The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-30
REED IS ON TRIAL.
Charged with Participation ia the
Commissary Frauds at Manila.
MANY OBJECTIONS URGED
To His Trial by Court Martial, but All
Were 0yerruled.
DAMAGING TESTIMONY WAS GIVEN.
Money Was Given by Contractors TO
Cover Deficit by Davis.
MANY PEOPLE KNEW OF THE BRIBERY
Reed Is Said to Have Admitted Recciv-
ms the Money to Cover the
Alleged Shortage.

Manila, April 2n.-rhe trial OF CAPTAIN
James c. Reed former depot commlssary
90 Mahlla, who wHs arrested fortnight
ago for alleged commissary frauds was
begun herc today and bids fair 10 develop
Into celebrated case. Captain Reed Is
charged with soliciting and receiving
hrihos and with other official misc5nducr.
AZ the beginning Of the trial counsel for
the defendant objected to tho Jurisdiction.
alleging that under an act promulgated IN
1901 cnleers Of the regular establishments
are Ineligible as members of the court.
martial TO try an officer " volunteers The
defense further deny that state Of war
exists Ia Manila today and alleged that
The provost marshal, General George W.
Davis, Is unauthorized to cnnvonc general
court martial and nbmnting that as Gen.
eral Macarthur virtually preferred tho
charges against Captain Reed. the orers
directing his trial by court martial should
come FROM Washington, The defense fur
iher objects to The fact that several mem.
beers Of the court were Of Inferior rank
TO Captain Reed. An these objections we're
overr1ied unl the nearing Of evidence was
begun.
Mr. Schindler, manager OF the AlhamDra
cigar factory testified that IN November
captain Reed had told him that Major
George u; Davis, who was The depot com
missary before Captain Reed, but who
Was sent TO HE United states on the sick
list ana whose name appears on tne
books Of Evans & CO.. government cou-
lractor1 ~ Manila, as the recipient or
$1,000 was $1,000 short In his accounts. Con
tinutug Mr.. SCHNEIDER testified that those
having probable contracts with the gov
crhmeht wore asked tp assist IN making
gnui lsNftihngN
Ter gave captain Rcef Sl0H1 which wua
~ per cont commission On mo cigars
Bold 10 the commlssarY department during
the time thut Major Davis was depot com
missary at Manila
An 9nlccr named Frsuklln who was as
slstant commissuiy. testified that on Marcn
rs, following rho direction IT superior
officer hr obtained $1,000 from Major DAVIS
aud passed this nancy over to Scnlud'er,
Inspector General darlington testified thai
during the preliminary Investigation Of the
commissary scandals, Captain Reed admit
ted 10 HIN receiving money from Schlhdler
aud others and gave As an excuse tnat
the money was intended to cover Major
eutcnaat Rlchard II. Townoy Of Ken
~. superintendent of me school test
n u conference win captain Reed
went 90 Jcc Cnstle BROTHERS, contract
who supply the rommissary depart
'pt yeeefahlcs etc. anu wanted them 70
J. CAPTAIN Reed S20fh and 10 pcf cent
omission an nn sales Castle Hrns stu
Here SO This statement taRtie Bros;
h. rrmctant 10 hand over this sum ana
htenant Towney explained that CAPTAIN
Ia was n position 70 advance the In
Isl uf the hrm AMI thar Il would he
antaEeOus 10 Castle Bras. 20 ohllge hlnl
<-ftenaul rnwhlev testified that he fur
I rxnlalncd 90 Castle Bros. th1t Captain
| IA might allow them the use OF govern
megf lighters md possibly be less rigid In
M Inspection OF goods purchased; Lieu,
tenant rownley said that he thought Reed
was doing II noble thing in seeking ~ pro
teei the character ~ brother officer. lie
also said the transactions werc not Gus.
iomary In the navy. When rross-examined
lieutenant Townlcv said, rather sheepish'
iy. that he was not sure that be, was doing
right IN taking the witness chair
Colonel Charles A. Woodruff. chief or
the sustennnco department 10 Manila, sx.
piaIned the circumstances surrounding
captain Reeds appointment. not Knowing
whether the accounts Of Major Davis we're
Colonel WoodruT testified that on De-
cen,itcr 30 castle Bros. aroused hts sus'
plcion hy intmatipg the money WAS being
collected hy an officer Of the coinmlssary
Later Colonel Woodruff sent
for C0ptaln Reed who admit'eed receiving
rebates for the purpose nf covering the de.
of Mai0p Davis. The Testimony
~ Colonel Woodruff Is unfinished and
other witnesses arc awaiting examination