Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-26

MAJOR LYDECKER'S TRIAL.
Proceedings Of the Court Martial To-day.
After THE srAR's report Of the Lydecker
court-martial closed yesterday afternoon but
little testimony was given and no particularly
interesting facts were elected. In Gov. Bout
wells cross-examination of Lieut. Townsend,
the latter said that in selecting men for sub
inspectors he was acting on his best judgment,
and that whenever it was necessary to report .
man for ineficiency Major Lydecker discharged
him. Witness spent all the time possible in
the tunnel, which amounted to '.several hours
day."
Cross-examination by the court followed.
Gen. Crook asked: SHOW far could you be Q
judge of the work that was being done?"
only so far as could see," was the answer.
''!f the inspectors had done their duty could
the bad work have been done?"
II DO not think it could; do not see how it
Several Of the members expressed great in
terest In the details of tho cavities and the
manner in which they escaped detection. The
lieutenant said that there was ample time to
cover up bad work. His coming could be sig
nailed from those above the surface to the
bad work, could build up bulkhead. This
was possible by means OF signals down
iron air-shaft. II there was not time
the cage Of the elevator could be
held held LON long enough to give time. He had
minutes at time, and had received no salts
factory explanation for the delay. This
process, he said would require concerted
action on the part of large number of men,
including the inspectors.
, In reply to questions by Lieut.-CoL Flagler
the witness said that he did not believe that
the work done under any b-inspector was en-
tirely free from flaws. Some sections were
worse than others, some were pretty good, but
under none was there absolutely perfect work
done.
PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.
The court convened shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning, with Lieut.. Townsend still on
the stand. Everybody was on hand promptly
except Col. Piper, who came in few minutes
late, and had to have his epaulets adjusted by
Lieut.. Townsend. He was still fastening on
the gold cords that formed a network over his
breast when Gen. Crook called the court to
order. The judge-advocate announced that
the defense was willing to waive the reading Of
the record Of yesterdays proceedings up to the
arrangement Of the accused, and that he was
willing to waive 1t also. As the portion omitte
consisted of the charge and the specifications,
considerable time was thus saved. The major
then read the record referring to the various
orders and contracts, read yesterday in full,
merely by their titles.
The reading Of the record was considerably
delayed by numerous corrections made by
Lieut.. Townsend. and the judge-advocate made
but little progress at times. The reading occu-
pied over two hours, and
THE CRoss-ExAMINArIoN OF LIEUT.. TOWNSEND
was continued. The bad work found last sum-
mer, he told Col. Comstock was Of the same
character as that discovered in the autumn,
There was bad work found prior to the presen-
taton of the charges and also prior to the dis
covery OF the bad works in the New York tunnel.
In previous case Of the discovery of bad
work the inspector. OBrien, was not dis
charged, but was cautioned and allowed to re-
main on the work. In other instances the in
spectors over bad work were always discharged.
THE CASE OF o'BRrEN.
In reference to this case of O'Brien. Gov.
Boutwell, asked if anything was done with the
masons at that time.
The lieutenant said that all the masons we're
discharged.
why did you retain O'Brien?"
60 Brien had the reputation of being one Of
the best inspectors in the tunnel, and was not
sure but that he might be mistaken in his in
specton. Therefore, l thought it best to give
him another trial"
The lieutenant stated that the contractors
had made frequent offers to repair the tunnel
at their own expense, but that they could not
be accepted on account of an act Of Congress
which put stop to all work.
BAD WORK AFTER SEPTEMBER LAST.
"Have you any information that that bad
work continued after its discovery in Septem-
Der last?" asked the governor
II made some cuts in the brickwork in the
fall and found pretty good work. Then after
ward made a cut into some new work and
found cavities
After the discovery of numerous defects"
asked the judge advocate, "did you have any
idea that the work was to continue?"
Eyes. thought that it was to go on. There
was one inspector to watch one man. and there
was bad work found under this system. 1t was
pretty difficult to prevent bad work even under
this system, for the space is too narrow for one
man to see what another man is doing"
''How was it possible for such bad work to
be done under such close inspection?' asked
Col. Roberts.
Small cavities might be left under such cir
cumstances, but it was not possible for cavities
neglect on the part of the sub-inspector."
Lieut. Townsend was excused at 1885, and a
recess was then taken until lis.
THE soUNDER-ExPERT TAKES THE STAND.
The court reconvened at the hour named, and
Mr.. H. A. Sparrow, the sounder-expert, was
called to the stand by the prosecution The
judge-advocate explained tina. both the prose-
cution and defense agreed to omit testimony as
to the details of his soundings. Gen. Crook,
however. thought that it would be better to
have Mr.. Sparrow's testimony before the court
of inquiry read in order to give the court an
idea Of what had already been given by him
The judge-advocate stated that the record of
Mr.. Sparrow's testimony was quite long, occu-
plying altogether 103 pages.
The court, however, decided to have this tes-
timony read, which was done.
After half an hour of reading one of the
officers asked
''Mr. President can't we omit these details?"
This suggestion met with favor, and the
judge-advocale was instructed to omit the read
ing of the descriptions of the cuts which Mr..
Sparrow had made in the roof of the tunnel
and confine himself to the points in the testi-
mony outside of the details of the cuts
The reading Of Mr.. Sparrow's testimony was
concluded at quarter of and the court retired
for consultation. At 3 o'clock the court ad-
journed until 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
COURT NOTES.
Mr.. Swift, of Major Lydecker's counsel OBJ
jected this morning to the initials given to him
by the papers yesterday, and informed THE
STAR reporter that he was not John F., but
Charles NJ.
In his testimony yesterday Lieut.. Townsend
stated that he had supposed that the packers
employed in the tunnel were stonemasons until
it was developed before the court of inquiry
that they were not such.