New Britain herald., 1930-01-06
g APPEAR BEFORE
 COURT MARTIAL IN
 LIQUOR P|LFER|NG
Seven Plead Guilty and Await Sentence in Coast Guard Case
 "A Intoxicated on Duty
15 SAID TO HAVE TAKEN
 BOTTLES FROM RUM BOAT

Open session Held in New London
 as Men Appear and Plcad-Valu
 able Booze Cargo seized in Rhode
 Island-Prcsencc of Liquor on
 Boats to bn probed by Officials
 Announcement Says.
 New London. Jan. tP)-Wilh %9 defendants listed, the general court martial Of Coast Guard sailors in volvcd in taking liquor from the seized rum runner Flor Del Mar was in full swing at the section base here today.
 With military precision, the de frndants were being tried as fast IS possible and at noon seven of the 8 had appeared before the court, pleaded guilty and taken back to their respective ships where they will remain under restriction until the sentences imposed by the court is approved or altered by Coast Guard headquarters at Washington on. Charges Are Varied or the 39 sailors involved, 94 are being charged with intoNiCation and l5 with pilfcring cargo or having ! liquor in their possession on Coast Guard reservation. X few of the lo held for the more serious offcnSe are also being charged with intoNi- cation.
 The court is holding open sos- Sions and newspapermen were in at tendance today.
 In contrast 10 lengthy arguments and pleas for mercy such as may Dc found in civil courts the court mar tial is a simple formal proceedings utterly devoid of color or anything spectacular,
 Ryan in Charge
 Assembled in a small room the court sat around q large table witt Commander NJ. J. Ryan, president 0 the court at one end and the respec- tive defendants being seated at th' other end.
 To the left Of Commander Ryal sat Iieut. J. S. Rosenthal, officia prosecutor and to the president. right sat Lieut.. Commander Charle T. Henley and Lieut. G. F. McCabf the other two members Of the court
 Records of the proceedings Wer taken by two men.
 One of the defendants this morn ing was Melvin A. Cabot fireman . third class, aboard the dcstroyeI Ericsson. A review of the pro ccdurc in this case, il is pointed ou can be taken as an examination 0 ltho procedurc in nearly all others. Escorted into the room by pro vost guard he was instructed 10 b' seated at the far end of the table He was first asked if he desircc counsel. either coast guard or civil Each of the court members and thu court reporters then took oaths t'
 perform their respective duties II compliance with regulations and th' court members took an oath not t' divulgc the sentence Of the court un } til it had ben reviewed by the sec , retary of the treasury at Washington } Then followed a reading Of tn , various steps leading mp to the pre-
 scntation of the accused after Whici = the defendant was given an oppor . tunity to object to any Of the pro ceedings as stated or to any mem , bers of the courts. The charge Wa I then read to the defendant and Ill | plea taken.
 ; Thus far all have pleaded guilty , Each of the defendants was inform
 ed that with his plea of guilty h
 had deprived himself of making an l effort 10 indicate innocence, but Una { he would have As hours in which [ . submit a written or oral statemen concerning any circumstances sur
 (Contnued Cn Page TWo)