New-York tribune., 1901-04-30

tected TO the fact that several mem bers OF the
court were OF inferior rank To Captain Reed.
All these objections were overrued. and the
hearing of testimony begun.
MAJOR GEORGE B. DAvIs's ACCOUNTS.
Mr. SCHNEIDER manager of the Alhambra Cigar
Factory, testified that in -SoveEnber Captain
Reed had told him that Major George g. Davis.
who the depot commissary before Captain
Reed. but who sent 20 the United States
on sick leave. and whose name appears upon
the books OF Evans & Co. government con-
tractors at Manila as the recipient OF sl,Vo'
was $1,000 short in his accounts. Continuing
Mr. SCHNEIDER testified that tdose having profit
table contracts with the government were asked
to assist in making good Major Davs's def
cheney Mr.. SCHNEIDER gave Captain Reed 81 600
which was 212 per cent commission on the cigars
sold to the Commissary Department during the
time that Major Davis was depot commissary
at Manila
An officer named Franklin. who was assistant
commissary testified 10 the effect that on March
IS. and following the direction Of a superior
officer. he obtained $1,000 from Major Davis and
paid this money to SCHNEIDER.
Inspector-General Darlington testified that
during the preliminary investigation Of the com
missary scandals Captain Reed admitted 10 him
recovering money from SCHNEIDER and others.
and gave as excuse that the money so recov-
cred was intended TO cover Major Davis's beef
shortage
Lieutenant Richard H Townley. of the navy
at present superintendent Of the Manila Nauti-
cal School, testified that as the result Of con-
ference with Captain Reed, he went TO see
Castle Brothers, contractors. who supply the
Commissary Department with vegetables, etc,
and wanted them to give Captain Reed S2Uoo
and 10 per cent commission on all sales castle
Brothers demurred this proposition. Lieu
tenant Townley again went TO Castle Brothers
and this time only asked them for 5000 Castle
Brothers were reluctant TO hand over this sum-
and Lieutenant Townley explained that cap
tain Reed was In a position TO advance the IN
terest Of the firm. and that II would be ad-
vantageous to Castle Brothers 10 oblge him
Lieutenant TownIey testified that he further ex-
planned Castle Brothers that Captain Reed
might allow them to use the government ignt-
ers and possibly would be less rigid in the IN
spection of goods purchased Lieutenant Town
ley said that he thought Captain Reed was DO
ing a noble thing in attempting TO protect the
character of a brother officer. He also said
that such transactions were not customary in
the navy When questioned Lieutenant
Townley said rather sheepishly, that he was not
SO he was doing right in taking the witness
chair.
Colonel Charles A Woodruff, chief of the Sub
sistence Department in Manila, explained the
circumstances Of Captain Reeds appointment
and described the duties Of the depot comis-
sary not knowing whether the accounts of
Major Davis were correct or not. Colonel Wood
ruff explained that on December 80 Castle
Brothers aroused his suspicious by intinating
that money was being collected by an officer of
the Commissary Department Later Colonel
Woodruff sent for Captain Reed. who admitted
receiving rebates for the purpose of covering the
delinouencies of Major Davis. The testimony of
Colonel Woodruff is unfinished. and other wit
nesses are awaiting examina ton
Lieutenant John w. Haussermann, of the Saith
Infantry, is judge advocate of the court, and
Major Thomas L. Hartigan. OF the Both Infantry.
and Captain Charles H. MARBLE of the 10th In
fantry. the attorneys for the defendants.