The Washington times., 1901-09-10
SCHLEY COURTS OPENING.
The Presidents Improvement De-
creases Chances of Any Delay.
The Final Arrangements BEING Com
pieted-sampson's SoD-in-Law Said
to Have Edited Baciay's Proofs
Witnesses Examined by Attorneys.


Unless the Presidents condition should
become precarious. which is not now eX-
pected in view of the ensssraGing reports
from his bedside, the Schley Court of En-
quiry will meet at the Washington Navy
Yard at / o'clock Thursday afternoon. ac-
cording to the terms of the precept, anu
then and there begin an investigation OF
the conduct of Rear Admiral Schley dur
ing the Santiago campaign. Should the
President die or his case become extreme
ly grave the court will meet and adjourn
without taking up any business or open
ing up the case. According to present IN
dications, however with the condition OF
Mr. Mckinley steadily improving and the
prospect of his recovery from the would
be assassins bullet, there will be no de-
lay on his account. No one connected
with the investigation is needed at Buffa-
To- and it is pointed out that no good
could be accomplished by delay, pro-
yided the President continues to improve.
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admiral Ben
ham were at the Navy Department yes
terday and had a conference regarding
certain details of the proceedings of the
court. They also had talk with Acting
Secretary Hackett and Captain Lemly.
the Judge advocate of the court One of
the results of their conference was a de-
cision regarding the daily sessions of the
court. There will be two sessions each
day. one from 10 until noon, then an ad-
journment of an hour for luncheon ana
second sitting from l until o'clock.
In accordance with the instructions of
the precept, the court will meet at l
o'clock on Thursday and organize. How
much progress will be made toward a
start on the first day will depend largely
upon what is done in regard to Rear Ad-
miral Howison. That Admiral Schley
will challenge him is regarded as certain.
He will set forth his reasons for asking
that Admiral Howison be relieved from
the court. 1t is thought that but short
time will be required by the two remain
ing members to decide the question. In
case they conclude that Admiral Howl
son should be excused from service, some
delay will doubtless be occasioned while
the department obtains some one else as
the third member of the court. 1t is said
that the department has in view some
one who viii be eligible for service and
who will doubtless be accepted in case
Admiral Howison is removed. Admiral
Howison had not reached the city at a
late hour last night, Sbut is expected to
arrive in Washington today or tomorrow
morning at the latest
Whether or not Admiral Sampson Will
attend the court is a matter still un-
settled as it has been since the court was
ordered. The reports concerning his
coming are conflicting, and until his
name is called it will not be known
whether he will go upon the stand.
The officials at the Navy Department
profess to have no communication from
Admiral Sampson concerning his attend
af ha Of off
hours yesterday no surgeons certificate
had been received at the department
making any report upon Simpsons con-
dition.
1t was stated yesterday at the Navy |
Department by an authority regarded as
entirely reliable that Lieut.. Roy Camp |
bell Smith, a son-in-law of Rear Admiral |
Sampson, acted in the capacity of proof |
reader for Historian MacIay and that he |
read and edited personally every word in |
the history bearing upon the West Indian |
campaign, the publication of which was |
the immediate cause of the present Court |
of Enquiry.
When asked about this important de- |
velopment in the case last night, Judge |
Wilson, one of the counsel for Admiral /
Schley, said that he had not yet learned /
of the fact He was disposed to regard 1
the statement. coming as it did from an
authoritative quarter, as highly impor- |
tant. Just what bearing this will have on /
the Court of Enquiry is not known, al
though it will no doubt be brought out at |
the forthcoming investigation.
Judge Wilson last night started on a I
hurried visit to New York on business
connected with the Court of Enquiry. He |
declined to comment on the nature of his /
business there. 1t is understood, however,
that Judge Wilson has left the city al !
this time on an important matter and |
that the result of his trip is counted on as
being of considerable advantage to Ad-
miral Schley. 1t is thought that he has |
gone to see at least one of the witnesses
to be called before the court for testi-
mony and his return is expected today.
Lieutens commander Schroeder, Naval |
Governor an who was executive Of |
fcer of T. sachusetts during the San /
tiago cal-l.,issa, arrived in Washington |
and was at the Navy Department yester-
day morning. He was one Of the first wit
nesses summoned home after the Court of |
Enquiry was ordered. His name appears |
upon the list of witnesses to be called by |
the Navy Department. He saw the Act
ing Secretary Of the Navy. Mr. Hackett, |
and then had a talk with Captain Lemly. |
the judge advocate of the court.
Lieutenant Commander w. H Souther- |
land who is also a witness for the Navy /
Department, was in to see Captain Lemly |
yesterday, as was Lieut.. c. II. Har- |
low, who has been here for several days. |
Lieutenant Harlow's name is on both |
lists Lieut. Edward McCauley, who IL |
a witness for Admiral Schley, is in Wash |
ington, and registered at the department |
yesterday.
Lieut.. Alex Sharpe, jr.. who was on the |
Vixen during the Santiago campaign. has |
also arrived in response 10 a summons |
from the Navy Department to appear be-
fore the Court OF Enquiry.
Capt f. a. Cook. who commanded the |
Brooklyn during the battle of Santiago, I
repeated yesterday to Admiral -Schley, /
Judge Wilson, Captain Parker. and Mr.. /
Rayner, the admiral's counsel, his story /
of the West Indian campaign. Judging 4
from the length Of time consumed, the |
recital was an interesting one Admiral /
Schley and his counsel were closeted in /
the apartments of Judge Wilson at the
ShorS ham from 10 O'Clock In the morning
until late in the AFTERNOON, going over the
case. The most important feature Of the
question developed yesterday was this in
teryiew.
1t is understood that the story told by
the commanding officer of the Brooklyn
covered the entire campa4 gn~in the West
Indies The narrative wa listened TO at
tentatively by the attorneys, who ques.
toned Captain Cook closely concerning
the important points in the campaign
Every detail however small was careful
Significance then considered. The testi-
mony OF Captain Cook will be of the ut
most Importance. as he was In the thick
of the sea battle. His knowledge of other
In, x.ris1 th..