The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-09-13
HOVISOI Off.
THE BOARD

Warrington, september. IH.-Tn0 navy
Court OF Inquiry appointed to investi
gate Rear Admiral schley's conduct dur
ing the West Indian campaign incident
to the Spanish war began Its tack to day
Az result Of three hours session Ad
mira, Schley scored notable vis,ory. g.
His objection to Rear Admiral Howison
serving as Nom ber Of the court on the
ground that Howison's mind was preju
diced In favor Of Sampson was sustained
by Admiral Dewey and Banham, the
other members of the court.
Figurativeiy speaking. Howison
was told to 70 away ok and ut down.
-Thenran Indefinite adjournment was
taken to Rivo the Secretary OF Navy q
eh aucs to f1ll tho vacancy Of the court caus
ed by his forced retirement Just who will
be selected O. his successor 10 mat ter Of
CON lecture a. yet. There are about sixty
rear admirals, both active and retired. who
are eligible to serve, and any one Of them
may be selected. Acting Seer .tarV Of the
N avy Hackett said to night that the de.
partment had no one In view at present.
Schley's impoeing tr'plet Of lawyers
spiang a upriss on the court and Judge
Advocate General Lemy, who is conduct
ing the case against him. Il has been as
sumsd that Schley was depending on only
one witness, a Boston newspaper reporter
to chow that Howison had expressed an
opinion prejudicial to him and In favor Of
SAMPSON, But to day NO fewer than
three men were produced by -Schlsy's con
sui who testified that they had heard
Eowison practically prejudice the CASE.
Ono was book agent who had visited
Howison for the purpose Of selling him q
biography of tho Spanish war heroes.
Another was u fellow passenger with
Howison on his return from European
trip. Tho third was the Boston reporter.
Then, too, under the skillful question
ing Of Attorney General Rayner, OF Mary
land, Howison was made to admit that
he had frequently discus. cd the morris Of
the controversy with other persons whose
names he could not recall. Howison seem
cd to realize that this admission on his
part was fatal to his presence on tho
court, for after making IT., and Just as
Ruyner was preparing to deliver bis argu
ment, Howson exclaimed impetuously:
II you get rough as quick as YOU.
After this there was nothing else for
the court to do. Dewey aud Benham re
tired for a consul tation, which las cd ten
minutes, and wben4hey returned. Dewey
as president of tho court, said briefly:
The court announces that the objection
OF counsel for the applicant Is sustained.
Admiral How,sun is therefore excused
from further service.
Howison smiled In II dignified manner,
and as u matter OF fact looked relieved. for
ho had given Schey's counsel to under
stand that tho task assigned to Elm was
distasteful one, and he accepted 1t only
because Of his respect for the orders OF the
Secretary of The Navy.
Following this incident tho court ad
journed indefinitely. 1t Ia understood
that the vaHrancy will be filed this week
and that the sossl ons will be resumed next
Monday.
The inquiry opened amid picturesque
and impressive surroundings. The uiu
navy yard gun shop, which turned out
the pisuo which blow Spains navy ott the
way of tho waters, never held any bigger
guns from u naval and social standpoint.
than those assembled within Its confines
today,