The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-11-05
'ounsel in the Sclley Case Have Com
menced Reviewing the Testimony.
iANNA OPENED FOR THE NAVY DEPARTMENT
wo witnesses Whom the Applicant Endeavored to
Have Examined Were Prevented from Civ
ing Their Testimony to the Court.


|ourt of inquiry reached the argument
tage at the beginning of the Afternoon
essicn today.
The morning session was devoted to
stening to Admiral Schley and Captain
igsbee in making corrections in thcit
sstinony, which had been given previously
ad The Introduction by Judge Advocate
e1ny OF numerous documents bearing on
pc different phases of the inquiry.
Admiral Schley did not make any material
|idltions to his previous statements. but
svoted himself largely to the clearing
Of ambiguous points in his testimony.
An effort was made TO introduce two
ew witnesses who were expected 10 give
fstimony In Admiral Schley's behalf CON
rnng the controversy as to what infor-
alton Captain Sigsbce communicated ia
dmiral Schley when he arrived Off San.
ago IN May, 1898 One of these witnesses
az frank Is. Richards, and the other,
|eerge Lynch, both of New York. and
IN newspaper correspondents who were
duty in Cuba and in Cuban waters
'ring the war with Spain Mr.. Lynch
|as on the press boat Soners n. Smith
ID MI Richards on the Premier. They
ere to have testified concerning the
eeting of these vessels with the ST. Paul
which Captain Slgsbee was in com
and The court, however, decided not
hear them.
Tue opening speech of thu argument in
ease was made in behalf of the gov
nment by Il. H. Hanna associate 70
E judge advocate He began Ills presenta'
"a 81 the case a few minutes after +bn
w w colN eHeu az O'Clock and when court
5" "ulrH Two hours later, he had not
yered more than han on the ground in'
Itlea I'm the controversy.
n,se captain Sissbce was on the stand
Aaynor asked him If he had mega,
~, vsev OF 9iherwlse communicated to the
ess ooat Premier while off Santiago the
Qt tnat the Spanish fleet was not In san.
10 ne witness replied that he had not
" So although he would have been nisti-
y ~ aylhg so II he had thought ii proper
ntf Me circumstances of war.
lhen Captain Sigsbee was excused. Can.
pnesses to call.
Eank B. Richards was then sworn. Mr..
enarls stated that he was on the dis
zen BOAT Premier during the Santiago
NRalgn and that the boat was hailed
taptaln Sigsbee on the night of NAV
o. RI At this point Captain Lemly OBJ
TED 70 this line of evidence on the
una that Commodore Schley was not
sent curing the conversation: also that
vas Dol material to the issue. Captain
- sItlelIcu 10 lne ruling of the court
frdins the Potts-Sears conversation.
ssa hod been ruled out and claimed that
\ was exacHy parallel case.
led hy nor commended that this alleged
Aysrsation with Captain Slgsbee is one
uue vital points of the case: that IT
sfs dlrectly upon one of the most import
SPECIFICATIONS of the preecpt Mr. RAY.
SAD Che did not desire to impoach tTo
,iniiity OF captain Sigsbee, but will en-
XJSf1Nto impeach very strongly his reco-
4 ~ After a short argument by Mr.
N support of Captain Lemly's oh.
tss,1xsfne court retired to consider the
salsed' The court was absent but
time. When 1t returned Admiral
ey announced that las the testimony
ms witness is not considered hy the
bilt as material to the case. the objection
istained In accordance with the courts (
eious ruling."
der this ruling neither Mr. Richards
Mr.. Lynch could testify. and Admiral .
ey took the stand for the purpose of
citing his testimony.
e ADMIRAL was suffering from cold
ANS voice was quite hoarse. He began
Forrectlons at the very first of his ties
my Most of these corrections were of I
graphical errors or the changing Of .
sils TO make sentences read more smooth /
Referring to the order from Admiral .
-lson, dated Key West, May 49, in .
ting the commander of the flying .
|wi1ron 70 establish a blockade at Glen
rs with the least possible delay. the
ess read a sentence from it as follows:
er | have the situation more in hand, I.
D " write you to give you any more in 1
eRtioni as suggests itself"
\ word more" should be omitted, !
Admiral Schley. and the sentence read /
Elbows: after / have the situation in !
fn VIII write You and give you any
.nation that suggests itself"
sreferring TO his testimony regarding |
ne HrTiyal of the Harvard on May ~ |
"a dlspatch from the, navy department,
uing him that all Of the depart
HtnhS infgrmntiOn indicated IN,
Spanish squadron at Santiago"
~ dispatch he had declared had never
ssnd him and therefore he had never
i-Alt or beard of it until recently. Adj
Az Schiey corrected this portion of his !
=, ony by stating that neither his flag
uH liant nor his secretary had ever seen
trYspatch nor remembered il. lie had
r,s usly Included his first lieutenant in
M ;atement Referring to his testimony
iuhi Ing the reconnaissance OF May 81 !
nlnimiral changed his statement, that
not more, shells passed over the
70 read that a number of shells
lso changed his evidence concerning
Gus movements In the harhor of
nldgO July TO read that before dark
eed n the iharbor good deal Of
rgt coming up"
official record, he said. made him
~ sat he saw the smoke after dark
an tng 10 his answer to a question I'm
1lce 20 his orders sent below during
rly part of the battle to stand nv
-. Admiral Schley emphasized his
testimony by stating that there
Va. distinct attempt TO ram on the
,rl the Maria Teresa, Admiral Ger
81 nagship. and the Niscaya." He also
Alfled his confidence in the Brooklyn's
ttshF stating that with one engine
the boilers" he could have gotten
: speed that was needed. As to the
:. or qhe flying squadron by the
NJ IN me morning of May 10 aud the
h |