The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-06-14
Defen dant Rests his Case To-Day

Defen dant Rests his Case To-Day.
SAN ANTONIO. June ll,-Pursuant to
adjournment, the WATSON court-martial
met this morning at department headquar'
tiers promptly at 10 O'Clock. with full
court in uniform, and the accused in
fatigue uniform. The minutes of the pre-
ceding session were read and approved,
after which G. M. Terrell, the chief depart
ment paymaster, took the witness stand on
behalf OF the accused. The testimony
summarized, briefly, was that he had known
the accused since 1877, and found him
OIL duty here III 1873, when the
the witness came to the post to
five years and half their official and So
cial re atoms were such as to afford him
ample opportunity to learn the character
of the accused in both respects, and their
relations had ever been of confidential
character; he regarded the accused
as an honest, Jealous and willing
paymaster' one who sS;r,d never ,a com.
or disagreeable duty but on the contrary
cheerfully undertook and performed such
duty; he also regarded him as good man
and knew no circumstances in his career
anterior to tue one from which the present
trial arose contrary to the character witness
ascribed to the accused.
At this iuncture the accused produced
and offered in evidence document which
he asked the witness to identify. The lat
ter stated the document was Major Was
sons account current tor the month OF May
and portion of June, and that it had been
made py witness for the accused and signed
BY the latter; that three originals OF the
account, all similar. had been
made over for the paymaster-general an
other for the court and a third for the &C
cused; the document was to be forwarded
to the paymaster-ge general by the witness,
who testified that it was correct state
ment uf Major Wasson's financial official
standing with the government, and that 1t
showed him to have balanced his account
and was no longer in arrears.
The Judge advocate then read each item
set forth in this account to the court and
when he requested recess Of ten minutes
for conference with the witness, the cross.
examination was begun at the expiration OF
the recess and the first question being.
How came about the transfer of money
from Major WATSON to you mentioned in
the account as having taken place May
8thf
The accused objected on the ground that
he had only interrogated the witness in
such manner as to identify the account
and not in respect to its details.
The court was cleared and vote taken
with closed doors.
Upon the reopening of the court doors
the presiding officer answered that the
court had overruled the objection.
The witness answered: Major WATSON
was ordered on May 9TH by the depart
ment commander, at the suggestion
of witness, to, turn over to
lie funds for which accused was RESPONSE
BILE, and pursuant to this order the transfer
was made and it was partial compliance.
The account current shows further
transfer on May 10th of SIS, 500 from Major
WATSON to you; did Major WATSON turn
over the amount to you in person; If not,
how did the transfer come about.
A.-On the 9Th of May Major WATSON
informed witness that there was $751;
in accused's equipment case in his office at
Galveston, and handing witness the key
requested him to 60 in person and get the
money; Major Dodge was sent for, and re-
ported having found it where WATSON had
said it was; Dodge sent the sum to witness
by express. and 1t WIS received on May 10th,
az dated in the credit to him on the &C.
count.
Odd Major WATSON give you this in
formation pursuant to the order of the COM
mander OF the department, and when was
the information givenf
Al believe it to have been Independent
Of the order; It was subsequently.
Q.-Was this information given by the
accused or was 1t obtained through efforts
made by you
Al regarded it as being procured by
Efforts made by me.
There appears an entry on the account
that he turned over 70 you on the 10th Of
June of SIS, 265. How was IT turned over
(A.) By his official check numbered SO
for that sum and drawn payable TO me
officially by the Galveston National Bank
and which check was paid and the amount
passed to MY official credit on that date.
@. Was It splaced to his credit through
any official er otherwise?
A. Not TO my know eye.
To this ans wer amember OF the court OBJ
jected, but the answer had been given
before the objection was raised.
The ground OF objection was that the
question was irrelevant and touching
question with which according to the
charges and specifications the court had
nothing 10 do. The judge advocate replied
that the accused, having pleaded guilty 10
The specification. IL was competant as part
of the res gest o..
The objection was overruled.
A.-Within the witnesses knowledge II
was not placed TO the accnsed's official
credit at the bank through any official
sources or authority.
DO you know II IL was deposited 10 his
,redif by private parties and TO cover his
-
Here another objection was interposed
,y another member Of the court on the
ground ofirrelevaney and the objection was
Q.-wss not this money placed in this
bank 20 make good his EN- bezzlemenr
Al believe IL was % placed; that is, &C
iording to the best Of my knowledge and
relief.
The NEXT witness was Professor Horace
Wilson. librarian Of the the Mechanics In
titu Re at San Francisco. California, who
new the accused well. Witness had
zen 10 the service Of the japanese govern
net for sir years, rom lsl 70 20 was
University at Toxic. and knew the accused
4 the time be was In Japan and bis oppor-
unifies. and the estimation In which
Ie was held by the japan
~ people was excellent. He
detailed TIE accused's record; accused vas
mployed there as first chief engineer IN
he colonization department, occupied IN
he Island Of Vase, NEXT be served In the
sesinst the Island Of F0rmoso 81
adviser and held the rank Of colo |
.ei: lastly, be was . professor Of civil engi- |
leerinR 10 the same Institution OF learning |
hsf the witness taught 10; the accused
erved in the latter capacity until his ep-
,oIntment ~ q United States psymastert
urinR the entire period the associations d
fitness with the Japanese educstors an
ssny Of their other ofhcials YES
sry cordial, both professionally and
oia1ly; this intercourse With them enc
led him 70 knou in what estimation Colo
II Werson wa held BIZ them. for they
ERE accustomed 20 speak freely d ne
,reirnes IN their employ. whom
hfV held in high reEsro. enc
} Of sccussd; they regarded ne
1rvices - very important a11 erpresse1
frf~rfion for his cnarBcter- Tier esleeu
- rrr~r rrn~frf after rs return fruu