Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-29

nied the accusation Creighton threaten ed to throw him overheard
 Creighton pleaded net guilty where upon the court proceeded to near witnes- ses. The first to testify was Joseph Odi- on, a seaman. followed by Midshipman Tafmadge and Derby, after which S:..l- shipman Mars on made . charge as fol- lows: "on the Sth of July when we were standing cut of Gibraltar Bay, I was attending as usual on the quarter deck to the commodore. 1 received blow on the back I turned around, Capt. Creigh- ton said damn my blood why don't you attend to having the fore brace hauled in. saw the order executed. The next day I wrote a letter to the commodore stating that Capt. Creighton had struck me. Creighton called me on the main deck and said my report to the comme- dore was a mischievous falsehood. 4 short time afterward he called me 10 the starboard gangway. and made use or the same expression. On denyiny his as- sertion he told me he would throw me overheard"
 After Marstons testimony the prose- cutting witness was questioned by the court, during which it was brought out that he frequently was in the habit of l striking subordinate e63ieers. He was fol- lowed by witnesses for the defense, in- cludlng Com. Isac Chauncey, Lieut.. Shu- brick and Lieut. Dudley. After the wit nesses were all examined the court was cleared and the minutes read over by l the judge advocate and the following sen tence was pronounced:
 The court having msturely and de- lfberately weighed and considered the whole matter, agree that the charges | and specifications are not proved and do, | therefore adjpdge Capt. Creighton to be acquitted" and added: The court do be- lieve that the prosecution was persisted in from malignant motives, and they feel I it a duty they owe the service to ex- Ipress their decided disapprobation of
 such malicious, frivolous and vexatious
 accusations
 Attached to the findings. when su5-
 mirted to the House of Representatives
 as directed was a ,ong letter address
 ed to the court in his defense by Caot
 Creighton. But accompanying this was
 also a letter addressed to President Jame:
 Monroe by A midshipmen who complain
 ed Of existing conditions in the navy
 which no doubt had much weight in flu
 ture restrictions as to the power of com
 manding officers.
 This communication, i5 was stated had no particular reference to any spec  fife case, but the midshipmen complaine, } that laws of the service do not, in ef feet secure them against personal injur from the few commanders and other of ficers who were disposed to infringe up on their feelings CT do violence to thei !, persons by striking with tht fist, tn sword of any other weapon.
 The strongest paragraph in their let
 ter was that We are free to assert I as the facts have been unequivocall
 su5stantiated, indeed, acknowledged, tha
 upon this station American sailors hay not only been cursed, abused and insult
 ed by actually struck by certain con
 manders for which no adequate penaltl ,- redress or correction has been adjudge by Com. Chauncey, nor by legally oi
 ganized court-martials." This letter r, ; suited in close investigation with stri,
 orders to comma nders as to their pew i CTS and privileges when in charge :; vessels and men.