Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-09-19
HOWiSON REFUSED.
viii Not &c Allowed 10 Serve on The
SchIey Case.
DEWEY AND BENHAM so AGREE.
After Examination of Three WItucs.
ses Who Testified as TO howison's
unfarorable Comments on Schley.

Washington. u. G.. SpcciaI-With.
In three hours OF the time OF the CON.
Vening OF the SChlcy court OF ln1uir,
| thursday II was announced that Rca,
Admiral llowison was DISQUALIFIED
| from serving as n member OF tho
| court and was excused from furthcr
duty. This brought proceedings 10 an
abrupt termination and caused a TEN.
porary adjournment OF the court In
order to permit the Navy Department.
70 designate an officer to succeed Ad.
miral Howison. No further session is
probable until the early part OF next
week. II had been expected that III.
tie official business would be accom-.
piished on the opening day. and tho
prompt decision as To Admiral Howl
son came quite as a surprise.
Intense interest appeared To- bo
taken hy the public in the proceedings.
anu though IL was known that only a
very limited number OF persons would
be admitted to the court room AMI
these by card, a large crowd was as.
semblcd a the court room To witness
the coming and going OF the promi-
ncut naval officers who were TO take
part IN the proceedings. They came
uniformed and unhcraldcd. and until
the full dress uniforms had been
donn"d at quarters inside the yard.
Tor the actual sessions Of the court.
there was little to lend dramatic in
t"rcst to the occasion. Admiral Dewey
and Admiral Schlcy naturally were
the premier figures In popular in.
t"rcst That latter had about him
distinguished array Of counsel. incIud.
ing Hon. Jcrc Wilson. Attorney Gen.
eral lsidOr Rayncr of Maryland. and
Captain James Parker. with Mr.
league, acting as advisory counsel.
The German naval attaCho. Capt. Re.
beurpasChwitz. occupied one OF tho
seats in the public area and the num-
Der OF wives Of naval officers present
was noteworthy. a salute Of II guns
in honor OF the admiral OF tho navy
marked the opening proceedings at
O'clock
The usual formalities on the open
ing Of a court were carried ont with
dispatch. The first skirmish was
opened by Admiral Schlcy rising from
his seat and speaking in n strong
voice, calmly and deliberately Chal
longing Admiral Howison'8 eligibility
as member Cf the court. Three wit.
nCssCs were brought forward in sup.
port Of his challenge namely, Francis
S. Frost, William T.. Spon and Foster
f. l.g liza.
mony as to expressions they had heard
Admiral Howison make favorable TO
Admiral Sampson and unfavOrable 10
Admiral SChlcy. Mr.. Frost testified 10
statement Admiral HowisOu had
made TO him al Boston while the VIII
ness was seeking news as rcpOrN"-.
Mr.. SpOn 10 remarks made while hc
and the admiral were jOurneying back
to this country from EurOp, on
transatlantic steamer, and Mr.. Mich
OILS n conversation which occurred
during a business call at AdmireI
HOwison's private residence In York
ers. N. Y.
On concluding this testimony. the
question arose whether Admiral Howl
son would join issue with the state.
mcnts made by the witnesses, or
would rest upon his privileges To
" "lIIHDll any dHO"tI hllllI nv 'IbNF
to submit it. The admiral met the IS
sue by turning at once to Admiral
Dewey and announcing that he would
make Il written rCjoindcr to the state
mcnts Of the three witnesses. This r".
joindCr he prepared very speedily.
While COnccding the accuracy Of some
points in the evidence. it threw con
siderable doubt on other points anf
disClaimcd any recollection Of talks
said TO have taken palcc on the trans
Atlantic steamer. II was not sufii-
cicnt. however, 70 cOuntcraCt tL9
direct testimony given by three Wit
ncsscs and moreover, the admiral
himself in concluding his statement,
indicated plainly that he had no de-
sire to remain On the court and waa
there simply in obedience 10 orders.
IIc even appealed TO his associates on
the court to decide ali doubtful quoH-
tions as to his eligibility In favor 81
Admiral SChlCy.
He was in consequence declared
DISQUALIFIED.