Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-30
TO SHIELD BRorMeR OFFICER.
Gapt. Reeds Defence for Alleged Comm'ssary
Frauds at Manila.

| Manila, April 29.-The trial Of the
former depot commiasary at MAMMA
Capt. James o. Reed, who was arrest
cd about Il fortnight ago for aiieSe"
| participation in the CommsSary lTauus
was begun here. today, and pids ia'r
| to develop into a celebrated case. capt.
| Reed is charged with soliciting ana re-
ceiying brides and with other oi!iclal
misconduct.
When the hearing opened counsel lof
the defendant objected to the jurisdic-
ton of the court, alleging that uhoc.
| the act promulgated in 1901, officers Oh
| the regular establishment are inciiSibic
as members of a courtmartial to Try an
officer of volunteers. The defense iur-
thcr denied that IL state of war existed
| in Manila today, and alleged that the
provost marshal, Gen. George W. Ia
Wis, is authorized to convene general
| ,ourtmartial and intimatinS that IN so
much as Gen. Macarthur virtually
| prcfcrrcd tie charges against Captain
Reed. consequently the orders directing
| his trial by courtmartial should com"
| from Washington. The defense tufthcr
Objected to the fact that several mem
| hers of the court were of inferior rank
to capt Reed. All these objections
were ovcrrulcd and the hearing OF tcs-
| timony was begun.
| Mr.. SCHNEIDER. manager of the Al
| hambra cigar factory. testified that in
| November. Capt. Reed had told him
that Major George II. Davis, who was
the depot Commissary before Captain
Reed. but who was sent to the United
.tgI.
.pr ears upon the ooks Of Evans & CO..
government contractors at Manila. as
| the recipient of $1,000. WAS $1,000 short
in his accounts. Continuing. MIR Schin-
dIer testified that those having profita-
bic contracts with the government We're
asked to assist in making good Major
Davis deficiency. SCHNEIDER gave
Capt. Reed $i0.0. which was ~ per
cent. commission on the cigars sold TO
the commissary department during
the time that Major Davis was post
Commissary at Manila. An officer nam
ed Franklin. who was assistant com
nlissary. testified to the effect that on
March Is. and following TIE direction
of n superior officer he obtained $1,000
from Major Davis and paid this money
over to SCHNEIDER.
Inspector General Darlington teSti-
fed that during the preliminary in
Vestigation Of the commiSsary scandals
Capt. Reed admitted having recovered
money from SCHNEIDER and others ana
gave as an excuse that the money 50
recovered was intended TO cover Major
Davis beef shortage.
Lieut.. Richard H. Townlcy Of the
navy, at present superintendent of the
Manila Nautical school. testified that
as the result of a conference with Capt.
Reed he went TO see Castle Bros, con-
tractors, VINO supplied the commissary
department with vegetables. etc, and
wanted them to give Capt. Reed S2ocl
and 10 por cent. on commission on MI
sides. Castle Bros. dcmurrcd to this
proposition. Lieut.. Town!ey again
went to Castle Bros. ana this time on
~ asked them for $20Gu. Castle Bros.
were reluctant to hand over this sum
and Lieut.. Townley explained that
Capt Reed was in . position to ad-
vance the interest of the firm and that
it would be advantageous To Castle
Bros. to obliGc him.
Lieut.. Townlcy testified th"t ',c fur
Their explained t. Castle Bros. that
capt Reed might allow them tho use
of government lighters and possibly be
less rigid in the inspection of Goods
purchased. Lieut. Townley said that
he thought CAPT. Reed was doing
noble thing in attempting to protect
the character of "A brother officer. He
also said that such transactions We're
not customary in the navy. When
cross-uuestioned Lieut.. Townlcy said,
rather shcepishly, that he was not $50
sure he was doing right in taking the
witness chair.
COL. Charles \. Woodruff. chief of
III. subsistence department in Manila.
explained the circumstances OF capt.
Reeds appointment and described the
duties Of the depot comlnis%ary, not
knowing whether tie accounts of Ma
Tor Davis were correct or not.
col Woodruff explained that. Dec.
30. CASTE Bros. aroused his suspicious
bv intimating that money was being
collected by an officer of the commits
snrv department Col. Woodruff later
scnt for Capt. Reed. who admitted re
cciyinc rebates for the purpose of coy
cIing the delipquencies Of Major DAVIS.
Tho testimony Of Col. Woodruff IL un-
finished ana other witnesses are await
ing examination.
Lieut. John w. ITaU.se:nann Of the
24th Inf. is Judge advocate Of the court
and Maj. Thomas l.. lIartiEan of the
:Oth Inf. and Capt. Charles III. Marble
Of Tho 10th Inf, are the attorneys for
the defendants.