The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-30
BECKETTs TRIP TO BRUNSWICK.
Outcome of the Inquiry Into This
Feature of the DauntIess Case

Feature of the DauntIess Case
Brunswick, Ga, Sept. 29.-The investiga-
ton dn regard to the bringing of savan-
nah officials to Brunswick to preside in
Commissioner Lehman's place or take
the crew of the Dauntless to Savannah
for trial, has been completed. The dis
closures made relieve United states Mar
shal John ID. Harrell of the southern dis
trct of Georgia from the odium placed
upon his Office by the affair." and also re-
lieves his chief deputy marshal, Asher
Ayres, of any intention or covert act to
cast a reflection upon the honor of the
local government officials. The result of
these Investigations as given in detail be-
low places the direct burden where it be-
longs.
Messrs. Crovatt and Whitfield, on Sept.
"a, endeavored to get United States Mar
shall Harrells consent to allow a deputy
marshal from Savannah to report to them
at once to serve papers Under the new
law, the resident deputies are required to
make service, and in the absence from
the state of Marshal Harreil, his chief
deputy, Asher Ayres, naturally desired to
know why such could not be done in this
case. Spanish Consul de Lago represent
ed then to Commissioner Beckett at his
Office in Savannah. that the Brunswick
deputy marshal was not satisfactory and
was probably absent from the city He
desired tnal deputy MFSndl Wilson 20 TO
Brunswick from Savannah TO serve the
papers, as they were important and would
admit of no delay. He further stated that
he would pay the expenses of the mar
shals trip to and from Brunswick and
Savannah. 1t was known to Consul de
Lagos attorneys that Local Deputy Mar
shall Taylor was here. Permission was
then granted by Chief Deputy Ayres for
Marshal Wilson to go to Brunswick.
After arrestlng Capt. Lomm and Fire
man Walker, Spanish attorneys wanted
them carried before a commissioner al
Savannah for trial. but Marshal Wilson
hesitated as he knew local commissioner
Lehman was present. Later. authority
was given him by Chief Deputy Ayres to
carry the prisoners before Commissioner
Beckett OF Savannah but not at the gov
ernments expense. The impression Gre
ated in the chief deputy's mind by Mar
shall Wilson's kilograms was, would the
proceedings be legal in the face Of the
fact that Commissioner Lehman was on
the grounds, and that Com
missioner Lehman had been
consulted as to the proceedings. and
for good reasons unknown to the chief
deputy had declined to act in the capacity
of commissioner. Deputy Ayres did not
entertain The thought for one moment that
Commissioner Beckett of Savannah was
then in Brunswick on Commissioner Ieh-
mans territory and had he thought so he
would have telegraphed Deputy Marshal
Wilson to decline TO take the prisoners
away from Brunswick and insist upon n
hearing being granted them here. In this
connection II is well TO call attention to
the fact that had not Commissioner
Beckett been on the ground and seen the
situation himself at this juncture the pris-
oners would doubtless have been carried
70 Savannah for trial This was desired
by the Spanish authorities, who would
nave paid Marshal Wilson for services
performed I'm taking them away from n
local commissioned whose territory had
been Invaded at the dictation of Spain. II
would have worked a hardship on the