The Indianapolis journal., 1898-09-30
IN BEHALF OF M'INTYRE
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE AT
THE DENVER CoURT-MARTIAL.
Several Friends of the Chaplain Say
the Newspaper Accounts of His
Lecture Were Not Accurate.

DENVER, Col, Sept 2s-When the court
martial trial of the Rev. Joseph P. McIn-
tyre, chaplain of the battle ship Oregon,
was resumed to-day, Henry NJ Courier was
called by the prosecution. He practically
reiterated the testimony of previous wit
nesses that Chaplain Mcintyre. in his lee
ture in August, charged Admiral Sampson
with reporting himself within the four-mile
limit at the time of the capture of the
Spanish ship Colon. when he was in reality
eight or ten miles distant. He also corr
roborated the statements of other witnesses
regarding the alleged contemptuous allu-
sons of the chaplain to Capt. Robley d.
Evans. of the Iowa. and the statement that
the Oregon was the only battle ship that
was honestly built, contracts for all East
ern-built vessels being secured through ''po-
litical pulls"
After the testimony of Mr.. Courier was
finished Judge Advocate Laucheimer an
nounced that the prosecution had closed.
Attorney Cranston, for the defense, then
placed j. r. Schermerhorn.* state senator
who heard Chaplain McIntyre's lecture on
the stand. He testified that the chaplain
said that the Oregon was one of the best
ships afioat. and that the Eastern ship
builders, through, their political influence.
had for years been able to secure contracts
from the government. and, having no COM
petition, had not been careful in construct-
ing vessels The Oregon. being the first one
built by Western contractor, received
special attention in its construction. He
heard no charges of dishonesty in building
ships. The chaplain, witness said, asserted
that at the beginning of the battle the Ore
gon five miles from the Spanish ships
and the Iowa about three miles. The Ore
gon at once started for the Spanish vessels
and met the Iowa going the other way. He
heard nothing about the Iowa going to the
rear. The chaplain referred to Captain
Evans as Fighting Bob,'' but there was
no manner indicating contempt. The audi
ence laughed when such allusions were
made. Witness testified that the chaplain
said that when the battle began Admiral
SIMPSONS flagship, the New York, was
eleven miles away but during the fight she
Colon she was within signaling distance,
which. he explained. was within four miles.
did not state that the admiral reported him.
self within the four-mile limit. Witness
thing to the effect that the audience was as
much entitled to prize money as Admiral
Sampson.
Senator Sherhorn, on cross-examination.
stated that he had known Chaplain Mcln-
tyre several years and regarded MIN as a
personal friend. He was of the opinion that
the chaplain was i'll at the time of the lee
ture and that he should have been more eX-
plicit in some of his statements.
Joshua Wilson, a dry goods salesman, tes-
titled that Chaplain Mcintyre stated that
the material and workmanship in the con-
Struction or the oregon were the pest, Wnlle
those in Eastern built vessels were inferior
because the contracts were secured through
political influence. He heard nothing about
the government being cheated Witness re-
membered that Chaplain Mcintyre said that
when the oregon went into the flght she met
the Iowa, with Fighting Bob Evans on
board going the other way. There was moth
ing said about Captain Evans taking the
Iowa to the rear and keeping her there
The manner Of the chaPlain, in referring 5eh & TO
humorous. Witness testified that Chaplain :.
Mcintyre said that when the Cristobal Colon
hauled down her flag 1t had been reported
that Admiral Simpsons flagship was with
in signaling distance, which was four
miles. but at the time he used his glasses
and could see nothing but the smoke of the
vessels.
Judge E. N. Bonfills, a newspaper editor.
testified that Chaplain Mcintyre stated that
for twenty years the Union iron works in
San Francisco. had been trying to obtain
contracts for the construction of war ships,
but owing to the influence Eastern manu-
facturers had with the government. had
been unsuccessful. Finally, when there were
more vessels to be built than the Eastern
manufacturers could handle the San Fran
cisco company received a contract. The
company spared no pains to make the
Oregon the best ship ever built. Regarding
the battle Judge Bonfills quoted Chaplain
Mcintyre as saying that as the Oregon was
going in she passed the Iowa and. adding
in a humorous manner and where was
Fighting Bob EvanS?" Chaplain Mcintyre,
the witness continued, said something about
the division of prize money, naming $1,000
as the amount to go TO Admiral Sampson
and $500 to Captain Clark, but there was
nothing said about the audience being en-
titled to as much Sampson. Witness de-
ciared the report published in the Rocky
Mountain News. upon which the charges
against the chaplain are largely based. to be
decidedly unjust to the chaplain. He denied
the correctness in many points Judge Bon
fills was still on the stand when the court
adjourned for the day.