Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-31
A Nj My LETTER
Continued from page ~

responsible for and did not give out
such an interview as is alleged in the
dispatches from Boston and as stated
in the newspapers to have been men
toned by Admiral Schley in a recent
letter TO the department.
2. If, however. the department feels
that the cause of the navy and of JUS
tice will be better served by relieving
me from duty on the court, | am en-
tirely ready to withdraw voluntarily.
or to have the department relieve me
upon its own initiative.
3. If. on the other hand. the depart
ment. knowing all the circumstances
desires that ! should perform the duty.
am entirely ready TO perform it, and
can. upon my conscience and oath, do
my duty as a member of the court
without partially as the law requires.
Yours sincerely and respectfully
(Signed) II l.. HOWISON,
Rear Admiral, L. S. Navy
Hon. Frank w. Hackett, Washing
ton, d. G.
Hacketts letter is as follows:
PersonaD Washington, Aug. &C.
Dear Admiral: Your personal letter
of the oath deserves an immediate re-
ply. You say substantially that there
is no foundation for the statements at
tributed to you as having been set
forth in an interview afterwards pub
lished in the Boston Record and lately
made the subject of 4 communication
from Rear Admiral Schley to the de-
partment. You have evidently read
the correspondence between the adj
miral and the department as published
last week in the newspapers.
The department. let me assure you,
has no purpose of relieving You of this
duty. 1t has implicit confidence in
your sense of justice and fair minded
ness.
Should the counsel for Rear Admiral
Schley proceed to offer to the court OBJ
lection to you it will be for the court
itself to decide the question Of your
competency to sit as a member.
Were your letter official instead of
being personal. l should refer it to the
judge advocate of the court to be laid
before the court. | would like to know
if you have any objection TO my giving
to the public your frank and manly
letter. in the event that it shall seem
desirable to do so. What you have
said only confirms me in the belief that
the department has been fortunate in
selecting you as the third member Of
the court.
Kindly accept the assurance of my
personal esteem and believe me.
Yours truly
FRANK W. HACKETT.
Rear Admiral H. l.. Howison, L. 6.
Navy. Yonkers. n. Y.
The correspondence was sent to Ad-
miral Schlcy. who discussed ii with his
counsel. Later the following announce
ment was made:
Admiral Schleys counsel is entirely
dissatisfied with the position Of Ad-
miral Howison as disclosed in his letter
to Acting Secretary Hackett, made
public. today.
The lawyers hold that ii is not a com
prehensive denial of the statements at
tributed to Admiral Howison nor. they
say, does it disclose sufficiently the ad-
mirals freedom from bias. 1t is prob
able they will set forth these objections
in 4 letter to the acting secretary Of the
navy.
The naval orders of today contain the
names of three persons designated as
witnesses in the coming inquiry. They
are Lieut.. John Hood of the Indiana.
Lieut.. James G. Doyle. who according
to telegram received. today. from Nd
iniral Remey at Cavite, has been de-
Ia ched from the New York and ordered
home. and Chaplain w. T. Helms. now
on the Buffalo. who has been ordered
homo Immediately.