River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-11-07
DECLARES EVIDENCE PROVES CHARGES.
Reviews Briefly the Great Mass of
Testimony Given and Tries to show
That schIey Was Dilatory, Dis
obedient and CnreIess-speeches
VIII lie Concluded by Thursday.

ana teStlneu concerning Ihe Aht'i *"
with Capt. Sigsbee, while the latter
was in command of the st. Paul off
Santiago in May, 1898. Mr.. Lynch
was on the Somers y. Smith, and was
called to relate his recollection of
Capt. Sigs bees communication to
that boat, concerning which Photog-
rapher Hare and Correspondent SEQ
VII already have testified.
Capt. Lemly objected to the intro
duction of their evidence on the
ground that Commodore Schley was
not present during the conversation;
also that it was not material to the
issue Capt. Lemly referred to the
ruling Of the court regarding the
Potts-Sears conversation which had
been ruled out and claimed that this
was exactly a parallel case.
Mr.. Rayner contended that this al
legged conversation with Capt. Sigsbee
is one of the vital points of the case
and the court retired to consider the
point raised.
The court was absent but short
time. When it returned Admiral
Dewey announced that ''as the testi
mony of this witness is not consid-
cred by the court as material to the
case, the objection is sustained in
accordance with the courts previous
ruling"
Under this ruling neither Mr.. Rich
ards nor Mr.. Lynch could testify, and
Admiral Schley took the stand for the
purpose of correcting his testimony.
The admiral was suffering from
cold and his voice was quite hoarse.
He began his corrections at the very
first of his testimony. Most of these
corrections were of typographical err
rors or the changing of words to
make sentences read more smoothly.
Documentary Evidence Introduced.
During the day Capt. Lemly submit
ted for the consideration of the court
a large mass of documentary evidence,
including Capt. Goodrich's report con-
corning cable-cutting. made on April
90, 1895; the report made by Capt.
Philip of the Texas, Capt. Higginson
OF the Massachusetts,, Capt. McCalla
Of the Marblehead, and Capt. Cotton of
the Harvard Commodore Schley's re-
port of Nav 30; Capt. Wise's report of
the operations of the Yale off San
tiago; the log Of the Spanish ship Girls
tobal Colon; Admiral SIMPSONS or
ders to Capt. Folger, of the Scorpion;
all of the reports of the commanding
officers OF the battle of July 3. Com
modore Schley's letter to the senate,
one Of Capt. Sigsbee's letters, and
also the letter Of the secretary of the
navy to the senate as printed in exec
/ utive document C.
schIey's Commission Ignored.
When the court came after recess
Admiral Dewey handed to Capt. Lem
~ and the latter read the following
announcement:
/ THE court states that while II has ad-
/ rnitted to IFS record a document presented
bv counsel for the applicant, which was
! issued On the applicant by the president
Of the United States, on August 10. 1888, the
/ court does NOT recognize such document
! as the commission under which the appll-
/ cant holds his present office In the navy.
Hanna Higgins speech.
Immediately after the reading of this
/ statement the argument In the case was
| begun. Mr. f. p. Hanna. assistant to Judge
/ Advocate Lemly opening for the govern
meut Mr. Hanna began his presentation
Of the case by saying tht IN what he should
| saw In his proposed summary he would Ike
| 10 accomplish two objects. The first OF
these would be to make his address brief
/ ard terse, and the second to present care
E! full and exhaustive citation of the evidence
i adauCed These two purposes he con-
] fessed we're somewhat conflicting. Never
theless he would do the best he could to
4 accomplish them lie would, he said, take
up the clauses Of the precept and present
/ the testimony bearing on them in the order
iu which they appear In the precept lie
/ then began 10y referring to the fact that IN
/ MAY. 1898, the coast of the United States
was menaceG by the Spanish fleet. This
he said was a critical time The seaboard
/ cities were exposed to attack. Military
! operations were pending for the relief of
/ Havana but thcy cJuiu rot be Carried out
/ white the Whereabouts Of the Spanish fleet
was unknown.
sChley's Commission Ignored.
Mr.. Hanna told OF the arrival of the fly
/ ing squadron al Key West and read NUM-
/ Der Of preliminary orders to Commodore
/ SCh!ev. Speaking Of the run OF the flying
{
Mir Hanna claimed that the trip was not
I made as expedtiously as possible.
+ Continuing Mr.. Hanna related the par
ticulars OF the meeting between Commo-
! core Scbley and Capt McCalla as the for
! mer was ON his way 70 Cienfuegos, and that
| although the burden OF calling for infor-
| nation was based upon the senior officer.
1 Vet IT was in evidence that the commodore
| did not request anything from Capt. Nc
1 Gala.
Mr.. Hanna also referred 10 the arrival
! at Cieufuegos speaking of the reports Of
4 guns heard by Admiral Schley and of he
/ meeting with the British steamer Adula.
Failed TO obey SIMPSONS Orders.
Mr. Hanna then read the order Of Ad-
miral Sampson 10 Commodore Schley dated
/ MAY l9 1895 directing the latter to take
! steps 10 prevent the enemy from Continu-
| ing work ON the rev lortihcati0us at Glen
! fuegos, 1t does not appear continued
| Mr. Hanna, "that any steps were taken to
/ prevent work on these new fortiticatous"
( III discussed the question Of McCala's
signal code for communication with the
/ Cuban Insurgents ON the shore at Glen
tuegos At some length. lie said that while