Naval Science Department Conducts Mock Trial For DuBois, Accused of Contempt and Sinking Schooner "Wigglesworth"

Eugene Dubois '33, junior grade Lieutenant in the United States Navy, was tried in a general court martial last Wednesday and convicted of "colliding with and sinking the schooner Wigglesworth while serving as officer-of-the-deck on board the U.S.S. Boylston, although previously and definitely informed that the said ship Boylston was approaching a sailing vessel."

The court martial, although only a mock trial, was carried on with all the seriousness of an actual trial, by the Senior members of the Harvard R.O.T.C. The trial was conducted during a laboratory period for the purpose of demonstrating to the members of the course how a general court martial is drawn up, convened, prosecuted, and judgment granted. Yesterday's court martial, which was held in Boylston Hall, is the first of its kind to be held by the Naval Science department at Harvard.

In addition to the above-mentioned charge, Dubois was also accused of treating his superior officer with contempt. The charge drawn up in the official document read as follows: "In that Eugene DuBois, now a junior grade Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, while so serving on board the U.S.S. Boylston, did, on or about November 2, 1932, while officer-of-the-deck of the said ship, say in a disrespectful and contemptuous manner to one Edward Hallett Preble, then a Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, who was then and there in the execution of his office, 'You are an incompetent misfit; who told you you could command this ship?', or words to that effect." Of this charge, the accused was acquitted, but for the first offence, of which he was convicted, the defendant was sentenced to a demotion of 50 numbers.

Lieutenant D. F. Pitcher '33, U.S. Navy, as judge advocate at the trial, was empowered to render any verdict and sentence he saw fitting. Lieutenant E. A. Scay, U.S. Navy, assistant professor of Naval Science and Tactics, acted as adviser to the judge advocate and to the counsel for the defense. The witnesses for the defense were Lieutenant R. G. Worner '33, U. S. Navy, and Boatswain John Wiggins '33, U. S. Navy, Lieutenant D. H. Morse '33, U. S. Navy, was the counsel for the accused.