Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-09-14

Washington, Sept. l2.-The naval
court of inquiry to investigate the CON
duet Of Rear Admiral Schley, during the
West Indian campaign, convened IN the
new gunshop In the navy yard here to-
day.
Admiral Dewey, the president of the
court, has announced that there Will he
no delay. The sessions will be held
each day, and the court will sit every
day, except sunday. The admiral has
received his gavel from Commander
Baird, made from teakwood taken from
the Spanish cruiser Reina Mercedes,
with which to open the court.
Admiral Dewey decided that, as the
court was called strictly for business,
he would waive, as fur as consistent
with the dignity of the court, all ostrn-
tatiOn not required by the regulations.
Although 10 positive statement on
that point Is made. IL Is gathered from
the attitude of the government officers
that they have no present intention to
maintain the full ceremonial of he court: !:
there Is no disposition on the part of its
members to try to magnify It's import
ance by useless ceremony.
Today they went to the navy yard in
plain clothing. and thus relieved the
conmandant of the necessity Of order
ing an official salute. In the retiring
room adjacent to the court room they
arrayed themselves in what Is known
as the naval dress uniform.
At o'clock the members of the court
will be seated, Admiral Dewey at the
center of the table. with Rear Admiral
Benham at his right and Rear Admiral
HOwisOn on his left. The witnesses
will stand ut the left end of the table,
next to the official stenOgraplcr and
the judge advocate. Captain l.emley,
with Solicitor Hanna, his associate in
the ease, will occupy the other end Of
the table
The judge advocate first will address
the court, and read the precept under
which it Is convened. The next step
will be the recognition of counsel by
the court. Next will come the most
interesting part of the days proceed
ings, namely, the challenging by Adj
miral Schley's counsel of the cOmpe-
tency of Rear Admiral HOwis0n as a
member of the court. They will re-
iterate the charge that Admiral How
ison had expressed an opinion adverse
to Admiral Schley. and it will he the
object of counsel to support this charge
by affidavits and perhaps by oral testi-
mOny. 1t is for the court to say
whether such testimony will be ad-
mitted. The expectation is that an
hour or two will be consumed in argu-
ment by counsel. directed to two meIn-
bers of the court whose competency is
not questioned.
Admiral Dewey and Rear Admiral
Benham then will retire and determine
whether or not the statements presented
are sufficient to make manifest the in
competency of Rear Admiral HOwison.
Captain Cook. who commanded the
Brooklyn during the West Indian cam
paign, probably will be the first wit
uesS.
The headquarters Of Admiral Schley
was scene Of great activity yesterday.
Up to noon five of the witnesses named
by the admiral had been Informed by
counsel Of the line of testimony to be eX-
pected from them when called before
the court. They were Lieutenant
Eberle, Lieutenant Ackerman, Lieuten-
ant Johnson and Lieutenant Com
mander Nicholson, all of whom were on
the Oregon during the Santiago fight,
and Lieutenant Webster, who was on
Admiral Schley's flagship, the Brooklyn,
iuring the fight.
Admiral Schley and his counsel say
they are in complete readiness for what
Is looked on as one OF the greatest naval
trials In history.
The formal challenge to Admiral
HOwisOn is u very brief document and,
according to counsel, will be supported
by several witnesses who will he ready
to appear, including Mr.. Frost, of the
Boston Record, which printed the al
legged Interview with Admiral HowisOn.
The names of the other witnesses who
are expected by the Schley counsel to
substantiate the authenticity of the
HowisOn interview are withheld pend
ing their appearance before the court
Counsel last evening examined George
E. Graham Of Albany, the newspaper
correspondent, who was on Admiral
Schley's flagship during the Santiago
campaign, aud went over the lines OF
his testimony with him.