The herald., 1896-02-01
THE COMMITTEES REPORT
In the Matter of Lord Dunrav-
ems Charges
BALLAST WAS NOT MOVED
And the Charges Were Clearly Based On
q Mistake
Weekly Report of Chairman Gideon Of Bicycle
Records Accepted-The Racing at
Bay District
BALLAST WAS NOT MOVED
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
New YORK, Jan. 31.-The New York
Yacht clubs home on Madison avenue was
crowded tonight with members who were
anxious to hear the report Of the investi-
eating committee which was appointed
several months ago to hear the charges
preferred by Lord Dunraven against the
owners of the victorious Yankee craft De-
fender. Commodore Brown called the
special meeting of the club for 8 o'clock to-
night, and after the secretary called the
roll the report of the investigating commit
tee was read. In the absence of Hon. Il.
j. Phelps, who was chairman throughout
the investigation, the report was read by
Mr.. j. p. Morgan.
The findings review the charge of the
earl of Dunraven that after being meas
ured, the yacht Defender was surreptitious'
ly loaded so as to sink her four inches
deeper in the water: that she sailed in that
condition the first day; that Immediately
after the race the ballast was secretly re-
moved, 80 that when measured the next
day no discrepancy was found to exist be-
tween the two measurements. The con-
clusion reached is:
Upon a careful consideration of the
whole case. the committee is unanimously
of the opinion that the charge made by
Lord Duuraven had its origin in mistake;
that it is not only not sustained by the evil
dence. but Is completely disproved; and
that all the circumstances indicated by
him as giving rise to his suspicious are en-
,irely and satisfactorily explained. They
deem it, therefore, but j. I to Mr.. lselin
and the gentlemen concerned with him. 8
we'll as to the officers and crew of the De-
fender, that the committee should express
emphaticaiy their conviction that nothing
whatever occurred in connection with the
race in question that casts the least sus-
pcon upon the integrity or propriety OF
their conduct, and the committee is not
willing TO doubt that if Lord Dunraven had
remained present throughout the investi-
gaii ion SO as to have heard all the evidence
that was introduced, he would of his own
motion have Withdrawn a charge that was
SO plainly founded upon mistake, and that
has been so unfortunate in the publicity 1t
has at aimed and the feeling to which it has
| given rise."
During the reading of the report every
point made ELECTED hearty cheers and APP
! plause. When Mr.. Morgan had finished
| the report was accepted and adopted. IL
| was decided that the consideration of the
committees report be postponed until the
general meeting of the club, February
| 18th.
DUNRAvEN WON'T TALK
| of the special committee on investigation
of the New York Yacht club were delivered
to the press and to Lord Dunraven at 10
o'clock by Mr.. Burns. Lord Dunraven spent
the evening at the Marlborough club and
arrived at his residence just in time to re-
ceive the document. Lord Dunraven i'm
mediately entered upon the perusal of the
report. An interview was sought tonight
with Lord Dunn aven, but he refused TO eX-
press an opinion or to speak for publlca-
ton on the decision.
ENGLISH COMMENT
LONDON, Feb. 1.-The Chronicle congrat-
ulates the Dunraven committee upon its
| studied courtesy and consideration, when
the complete demolition of Lord Dun
ravens monstrous charges might have JUS
| titled the severest censure.
"The only course open to him," says the
Chronicle, ''is an instant and complete
| apology"
The Times, in an editorial, expresses the
greatest respect for the committee. the
only possible objection to the composition
of which is that the legal and business ee-
ment somewhat outweighed the expert ele-
mert.
sit IS not quite obvous," the Times con-
| tinues, 'sthey decline to investigate other
charges than the immersion charges.
While some grounds of the committees g
decision are undeniably strong and peril
nent, others appear to be OF less cogent
| nature"
'The language adopted by the commit
| tee,'' contiuues The Times, "will seem un-
! duly severe when it is remembered that The
charge was not made public by Lord Dun
raven until it had already been published
by the committee in New York. 1t is to be
regretted also that the committee was un-
able to take wider view of their func-
tons and to judge the whole case on it's
merits. The result of the inquiry is to
acouit Mr.. Iselin and his friends of a
charge which was not brought against
them. But it can hardly be said to have
cleared in a satisfactory manner the real
matter at issue."
The Standard says in an editorial; ''The
committee finding is studiously courteous
and we'll calculated to lay the unpleasant
business to rest. We trust that Lord Dun
raven will be convinced that a mistake has
arisen and will accept the hand the COM
mittee has held out"
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