The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-28
DUNRAvEN AND THE DEFENDER
THE INQUIRY INTO THE EARL's
CHARGES BEGUN.

40 New Points Brought Ont in His
story on the Witness Stand-Lavv-
yer ChOate's CrOss-Examination
Makes the Earl Very UncOmforta-
ble-Members of the VaILyrie's
crew Give the Closing Testimony
in support of the Charges.
New York. Dec. 27.-The investigation
committee appointed by the New York
Yacht Club commenced their inquiry into
the charges of foul play made by the
Earl OF Dunraven against the owners CT
the Defender. in the model room of the
New York Yacht Club, this morning, at
10.l5 o'clock.
Two members of the committee were
the first to appear-George L. Rives ana
l. J. Phelps. ex-minister to the court or
St James. They were followed by c.
oliver Iselin. the managing owner of the
Defender; Woodbury. Kane. Latham a
Fish, S. Nicholson Kane. J. Pierpont Nor
gan. chairman Of the investigating COM
mittee Capt A. T. Mahan, United States
navy: Joseph H. Choate, who will look
after the interests of the Defender syndI-
cate; z. d. Morgan, w Butler Duncan,
Herbert {. Leeds of Boston, A. Cass
Garfield. secretary of the Americas cup
committee, and Capts. Hank Half ana
Terry of the Defender. The two quarter
masters of the Defender John Staples
and Irving Barbour, were the only men,
bers of her crew 10 attend in the morning.
Lord DunraYen came at 10 o clock sharp.
lie was accompanied by George Askwith,
his lawyer; Arthur Glennier, rear COM
mOdore of the Royal Portmouth Yacht
club, and his servant, who carried a big
The Hon. W. c. whitney, the remain
ing member of the investigating commit
tee, drove up in a carriage Immediately
after Lord DunTaven'S arrival and as he
was the only one needed to complete ar
engagements the session commenced.
The utmost secrecy was used in con-
Quoting the investigation. No newspaper
representatives were permitted to remain
on the ground floor and members of the
club were not permitted to so up stairs.
The model room of the club in which the
session is being held, is arrunged in
court fashion. A large table covered with
red cloth is at the head of the room and
here the five members of the investigating
committee sit. TO the right of this table
is a table reserved for Witnesses. A long
table for the lawyers and their assis-4
tants, and three smaller tables with
chairs and other seats along the wall,
complete the ensemble.
The proceedings opened at 1915 a. m.
Notwithstanding the precautions taken
70 insure secrecy, very clear idea of
what transpired Sin camera" was preva-
lent down stairs, and the members were
gleefully discussing the manner in which
-Choate handled DUnraven." Neither
Capt. Half nor any of the Defenders
crew were called up stairs to-day, but they
VIII be examined tomorrow when the
Defenders side of the case is resumed
The witnesses who were to testify re-
manned in the smoking room on the ground
floor of the club house, and went to the
room where the investigation was being
held, one at a time as they were called.
Mr.. AskWith opened the proceedings by
presenting Lord Dunraven's case. He
stated that no charge was made against
any individual member of the Defender
to ard Nun 4 ~.
that Mr.. Iseln, or any Of the gentlemen
having general charge of the boat, were
guilty of improper methods, but from
ms own observations and from what he
had learned from others he was convinced
that the load water line of the American
boat had been increased after she had
been officially measured. just prior to the
first race. This, he believed, was done
by surreptitiously adding to her ballast
so as to sink her four inches deeper in the
water than when she was measured for
the determination of her racing length.
Mr. Askwith referred to the positions
OF the two yachts on the night of Friday,
Sept. 6, preceding the first race.
the case at 12:45.
While he was talking Pierpont Morgan
the chairman, was called down town on
important business, and eX-Minister T..
J. Phelps took his place.
Lord Dunraven was the first witness |
He had only begun his testimony when
a recess for lunch was taken.
After the recess Lord Dunraven con-
tnued his testimony. He told in detail
the movements of the yachts before and
after the first race.
His counsel led him on from point to
point until he had stated all that he
knew of his own personal knowledge about
the alleged change in the water line.
Lawyer Choate objected to any hearsay
evidence being introduced and the pro-
ceedings were kept within legal lines
When Mr.. Askwith finished with his client
Mr.: Choate took his lordship in hand, |
and put him through a rigid cross exam
NATION; The Irish earl had very un-
comfortable time of it for over an hour
Mr.. Glennie was the second witness |
He went over much the same ground as
med by Mr.. Choate.
When this was finished Mr. Askwith |
presented dispositions made by Carts
Cranfeld and Sycamore and members of
the Nalkyrie's crew. After these had
been made Mr.. AskWith announced that
Lord Dunraven's case was closed
Mr.. Choate then called Nat Heireshoff |
as the first witness for the defense. Mr. |
Herreshoff, who built the Defender, stated |
that between thirteen and fourteen tons
OF lead would be required to sink her
four inches after she had been measured |
II said that it was not possible to add |
that quantity of lead to the yachts bal |
last and remove it without being seen by |
many persons. He had not finished his
testimony, when at a few minutes before !
s o'clock. the committee adjourned the
nearing till tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock
The hearing will, in all probability, be
brought to a close tomorrow, and a |
report will be made to the club by the |
committee. Arrangements will also be |
adopted for making the proceedings pub !
ne, and until this is done it is impossi- |
bie 10 say what prospects Lord Dunra- !
ven has of substantiating his charges.
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