Evening star., 1946-05-02
General Court-MartiaI
Ordered for Rollins
In Annapolis Case
by the Assoeioted Prexs


ANNAPOLIS, May 2. - Chief
Steward Walter w. Rollins, As, COL
ored, had been accused officially
by the Navy Department today OF
embezzlement, theft, drinking, gam
bling and permitting loud and
boisterous" conduct by unauthorized
visitors to his quarters at the North
Severn Officers Club, part of the
Naval Academy.
Vice Admiral Aubrey w. Fitch,
academy superintendent, announced
that the Secretary of the Navy
had ordered a general court-martial
for Rollins, to begin Monday or as
soon thereafter as practicable. If
Rollins requests time to prepare his
defense the court-martial will be
delayed a short while. The trial
will be open to the press only.
The precept ordering the court
martial contained six charges and
18 specifications on those charges.
BY order Of the Secretary of the
Navy, two Of the charges and four
specifications were not disclosed.
One of Four Held.
Rollins was one of four Naval
Academy personnel detained as the
result Of an investigation touched
off by an early morning party in
Rollins quarters February 10.
The others are 1t. William r..
Sima, sr., suspended Naval Acad-
emy band leader; Musician 1ic
Ernest Tomanio, bandsman, and
Musician 1/c William R. Sima, jr.
The younger Sima was found guilty
in March at a summary court
martial of conduct prejudicial to
good order and discipline. A SEN
tence to a bad conduct discharge
was remitted and he was placed
on probation for six months. He
has returned to duty.
The Naval Academy has said that
a summary court will be held for
Tomanio. Results of an extensive
investigation have been sent to
Washington, the academy has an
nounced. If trial for the suspend
ed band leader is ordered, it will
be a general court-martial.
Liquor Theft Charged.
The first charge against Rollins
accuses him of theft of about SO
bottles of alcoholic beverage, total
ing in value $267." The embezzle-
ment charge recited the same Of
fense The thefts started August
80, 1914, the specifications said.
The precept said Rollins had gam
bled with cards for money" at
various times in his quarters.
The fourth charge, of conduct to
the prejudice of good order and
discipline, specified several dates
when Rollins is accused of permit
ting visitors in his room against
Naval Academy regulations
These parties, the specifications
said, generally started after mid
night. The SimaS, their wives, and
other civilians were listed as the
visitors.
Other specifications charged him
with drinking in violation of Naval
Academy rules.
Faces Seven 7officer Court.
Comdr. Russell C. Burke, aide to
Admiral Fitch, announced the
specifications. He said Rollins
would be tried by a seven officer
board, headed by Capt. Ralph
Earle, jr.
The judge advocate, or prosecut-
ing officer, will be Capt. Jesse R.
Wallace, Comdr. Burke said. Coun-
sci to Capt. Wallace will be 1t
Comdr. William l.. p. Burke, who
prosecuted young Sima and assisted
in the overall investigation.
Admiral Fitch's aide refused to
confirm or deny a report that 1t.
Comdr. Burke had asked to be re-
lieved of active duty, effective May
6, the date the court-martial is
scheduled to begin.
Admiral Fitch's aide announced
also that the limits of 1t. Sima's
detention had been extended to his
home. This action will permit him
to live at home, but the order re-
quires him to stay within the An
napolis city limits. He had been
detained previously aboard the
Reina Mercedes, Naval Academy
sfotjoy, shin