Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-25
COURT GOES TO WORK
Inquiry into the Facts Of the
SchIey Controversy Begins
at Washington.
LAWYERS WIN THE FIRST FIGHT
Regarding the Admissibility of Evi.
dence-Presidcnt Roosevelt in
fIarncss-Cabinet Meet
ing Held.

court of inquiry rcconNened yesterday,
and before adjournment examined four
witnesses. The most important Incl
the court withdrawing question but
by the court itself, asking witness to
give his opinion concerning Il point UNI
der controversy. The witness was
Rear Admiral Higginson, who partic-
ipated in the Santiago campaign rs
captain of the battleship Massachu
sets. This vessel at one time was a
part of the flying squadron" COM
manded by Commodore Schley, and
the court asked him to state whether
all possible measures We're taken to
capture or destroy the Spanish vessel
Christobal Colon as it lay in Santiago
harbor from May % to June /, 1898.
VIII Shorten tho Proceedings.
Counsel for Admiral Schley objected
to the question, on the ground that a
reply woulu involve an opinion and not
statement of facts. Judge Advocate
Lemly admitted that the precedents
We're against questions of this charac-
ter, and the court withdrew this in
terrogatory. 1t is generally admitted
that this decision will have the effect
of materially shortening the term of
the court, as will also the courts man
ifest intention to cut out irrelevant
questions and all hearsay testimony. In
several cases the witnesses were adj
monished to relate only events coming
within their observation.
Dewey Good Presiding Officer.
Admiral Dewey showed himself a
prompt presiding officer. He called
the court to order exactly at the desig-
mated hour, and adjourned it just as
promptly at 4 p. IN. The witnesses yes
terday were Rear Admiral Higginson,
who commanded the battleship Massa-
chusetts during the Spanish war; Cap
tain C. NJ. Chester. who commanded
the cruiser Cincinnati; Major Thomas
N. Wood of the marine corps, who
commanded the marines on the Mas
sachusetts, and Commander Giles p.
Barber, VIII was executive officer t
the Texas, the latter being on thestand
when the court adjourned. The attend
ance of the public was small.
Summary of the Testimony.
With reference to the disputed points
of the controversy Admiral Higginson
said he knew of nothing done to secure
communication with the Cuban forces
on shore when the squadron was at
Cienfuegos: that coaling at sea was
possible when Schley started for Key
West to coal: that the batteries at the
entrance to Santiago bay We're of nc
importance; that the Colon could have
been destroyed as she lay at anchor
May 81. Captain Chester's testimony
| was of no particular value either way
Major Woods, of the marines, said hi
thought he heard Schley say while the
firing was going on May 81. "Star
board your helm and let's get out OF
this" Captain Barber said that though
he would have commanded the TeXa.
in case of Captain Philips disability
he knew of no plan of battle or instruc.
lions to guide him in case the enem,
should appear. This was while Schle!
was in command before Sampson ar
rived. Barber also said that coalin.
ship at sea was not impossible wheI
Schley started for Key West.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CoNFERs.
Holds His First Cabinet Meeting and Take
Possession of the White House.
Washington. Sept. 21.-Presiden
Roosevelt took possession of the Whit
House yesterday, when he arrived iron
Canton, and Immediately called cab
met meeting for IL a. IN. His pur
. pose was to confer with his adviser
as to anything that might have com
up recently, and also as to the condi
ton of the various questions befor
the administration. All of the mem
: bers We're present except Attorne
General Knox, who stopped for fe,
: days in Pittsburg. Each member ea
planned to the president the polio
1 which had been followed in dealin
with the matters under consideration
and their present status. No ne,
business was taken up. The presiden
again announced his intention to fo
low the policy marked out by Presi
! dent Mckinley.
About 1:30 o'clock, shortly after til
: conclusion of the cabinet meeting
President Roosevelt left the Whit
House to go to the residence of hi
o sister, the wife Of Commander Cowle.
= of the navy, for luncheon. Disdai1
ing a carriage, he walked swiftly an
alone. No one had known when Ii
would leave his office, and as Ii
passed briskly out of the grounds G
! the executive mansion he attracted Iii
tie attention, scarcely anybody recoe
, n!zing him. He crossed Pennsylvani
avenue into Lafayette square, an
thence up Sixteenth street to his de.
; tination. In the course of an hour an
a half he returned to the White Hous,
still alone, and still walking
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