New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-26
DANIELS CHARGES
BIG NAVAL GRAFT
Five Officers Accused Of Accept
Ing Money for FaVors

Washington. Feb. 26.--Three COM
missioned officers and two warrant
officers of the Naval Reserve force are
specifically charged with having ac-
! cepted brides, in a brief preliminary
! report on the scandal in the third ma
val district, made public last night by
| Secretary Daniels. The outstanding
! points in Mr. Daniels statement are:
Lieut. Benjamin S. Davis IS SAID TO
! have received at least $1,000 IN
! money.
Lieut.. Benoit James Ellert is be
/ Iieved to have received a minimum OF
| $4,000. a large number Of Valuaole
! presents and high priced entertain
ment.
Ensign Paul Beck is accused OF haV-
| ing received $1,000 and the inVestlga-
| tors are still searching for evidence
| against him.
Chief Boatswain Lloyd G.. Casey is
charged with having received Ss,o0O
and valua bic presents.
Chief Boatswain's Mate Frederick
A. Jones. whose name has not here
tofore appeared, is accused as an ac-
complete of Casey.
Civilians are involved who are &C
cused of being paid and received
brides, but their names are not made
public.
There is evidence against other Off
GERS and men, but it is not sufficient
to warrant arrest.
Secretary Daniels Accuses.
Mr.. Daniels statement follows in
full:
The following are the names of
those now under arrest connected
with the investigation on which
Major Muir is engaged:
Lieut.. Benjamin s. Davis, Medical
corps, L. S. Naval Reserve force:
Lieut. Benoit James Ellert, U. S.
Naval Reserve force: Chief Boat
swain Lloyd G. Casey. U. S. Naval
Reserve force; Ensign Paul Beck, U.
S. Naval Reserve force; Chief Boat
SWANS mate Frederick A. Jones, u.
S. Naval Reserve force.
A brief statement of fact in the
cases of the above mentioned officers
and the offenses that are alleged are
as follows:
benjamin S. Davis was on duty at
| the enrolling office, No. 81 Cham bers
| street, New York City, and in con-
! nection with his work as Medical
| Examiner, it is alleged he received ON
! numerous occasions sums of money
and presents for enrolling men in the
naval service, some Of whom were
physically defective and whose defects
required waiver before enrOllm emit
The total amount Of money received
by him is believed to be $4,000, q
large percentage of which was passed
on to one or more other officers who
were engaged with him in this money
making scheme.
Lieut. Davis was tried by court
martial at the Navy Yard New York,
in July, 1918, was convicted and SEN
fenced TO be dismi Used from the naval
service and to be imprisoned for
three years. A review of this case by
the department gave rise to the be-
lief that others were implicated, and
the investigation now under way was
ordered. AS a result of the investiga-
ton, the department is in possession
of facts indicating that there were
many other offenses committed by
DR.. Davis, in addition to those on
which he was brought to trial. The
evidence also shows that he was not
working alone in the matter.
Believes EIIert Got $4,000, Plus.
Lieut.. Ellert was on duty at the
headquarters at the Sd Naval Dis
trict, No. $50 Broadway, New York
City, as detail officer, and as such
had charge of the assignment to duty
and transfer of certain classes Of en-
listed personnel of the Naval Re-
serve Force. He also made recon-
mendation to the enrolling officers as
to what persons should be enrolled
and the work which should be as
signed to them This is particularly
true to enrolment in the rating of
storekeeper and yeoman.
The evidence in the record of the
department shows that Lieut.. Ellert
took advantage of his position to col
lect money from applicants. AS a re-
suit those applicants financially able
were favored with enrolment in the
desired ratings and assignment to
Jobs in New York. Payment was
furthermore made for the purpose OF
securing assignment Of applicants to
such duty as would enable them to
continue their business in civil life.
1T is believed that Lieut.. Ellert re-
Ceived approximately $4,000 in addi-
ton to a large number of presents of
various kinds and considera BILE high
priced entertainment. The money
came to him in accounts ranging from
$50 to ST, 800. Lieut.. Ellert IS now
confined on board the L. S. S, Granite
State, awaiting trial by general court
martial.
Sold Early Relief, Is Charged.
Chief Boatswain Lloyd G. Casey
was stationed at section base No. s,
Bensonhurst, n. Y. as an executive
personnel at the station. Upon the
records and assignment of enlisted
ST
signing of the armistice it was his
A11tnr to m a I1a rncorna M an q tinns on