Courts Martial

For the first time in the history of the U. S. Navy, two women were court- martialed. Ruth M. Anderson and Katherine. C. Glancy, naval nurses, were charged with bringing forbidden liquors into the U. S. in their luggage aboard the U. S. S. Kittery.

Miss Anderson was tried first. Six officers in white uniforms with decorations and sabres constituted the austere court. Lieutenant Gordon of the Marine Corps was prosecutor. Lieutenant Horan of the Marine Corps was counsel for the defense. Miss Anderson testified that, at Guantanamo, she received a package as a gift from a friend; she did not open it, but packed it in her chest on her return to this country. A customs inspector at Norfolk opened the chest, the package, found seven quart bottles--gin, rye, Scotch, Bacardi, creme de menthe. Said her counsel: "The court may wonder why her woman's curiosity did not cause her to look into the package, but her testimony is unimpeached." In 15 minutes, the court acquitted her.

The same gentlemen and counsel took up Miss Clancy's case. The customs inspector testified that he found four quart bottles in a chest marked with Miss Glancy's name. The defense counsel then pointed out that there was no proof that the bottles were Miss Clancy's, that there was no proof that they contained liquor. The customs agent was asked to taste the stuff. Said he: "I wouldn't be able to tell you anything. I am not an expert on the subject."

The prosecution asked whether he had ever tasted rye whiskey, but the defense objected to the question. Finally, it was agreed that he should smell the bottle. He said that in his opinion it was whiskey, but declined to swear that it was. Since there was no proof that the bottles contained whiskey, the court acquitted Miss Clancy in less than ten minutes.