The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-05
TALKED FOR TWO HOURS
Ground Only Half Covered When
the Court Adjourned for
the Day.

Wl1Cn SLaQQS dSdluSL CAS wal ~ IAS
hall occupied by the Schley court OF
inquiry pointed to 12:45 o'clock to-
day when Judge Advocate Lemly an
nounced that he had no more wit
nesses to call, and MI. Rayner, fol-
lowing him, said no witnesses would
be summoned on behalf of Admiral
Schley in su%r-rebuttal. For a mo-
ment it appeared as if the now ia
nous case was about to reach a sud-
den conclusion. But this delusion
was soon d~issipated by the announce
ment IN the part Of Captain Lemly
that he might ask to be allowed to
bring in one more witness on Monday
and also a statement from Mr.. Ray
mel that Admiral Schley himself
would desire to return to the stand
on Monday to correct error in his
evidence as officially reported.
There is a probability that the ad-
miral will consume considerable time
in going owe the printed record of
what he said, and there is also an
understanding that he will make ad-
ditions to his former statements. But
it is not believed that beyond what
he may have to say there will be
much more testimony taken in the
case.
The only witness that the Judge ad-
vocate still has in mind is Lieutenant
Strauss, and Captain Lemly said to-
ance could be secured he would de-
tain the court for a short time only.
Captain Sigsbee also will return to
the stand Monday to make correc-
tions in the testimony given yester-
day by him.
These details completed, the argu-
ment of counsel will begin, and then
counsel and the public will withdraw
and leave the court to it's delibera-
tions.
The task before the court is not a
light one and it may be weeks before
the final verdict will be reached.
Today's witnesses were MI. Sylves-
ter Scoval, a former newspaper cor
respondent who saw service in the
Cuban campaign, Lieutenant Hood,
who commanded the Hawk during the
Spanish war, and also a number of
officers who were heard yesterday,
and who returned to the stand to
correct their testimony. The court
held only one session and adjourned
ove until Monday.
The attendance on the court was
the smallest since the sessions be-
gan. Comparatively few of the re-
served seats were occupied at the be-
ginning Of today's session, and Lieu
tenant Crawford, Admiral Dewey's
private secretary who has handled
the distribution Of tickets with rare
tact, invited those present to the
front when he discovered that the
seats would not be claimed by ticket
holders. Thus giving the court an
audience and at the same time at
fording the chance visitors a good
opportunity to hear the proceedings.
Washington, Nov. 4.-The Schley
court of inquiry reach the argument
stage at the beginning of the afternoon
session today. This mornings session
was devoted to listing to Admiral Schley
and Captain Sigsbee in making correc-
lions of their testimony, which had been
given previously, and the introduction
by Judge Advocate Lemly of numerous
documents bearing upon the different
phrases of the inquiry. Admiral schley
did not make any material additions to
his previous statements, but devoted
himself largely to the clearing up OF
ambiguous points in his evidence. An
effort was made to introduce two new
witnesses who were expected to give
testimony in Admiral Schley's behal.
concerning the controversy as to what
information Captain Sigsbee communi
Gated to Admiral Schley when he arrived
off Santiago in May 1898. One of these
witnesses. was Frank B. Richards and
the other George Lynch, both of New
York and both newspaper correspon.
dents who were on duty in Cuba and or
Cuban waters during the war with
Spain. Mr.. Lynch was on the press
hoat Somers F. Smith and Mr.. Richards
a. the Premier. They were to have
notwithstanding the meeting of those
vessels with the st. Paul of which Cap
Sigsbee was in command. The
cpnrt, however, decided not to hea,
I'm.
Ehe opening speech of the argument
- made - behalf Of The ~sioyern1aehs
b1 3 2. Hanna, assistant e tbs