The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-11-05
ARGUMENTS ARE BEGUN
IN THE SCHLEY CASE
Taking of Testimony Is Concluded and Hanna
Commences His Speech.
Efforts to Show That the Admiral Did Not Conduct His Campaign
Properly

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-The Schley
w court of inquiry reached the ar
gument stage at the beginning
Of the afternoon session today. The
morning sitting was devoted to listen
ing to Admiral Schley and Captain
Sigsbee in making corrections Of their
testimony which had been given pre-
viOusly, and the Introduction by Judge
Advocate Lemly of numerous docu-
ments bearing upon different phases
OF the inquiry. Admiral Schiey did
not make any material additions to h5s
previous statements, but devoted him
self largely to the clearing up of am
biguOus points in his evidence.
An effort was made to Introduce two
new witnesses VINO were expected to
give testimony in Admiral Schley's be-
half concerning the controversy as to
what information Captain Sigsbee COM
municated to Admiral Schley when he
arrived off Santiago in May, 1898 One
Of these witnesses was Frank B. Rich
ards, and the other George Lynch, both
of New York, and both newspaper cor
respondents who were on duty in Cuba
and in Cuban waters during the war
with Spain. Mr. Lynch was on the
press boat SOmers II. Smith, and Mr..
to have testified concerning the meet
ing of these vessels with the St. Paul,
of which Captain Sigsbee was in COM
mand. The court decided, however,
not to hear them.
The opening speech of the argument
in the case was made on behalf Ct the
government by +. p. Hanna. assistant
to the judge advocate. He began his
presentation Of the case a few minutes
after the court convened at 2 o'clock,
and when the court adjourned two
hours later he had not covered more
than half of the ground covered in the
controversy.
Sigsbee on Stand Again.
The first witness to take the stand
today was Captain Sigsbee, who was
recalled for the purpose Of correcting
his former testimony. While he was
on the stand, Mr.. Raynor asked him
if he had megaphoned or otherwise
communicated to the press boat Pre-
mier, while off Santiago, the fact that
the Spanish fleet was not in Santiago.
Z he witness replied that he had not
done so, although he would have been
justified in saying so if he thought it
proper under the conditions of the war
Captain Sigsbee was excus q and
Captain Lemiy announced that he had
no more witnesses to call. Frank 3.
Richards was then sworn. 1dr. Rich
ards said he was on the dispatch boat
p emier during the Santiago campaign
and that the boat was hailed by Cap
tain Sigsbee on the night of May q
or %. At this point Captain LemIy
objected to this line of evidence on the
ground that Commodore Schley was
not present during the conversation,
also that it was not material to the
issue. Captain Lemly referred 10 the
ruling Of the court regarding the Potts
Sears conversation, which had been
ruled out and claimed that this was
exactly parallel case.
Vital Point of Case.
Mr.. Raynor contended that this al
legged conversation with Captain Sigs-
bee is one of the vital points Of the
case; that it bears directly upon one
of the most vital specifications Of the
precept- Mr.. Raynor said he did not
des re to impeach the credibility of
{ a tain Sigsbee, but would endeavor
to impeach his recollection.
Aft a short argument by Mr.. Han
ma in support of Captain Lemly's OBJ
lection, the court retired to consider
the point raised. The court was absent
but a short time When If returned
AQnurcl Dewey announced tnat as
the testimony of this witness is not
considered material to the case, the OBJ
lection is sustained in accordance with
the courts previous ruling" Under
this ruling neither Mr.. Richards nor Mr..
Lynch could testify. and Admiral
Schley took the stand for the pur-
pose of correcting his testimony
The admiral was suffering from q
severe cold and his voice was quite
hoarse. He began his corrections at
the very first of his testimony. Most
Of these corrections were of typograph-
icaI errors or the changing of words
to make sentences read more smoothly.
schley Corrects Testimony.
In referring to his testimony regard
ing the arTiVa1 of the Harvard on May
q with a dispatch from the secretary
Of the navy informing him that 'all
of the departments information indi-
Gated the presence of the Spanish
squadron at Santiago which dispatch
he had declared had never reached
. him, and therefore, he had never seen