The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-24
TO RECOVER PRIZE MONEY.
The Suit of Admiral Dewey Heard
I'm the District Supreme Court

| hearings in the suits against the Gov
| eminent to recover prize money. result
| ing from the capture of Spanish vessels
! during the Spanish-American war. were
| commenced yesterday before Justice
| Bradley, presiding in the District branch
| of the Supreme Court of the District The
| litigation is the outcome of claims made
| by Admiral George Dewey and his officers
| and men for prize money for vessels cap
| tured in the battle of Manila Bay and by
| Admiral t4mpson and his officers for the
capture Of the Spanish fleet off Santiago
| July 3. 1898.
The suit Of Admiral Dewey. ct AL
against the Spanish vessels Don Juan de
| Austria, Isla de Cuba. Isla de Luzon.
Leyte. Mundane. and others. was the first
to be considered. The Government was
represented by Assistant Attorney Cen
eral Charles c. Binney and the Iibeants
by Messrs. II. A. Herbert, ex-Secretary
Of the Navy: Benjamin Micou, and VII
liam b. King. The proceedings were open
ed by Mr. King. who made the first argu-
meHt on behalf of Admiral Dewey and
his officers and men. who were engaged
in the battle of Manila Bay. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Herbert. who concluded his
argument about $3.50 D. m, at which hour
the court adjourned until this morning.
Mr.. Binney will begin his argument
when the court convenes this morning at
10 o clock 1t is expected that his argu-
ment will occupy the attention of the
court during the greater part of the day.
According to the present arrangement,
the hearing in the suit of Admiral Samp-
son against the Spanish vessel Infanta
Maria Theresa anu stores and supplies
captured at the battle of Santiago Bay
will be commenced tomorrow morning
before Justice Bradley.
The proceedings in these cases are for
the purpose of having the court condemn
the vessels named and the other property
referred to as liable for prize money.
The Government, in It's answer to the
suits, made a general admission of the
claims, but demands particular proof of
the details. The litigations involve many
issues of fact and of law, because of the
fact that prize property is divided into
three separate classes, as follows:
vessels and their equipment and the
goods upon them captured afioat and taxi
on INTO the United States service and APP
praised These include both public YES
sells and private-the cascos.
Vessels grounded in the battle and af-
terward raised, the Don Juan de Austria,
the 1sla de Cuba, and the Isla de Luz
zon.
Naval stores captured ashore at the
navy yard These are subject to a di-
vision into stores actually consumed in
the United States service. and stores re-
Gently returned to Spain. Part of those
consumed were appraised and part were
used without appraisal.
The question of the value of the prop /
erty in these three different classes has |
been already partly determined and ii was I
agreed that the matter be referred to the I
auditor of the court for his report The |
court at the hearing now in progress viii /
pass upon the questions involved and /
decree will be drawn. leaving blank space |
for the filling in of the valuation Of the /
property in question.