THE RINGAROOMA COURT MARTIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 110, 9 May 1895, Page 3

THE RINGAROOMA COURT MARTIAL.

AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL;

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST

THE CAPTAIN.

DISMISSAL OE' SURGEON LEA,

The proceedings conducted under ;fehe name of a Cqurb-martial on board H.M.S.' Wallaroo terminated yesterday (says blue Sydney •••Daily Telegraph ''of the lalinsh,) in a manner corresponding to the Bpir.it manifested throughout) on fche part ot fch* inemberß of the tribunal, by the dismissal of the prisoner, Surgeon Lea, of H.M.sl iiingaropma, from theseryice. The novrs Created » profound sensation amongst) itw officers, and men of the entire flee t. ISv.^r) aasuicinjjt that Dr. Lesvnad exceeded: his duty* or .discharged, what :he beliavejjl to be his duty, in an improper manuer, it, was recognised eyen by the witnesses calleG\ for,the prosecution that he bad been, thrpnghoub. inspired by a; conscientious'i dasire to perform bia duty ;. and this, together with a moriß ok leas extensive knowledge of the captain whom be had placed otv'tbe sick "list; apd an utter disbelief in the fairness of the, trial accorded to the prisoner, -has produced throughout, the squadron a feeling of ; inters indignation agaipet the tribunal, .combined with an expression of sincere sympathy for Dr. Laa himself. . . ~-. .... , :\- - : ■ .-, ■ -The: members who B sab at) the courtmartial were Captain Graham (Wallaroo), President; Flag-Captain Fisher (Orlando), Captain Carter (Orlando), Commander Douglas (Royalist), Captain Purey-Cust (iDarb), and Lieut.-Cpmmander Coombe, of the Waterwitch. Paymaster Arthur Coy-sten-Clark.'o'f the Orlando, was. judge advocate, and Lieutenant Higgirison, of the Wallaroo, was officer of the court. Mr Lenehan.-'acted as friend of the prisoner, Surgeon Lea. .. , • The Judge Advocate read the charges against the accused—(l) that ha did on AprilJ7th, being aiperson subject to the Naval Discipline Act, behave with contempt to Captain S. A. Johnson, hia superior officer ; (2) that ba did on- the same date wilfully disobey the lawful commands of the captain by refusing to go under arrest whan ordered ;. (3). that ,he further rJafußod to obey lawful commands by declib ing to sign an entry in the ship's log to the effect that ha had been placed under arrest. ~ -.. ;■■ /:■ .. ■■ ' ■•-■■■, •/' im. lea's statement. The prisoner's statement was subsban tially a9 follows : Mr Presidonfc and Gentlemen, —On April 17th last, while at general Quarters, Captain Johnson sent1 for vie, and asked whether all the arrangements for the care of the wounded in action were complete, and I informed him that they were all 'correct, with the exception that the tablet had not yet been* placed in position. The captain thereupon became greatly excited, his eyeballß protruding, th8 spupilß widely dilating, and his lips r/uTverfhg, and accused1 me of neglecb of duty.in not fixing the table. ■ I replied that the carpenters had previously done it, and I had considered it their duty, upon which the captain became still more excited, and; trembling with rage, ordered ma to fix' the table. -«: To this I replied, " Very good, sir, but I should like to have tho ordar in writing." .The captain refused to give me the order in writing, and said, "Goto the sicli quarters and I willcome bolow and inspect the arrangements.'^his he subsequently did, and again remafked in an excited manner that he should in future'l'Consider it my duty to fix bho incline, which "bad in the meantime been placed in position, after which he left; but returned in about eight or ten minutes and , itf a quiet manner repeated the remarks aboutthe table. On the morning in question, after "return stores" had been sounded, and when returning from the hospital, my attention was directed to: the captain, who was on the forebridge pacing up and down, and making gestures in a most excited manner. TakiDg into consideration these facts, and .others, I came to the conclusion that the 'captain was unfit, from a medical poinb of view, to command the ship, and that it was my duty, howover painful it might be, to place him on. the sick : list. I told; the sick-bay man'of my intention, and gave him the necessary directions. I then wont to Lieutenant llibb'erb, the officer nexfe io seniority fco the captaiD, and informed him that I proposed to place Captain Johnson on the sick lisb, and that I thoughb his case so grave than he should be required to remain in his cabiri, 3and that a sentry or watch should be placed over him; To this Lieutenant Hibbort replied." All. right." I then went to Capbain Johnson and told him that I considered |b my,duty to place h,im on the sick' list, and. request that he' would go fyelow to his. cabin at once to. enable me to nvakp.a further examination. He replied, 11 Alo3t certainly nob. 1 shall do nothing of the.ki.nd. I will place.you under arrest." I immediately requested to see the senior e"xeo!|t,iv.e officer in, the presence of the officer of the day. 1 then told Lieutenant iffbbo'H' on the quarter-deck, and in the pro3enc>9 ot Lieutenant Macdonald.'that the cuptaiii fcad refused to go oh the sick list, and appealed to him, as commanding officer, for Curtherordors ; but ho refused to accept any responsibility. Capbairi Johnson sub'eqnently. left the ship, and afder hiß Aiiiru ordereilrne toJ sign an entry in the Joi that I had been placed in arrcsb.to v'hicli I replied that as he was on the ( 3ick '\iM T could only talib' order 3 from the VityiAr executive officer. Captain Johnsoti tfi:6« "wiered mo i'trbp close arrest. In the Ineaiitkne 1 had made the signal to the Miid.ira, which was passed and'approved 'by 'lieufconnnb Hihbart, and which was given in -'evidence, i absolutely deny that •afi any t.ims I'have treuted Capbain Johnson with contempt, iaud say that when placing Ji.in on the nick lisfc, and at all other times, il ■-(■ Jiftvo rtreated- him . with ■ the \ respect ,-wbich hi 3 position as captain of the ship tfetn.andei3.. : ;ln placing Capbain Johnson .in ,th 9 *iek list, I acted solely,from, conecieniious' motives, and in accordance with the cu-:&cms of tho service, ajed I balieve srJjut. had I failed to take, the course which Idid, ishoiald have-bean guilty of a grave dereliction of duty. • Tbe doctor went on to relate various in;fltnnoes of w.hab ,hie, considered . erratic b'ohayiour on bho captain's part, and conciodfc'd by saying: >% I must ask this hoi>ourftble,Court'to realifie that ii would be imposisibio U>r an officer of my gxperi.ence .-Hid standing in the service co.place hit" caprain on the sick list without) the '....«trx>ngest-.and fullest grounds for so doing. JLtrusfc ihab this honourable Courb will see jind realise thab I havo acted in good ,!fajt.h •througJioub, and will, honorably acquit ,me of the seriou? chargee laid' .^rains-b mo. I muafc further lay before them t.\o injustice and degradation of the three and'jv.jiftlf hours' close arrest in. my cabin wibVr-.*VBen.tryarid a baypueb over me, im,■■poaori'''Jippp me by Cfiptaip Johnßon, contrary to .the spirit of the Q.R. . I have served nearly 12, years in. H.M. Navy without; » Ptain againsb my character, and j baveantmbjemished record of honourable J s^r.V.icesJ1" ■ ■ --.■■-, I Captain Johnson considered the surgeon s conciucb throughout was contemptuous and insubordinate. , > ■-: ; THE t VPEI>IOT. :. j•' : Dr. Lea thereupon handed in his certificates—all of a highly satisfactory naturearid tho tribunal proceeded, with -closed doors, to consider its decision. It: was,not a lengchy s deliberation ;, and' the eententje, when ib came, was short and sharp.V "The'Coort, having unanimously found the charges aaainab the prisoner proved, comaaarids iim to be. dismissed from Her

Majeaty^a ! service.''"1 r<That ■ was all. Ib came with painful surprise s fco: everyone,1 and when a moment) later, the President added, "The Cotirb desires to record its dissatisfaction with the manner in which Lieutenant M'Donald gave his evidence," though it was impossible to increase the dismay already produced by the reading of the sentence, there was a general feeling thab the mockery of the whole proceedings bad been rendered, if possible, still more : . ■■ ■ . > ; -

Ib may bja'..stated fehab had Dr. Lea remained three months longer in the service he would have been entitled to a retiring allowance of £1,200, which he is now obliged to sacrifice. • '. < - /■ v

The sentence was subsequently confirmed by the Admiral. . ,