The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-12
Court Of Inquiry Assemblies
at Washington.
To Decide Controversy Of
Naval Officers.
HOWISON REMOVED.
Defendant Alleged Admiral Is
Ineligible
Owing to Opinions Formed and
Expressed.

Washington, Sept 12-It has been
expected that there would be an early
rush on the part of the Washington
public to secure seats for the schley
inquiry, which began at the Washing
ton navy yard today. but while there
We're more than the usual number of
people stirring about the navy yard,
where the inquiry is to be held. the
pressure for places was by no means as
strong as had been expected. From an
early hour in the day there We're a few
stragglers in the grounds but not until
after y O'Clock were all the 400 seats
reserved for the public taken possession
Of. There was no restriction upon the
occupancy Of these seats and those
who We're the first to arrive secured
their choice of places from which to
view the proceedings
The early arrivals found the tool shop
in which the court is to sit in some
confusion. The building is new and
while the laborers had completed their
preparations for the court, the cleaners
We're engaged in their work up to al
most the hour for the arrival of the
court.
The man with the dust broom and
cleaning cloth had scarcely disappeared
when Admiral Dewey and his fellow
members of the court arrived. The
building itself is a large oblong struc-
ture and looks more like the workshop
which it is intended to be than a court
house. Indeed, while it is commodious
and clean, and new, it created the i'm
preston Of an impromptu court house
in a frontier community. With the ex-
ception Of two large flags ana a huge
golden eagle on the lead coIored wall
back of the court the walls of the
court han We're entirely free from dec
orations and the floors We're innocent
of carpeting; not even We're the large
windows shaded. The seats, except
those inside the railing. We're camp
chairs The elevator and the electric
fans piled noisily and there was a
smell Of fresh paint on every hand.
Captain Lemley, judge advocate gen
eral, was the first official to arrive. He
came in with his assistant Mr. F. z.
Hanna, a few minutes after IL O clock,
and they were soon busily engaged il
unpacldng two or three large boxes OF
books which would be called into fire.
quent use during the sitting Of the
court.
NO DEMONSTRATION.
The distinguished naval officers who
are to participate in the proceedings
o'clock. but they came quietly AMI
without any outward demonstration Of
guns and marching guards Of /
honor. Admiral Benham. one of the /
members of the court, was the first /
member of the court to arrive. He was /
in civilian dress. and carried his en- /
cased sword and a dress suit case CON !
tanning his uniform. An officer Of the 1
yard escorted him to the private quart 4
ers where the full dress of those on the I
court was to BE- dOnned
Admiral Dewey drove up in his car
riage at just 1870 o'clock, and was
greeted at the entrance Of the build
ing by Rear Admiral Terry, COM
mandant of the navy yard.
A guard of marines also wheeled into
ine and saluted as the admiral passed
BY Accompanying him was his young
Chinese servant who served him dur
ing the battle in Manila bay. and has
ever since remained as his body sarv-
ant The admiral was calm and smil-
ng as he acknowledged the greetings