a
Sensational character are promised during
the trial by the navy intelligence men
who worked up the evidence. The names
Yof more than a dozen politicians from
| Brooklyn and this borough will be
I dragged into the case, which promises to
| continue for about two weeks.
One of the rulings made was that
Lieut. Ebert in his story of the alleged
doings at $50 Broadway could refresh
his memory by perusing official papers
and recite any conversations between
several civilians and Marsden in order
to prove the contention of conspiracy
Markowitz will be called by the
prosecution. The court-martial Is the
ninth convened since the disclosures OF
graft in the Naval Reserve force. Lieut..
Ebert will be the first witness called to-
day when the trial opens at o'clock
The sessions will end each day at
O'Clock, Lieut. Leonard N. Matteson,
Judge-Advocate. announced. The court
! consists of Capt. Roy G. Smith, presi-
dent: Commander Foster II. Bowman,
Capt. Edward T. Constein. Lieutenant
Commander George L. Wicks and Ensign
Coran p. Crapshaw legal adviser to the
Judge A dVocate