Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-28
DEFENDER INQUIRY.
t is Duly Opened al New York
YaCht-CIub House
p,>n,vr> MADE uNCoMroRT,nLE


York Yacht club commenced their m
opiry into the chars Of foul-piay made
NV the Earl Of Dunraven against the
owner OF the Defender in the model-room
NJ the New York Yacht Cub, at 1910
this morning
Two members Of the committee were
the FIRST 10 appear-Georgc l.. Rvos ana
T.. J. Phelps. cx-Ministcr TO the court
q, ST James They were followed 10y
e Oliver Isein. the managing owner OF
the Defender Woodbury. Kane. Latham
A. Fish. : Nicholson Kane, J. Plerpon'
Morgan. chairman Of the inv stsauns
committee: Captain \. T. Mahan' United
States navy. Joseph II. Choate. who VIII
look after the interests of the Defender
syndicate. T. u. Morgan. W. Butt r Dun
can. Herbert c. Leeds. Of Boston; \.
Cass Garfield. Secretary Of the America :
Gun Committee. and captains iianB IAN
and Terry. Of the Defender.
The ouartermasters OF the Defender,
John STAPLES and Irving Barbour were
the only members Of her crew TO attend
IN the morning.
ora punraven came at 10 o'clock
sharp He was accompanied 10y George
Asouith. his lawyer. Arthur Glennie'
rear commodore Of the Royal Portsmouth
Yacht Club. and his servant. who carried
big bag Of papers.
The Hon. ". c. Whitney the remain
ing member Of the investigating COM
mittee. drove up In carriage imme-
diatelv after Lord Dunravens arrlNar
and as ne was the only one needed TO
complete the arrangements the session
commenced.
The utmost secrecy was used in con
ductine thu investigation. No newspaper
reporters were permitted 10 remain or
the ground floor. and members or inc
club were not permitted TO go up
stairs
THE COURTROOM.
The model room Of the club, in which
the session is being held. is arran ODD
court fashion. a large table covered win
red cloth is at the head of the room ana
here the five members Of the inVesusa-
ting committee sat To the right Of this
table is a table reserved for witnesses
A long table for thu lawyers and their
assistants. and three smaller tab as. with
chairs and other seats along the wall
complete the ensemble.
The proceed. ugs opened at 1915 \. NJ
j. Pierponi Morgan took the chair, ana
Mr. Asquith commenced his opening adj
dress. The commute placed Lord Dun
raven on the witness stand al I-.I'
o'clock This was after his attorney, MT
Asquiih had spoken for more than TWO
and "a half hours.
The utmost care was taken 20 prevent
any intrusion Of strangers. Newspaper
reporters were not permitted % rema
IN The ground floor and even members
n the club wete excluded from the SEE
.ora nn.r. Notwithstanding he precau-
tons taken to ensure secrecy. however.
,erv Gear idea OF what transpired 'ln
,ame-a" was prevalent down stairs. and
,be members were gleefuuy discussing
he manner I'm which "Choate handled
Ounraven.'
Neither CAPTAIN Han nor any Of the
Defenders crew were called up s.airs
today. but they viii be examined to-
morrow. when the hearing Of the DEFEND
sr's side of the case H. resumed
The witnesses who were TO testity re
msineo I'm the sm0king-room on inc
gr Sud-foor Of the clubhouse ana went 10
he room where the investigation wa
ny he'd one at time as they were
called ..,,r.,-c,,,
Mr.. Asouith opened the proceedings by
presenting Lord DunraNen case II.
stated that no charge was made against
any individual member Of the Defender
svndicate. Lord Dunraven did not cam
mat Mr.. Iselin or any of he gentlemen
having general charge Of the boat were
Guilty of improper methods but from NE
own observations and from what ne haI
learned from others. he was convinced
that the load-water line OF the American
boat had been increased ai.eI s"e ia"
been officially measured, just prior 10 'ne
0rst race This he believed, W5s zone
-. eur-entitiousiy adding TO her ballast
81 a. TO sink her four inches deeper III
the water than when she was measured
Tor the determination Of her racing
lens h. 49,, rositiors
- he Two Yachts on the night OF FRIDAY
Seufember 6 h. preceding the hISl az
he sad that they were botn IN tne nv
shoe. inside Of Sandy Hook ana mat III,
nlfeD5er,s tender. the Hattie Palmer Ia!
800 ~ the American boat. and her
crey we're at work on her un u c'ocN
IN tho morning. The neXt day those VI.
- ~ the Nalkyrie ana the 10y %
pridgeport noticed that the Defender wa
,.sibiv deeper IN the water IMAM u" ''''
Af,er the first race Lord DnnraNei
smoke TO Nj Fish. the repro 9'"1',
81 The Cup Committce, anu ~
g. rsmeasurement Of the Defender
nd "A
tho hull Before this was done MI -
Itch said the Defender lay on i"f
pidge an night. with the Hattie RAIN
t.set5e her and there was amll- "p
,.or,,,,itv 10 remove the extra htiia9l
a. the dav following the iust race
~ dav when both yachts were rei1ea
elred-their water-line lengths were I",''
- be substantially the same as ""''
first measured. ....i,,
Mr. Asquth finished ms pie7eh'"'o'
~ the case AZ 1915 l.. VI.
while hi. was talking. Ar .. Iiarpon'
Morgan. the chairman. was calico uoNi
t-wn on important business ana eA
Minister y J. Phelps took his place.
HIS LORDsHIP TEsTlFlES.
Lord Dunraven was the hrst witness
re h.d only begun his testimony when q
recess for lunch was taken.
Affer recess Lord DunraNen CONTINUED
his testimony He told in detail th'
movements Of the yachts before ana aIte'
tho FIRST race His counsel i-d hlm oi
from noiut 10 point until be had state'
all that he know OF MS o~ l'ISo' d. d
knowledge about the alleged cnange u
water-linc.
LAWYER Choatr objected TO hearsay eva
d.nce heinz introduced and the proceed
in~s were kept within legal lines.
When Mr. AsQuith finished with hi
client. Mr Choate took his Lordship %
hand. and put him through rigid cross
examination.
The Irish Earl had a very uncomfort
able time Of IL for over an hour
Mr. Glennie was tha second witness
He went over much the same eroun'
as Lord Dunraven and was also cross
examined by Mr. Choate.
when ms was finished Mr. Asquiu
presented depositions. made by CAPTAIN