The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-25
IsadOre Rayner Becomes Senior
Counsel For the Admiral
As the Result of the Death of
Judge Wilson.
ARE MANY NEW CHARTS
Brought into Court to Make
Plain Obscure Points.
Machinfst CIaxton,o of the Texas,
on the Stand.

Washington, Sept. 25.-When the
Schley cout of inquiry con-
vened at the navy yard at II o'clock
today there We're general comments
upon the fact that the seat which had
been occupied from the beginning of
the sitting by Judge Jere Wilson was
vacant He had endeared himself not
only to the members of the court. but
to all persons about the court, and sOr-
row was shown on every eountenanee.
Comment upon his sudden taking off
was very general throughout the court
room The business of the court, how
ever. was promptly resumed at the
usual hour.
I'm answer to a question from the AS
ISOLATED Press. Admiral Schley today
stated that since the death of Judge
Wilson, Attorney General Isadore Ray
ner would be the leading counsel in his
case and that he would be assisted by
Captain Parker OF New Jersey and Mr..
A n league of Baltimore, as an ex-
pert assistant. Mr. Rayner will con-
tinue to conduct the cross examination
of witnesses as he has been doing and
the other gentlemen win continue in the
same capacity they occupied up to the
time of Judge Wilson's death. Mr. Ray
ner stated that if it became necessary
IN the preparation of a abstracting of the
vOluminOus documents in the case to
employ assistant counsel or if he
should be unavoidably absent at any
made for that purpose
The wall back of the court was adOrn-
ed today with chart on a large scale
showing the ground site of the battle
OF Santiago on July 3. The southern
coast of Cuba in the vicinity of San
tiagO was plainly marked. and the
points at which the Spanish ships went
70 the bottom or to the shore were all
indicated In plain lettering There were
also a number of transparent charts
which had been prepared over night
sir ar> ne H11n
and which were intended to illustrate
various phases of the Santiago CAM
paign- All these had been.prepared with
a view OF eNpediung the work of the
court and all were on a large scale.
The first witness called today was
Mr. A 3. ClaxtOn. the machinist on
testimony when the sittings of the
court We're abruptly terminated by the
death of Judge Wilson.
Before Mr.. Claxton took the stand,
Commander Heilner was recalled to
make verbal corrections fin the official
copy of his testimony He said he had
several corrections that he desired to
make. In one case he was recorded as
giving the bearing and the distance
of the Brooklyn. He said he had given
the bearing and not the distance. He
made various other changes, but they
were not material.
Mr. Claxton said on July 3. 1898 he
had been on duty in the engine room
Of the Texas The engine indicator had
morning. which had within an hour af-
ter the beginning of the action. been
changed to full speed astern." To his
knowledge there had been no signal for
the reversal of the engines. He said
that he had been excused from service
in the engine room, but still he knew
that the engines were reversed for
about two minutes.
The witness had said that the engine
was stopped.
What was the next change made in
the indicator of the port engine of the
TeNas2'' he was asked.
Full speed ahead
what was the next after that2''
There was no other order given for
some time afterward.''
when was a further signal received
by the indicator, and what was the
signal2"
within the first hour of engagement
the direction was changed to full speed
astern."
''Can you not give an estimate of the
time when the signal was given for full
speech astern and how long after the
beginning of the action p
81 could say within the first hour"
Was there any other signal given
during that watch within your knowl-
edge for the port engines to reverse 2''
There was none to my knowledge r
You were on duty in the port en-
gine room throughout that day, were
you not2'
ION and on, sir
Where else We're you on duty If
anywhere, at the time?"
4 was excused for a time on ac-
count of the heat
"As a matter of fact We're the en-
gines reversed 90
They were for about two minutes
Mr.. ClaxtOn was not questioned by
Mr.. Rayner.
ADMIRAL COTTON TFSTTFTES.
Rear Admiral Cotton. now command
ant Of the Norfolk navy ward who
commanded the auxiliary cruiser Har-
ward during the Spanish war. was the
next witness He told of meeting the
flying squadron under Commodore
Schley off Santiago on May q 1Sa2
and said that on that date he had de-
nvered dispatches to the then commo-
dOre from Admiral Sampson and the
navy department He had. he said.
boarded the Brooklyn about 1890
O'Clock The weather was then mod
crate, and he had had no difficulty ia
going aboard the Brooklyn from his
boat. He had worn his sword
What conversation took place be-
tween yourself and Admiral SchIev2'' /
asked Captain Lemley.
1T viii be impossible for me to state
the entire converse ton the witness !
speaking. from about half past 10 to /
about noon The conversation natural /
y covered a very wide range. the most /
important part of which was. of course /
relative to the dispatch I had deliv- |
cred"
what was said about the dispatch
III delivered to Commodore schley the
original cipher in which the dispatch /
had been received by me at st. Nicholas