The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-05
BRYANT ON THE RACK
Inspector Answers the Ship
ping Mems Charges.
ne ADMITs He TRAVELLED FREE.
Claims He Only Refused Licenses 10
Incompeteuss and Refused Brides
The Inquiry Ended.

incompefeuss and Refused Brides
The Inquiry Ended.
The Bryant Investigation - af an end.
ths last witness having testified yssser-
cay. The closing day was an interesting
one the accused offscizi being the star
witness. He went on tire stand In the
afternoon and testified until the hearing
adjourned AT O'Clock He made good
NiisseSs In his own behalf. but greatly
ANNOYED the counsel for the prosecution
y giving evasive answers 70 questions
ana insisting upon making detailed
statement OF some sorr after each answer
IN opening his testimony he eulogfzed
himself quite highly and paid himself
pretty tribute for having once been in
nred q ~hot into the camp OF an enemy.
Bryant admitted many OF the charges
made against him. RE admitted az true
the testimony OF several witnesses that
ne sometimes Travelled free on the steam
era He claimed, however, that he
never charged up fare when be did not
pay II out. but confessed that he didn't
always pay II out In cash. but sometimes
rendered extra services TO the heats on
which he travelled Supervising Inspector
bermingh&m. who has been conducting
the investigation, said yesterday that he
tnousht ne would leave for San Fran
Csc today, though he was not certain
that he would do so.
Hard ON Bryanf-s Accnsers.
Captain Horn OF Port Townsend, who
runs the steamer Garland. and Capt. T.
IA Jensrson. of the snsgboat Skagit.
spoke well Of Bryant, as did Capt Peter
shioeis and Captain Claude Troup II
was Claimed that Troup was one OF the
men 10 whom Bryant had issued a license
as captain notwithstanding the fact that
ne was not entitled 10 IL by reason Of any
experience which he might have had.
Iroup claimed that Bryant had given him
= license because the papers which he
had at that time taken out showed him
TO be man OF experience
iroap believed that the men who were
making fight against Bryant were
those who were always out Of work and
always praying 10 God that none would
thing about Harbor Is. but he had a man
employed on his boat who was a member
OF II.
Afraid to Attack Bryant
Captain John l.. Anderson was the most
interesting witness OF the morning Re
Is the captain of the steamer Qniekstep,
which runs on the lake. When Leslie
Cuilom was gathering evidence against
Bryant. Anderson. who is smooth
which stands straight up, made an affi-
davit that he didn't think Bryant was
competent to MI the position OF inspector
The witness testified that he had been
drawn into the thing by several per-
sons. He gave their names as Capt.
Craft, Capt Anderson and Capt. Strive.
He was excited at the time and after he
made the affidavit was afraid that Bryant
would make IL interesting for him..
Why did you think that?' asked Mr.
Gorham.
Il don't know; It's 50 long ago now I
forget replied the witness
What Is your best Judgment"
Well, | thought that III we fell out
Bryant might take my license away from
me-"
Pilot ]. II. Brandow, OF the City OF
Kingston. Capt Lake. the weil-known
shfp-hailder, Pilot James W. Keen. of the
revenue cutter Corwfn Cant c. f. Berg
man OF the Mikado. Capt. Il. A. Campbell,
Capt III. Biikun and Capt c. f. Game
also testified as to Bryants good reputa-
ton among seafaring men with whom
they were acquainted.
several witnesses to Reputation.
Capt Budlong. the first witness called
by the defense In the morning, said that
he had been doing business on the water
front for fourteen years. He held a mas
ter's license and was acquainted with
many of the seafaripg men on Puget
Sound. Bryantfs reputation. the witness
believed. was generally good. but he had
heard some kicking; that. he said could
be expected.
f. s. Stimson. of the Stimson Mil
Company. said that his company was in
terested In scvara, steamers and couse-
qnently his business brought him In con-
tact with the local Office. ''The men
whose word would take have always
spoken well of Bryant" said the witness.
II have always been treated courteously,
impartially and honestly"
Capt. John r. Thomson OF Seattle. a
licensed pilot and the owner OF the Lydia
Thomson. testified that he had been a
ship-owner for five years, and that he
often came Ia contact with Inspector
Bryant. Whose reputation was nrst-cIass
Capt. Edward Kelly. who until recently
commanded the Chilcat. and who has
been licensed master for fifteen years,
said: Capt. Bryants reputation is good.
sir"
Capt. j. f. Curtis and Capt. A. Fl. Cur
tbs, both of whom are acquainted with
the steamboat men OF Lake Washington.
said that Bryant had an excellent repu-
tatiou.
". II. Lake. shipbuilder. with head
quarters ut Ballard. stated that he had
been in the business ''ali his life. and
Bryants reputation was frst-ciass.
hfSatit ignored the Bride.
AZ the afternoon session Capt Camp
bell. one OF the men who, II was claimed.
had secured a license though not entitled
10 IL, was called and testified that, acting
under instructions from a captain who
had employed him. he had some time
ago called en- Inspector Bryan; and offered
him so IL be would issue him special
license
Bryant. Instead Of taking the meney,
told him TO make an application signed
by three good men ard If he could then
pass an examination a license would be
issued 10 him,
Gr. Gorham while eross-exsmiaing the
witness. asked him If he did not think II
WAS strange proceeding for seafarisg
man 20 offer an Inspector money for
licenseg The witness said he thought at
the time that II was a little strange. but
he had not been here long"
Bryant a. = Witness.
After Capt John Roberts had testified
as 10 Bryants good character, the in
spector himself went on the witness
stand aud his examination and cross-ex-
animation consumed the remainder OF the
afternoon. In answer TO questions from
Mr.. Gilman he told OF the experience
he had had ia handling ships Referring
20 the testimony Of Capt. Struve that
Bryant hal been I'm the Insurance bush
ness he admitted thar such was a fact
Its fact sir he said that was In
the insurance business" He said that a
long time ago he had acted as agent for
the Ftrensea's Fund Insurance Company.
Through tire supervising Inspector Bry-
ant testified he had asked for ana Sc
cured from the treasury department per-