The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-09-17
WILL NOT SERVE ON sCHLEY
sCOURT OF INQUIRY.

peat NOAd1A 0AV"4A6 UO"49 y 1OIu
dice-Admiral Dewey and Benham Then
Excuse Him and the Court Adjourns Until
a Third Member of the Court Shall be
Named.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12.-Within
three hours from the time of con
vening, the Sohley court of inquiry
to day announced that Rear Admiral
Howison was disqualified from SER
ing as a member of the court and
was excused from further duty.
This brought proceedings to an alb
rupt termination, and caused a tenn
porary adjournment of the court in
order to permit the Navy Depart
ment to designate an officer to sue
coed Admiral Howison. No further
session is probable until the early
part of next week. 1t has been ex-
pected that little official business
would be accomplished on the open
ing day, and the prompt decision as
to Admiral Howison came somewhat
as a surprise.
Intense interest appeared to be
taken by the public in the proceed
ings, and though it was known that
only a very limited number of per
sons would be admitted to the court
room and these by card, a large
crowd was assembled at the Wash
ington Navy Yard, where the court
meets, to witness the coming and
going of the prominent naval officers
who we're to take part in the pro-
ceedings.
Admiral Dewey and Admiral
Schley naturally we're the premier
figures in poular interest. The lat
ter had about him a distinguished
array of counsel, including Hon.
Jere Wilson, Attorney-General Isl
dor Raynel, of Maryland, and Cap
tain James Parker, with Mr.. league
acting as advisory counsel.
CHALLENGE OF HOwIsON.
The first skirmish was opened by
Admiral Schley rising from his seat
and speaking in strong voice, calm
ly and deliberately, challenging Ad-
miral HOwison's eligibility as a
member of the court. Three wit
nesses were brought forward in sup
port of this challenge, namely,
Francis S.. Frost, William E. Spon,
and Foster Nichols. They gave
very positive testimony IS to expires.
sions they had heard Admiral How
ison make favorable to Admiral
Sampson and unfavorabIe to Admi-
raj Schley.
Admiral HowisOn met the issue
by turning at one TO Admiral Dewey
and announcing that he would make
a written rejoinder tOthe statements
of the three witnesses. This rejoin-
der he prepared very speedily. While
~conceding the accuracy of some
points in the evidence it threw con-
siderable doubt on other points and
disclaimed any recollection of the
talks said to have taken place on
the Transatlantic steamer. 1t was
not sufficient, however, to counter
act the very direct testimony given
by the three witnesses and more
over, the Admiral himself, in con-
Guiding his statement, indicated
plainly that he had no desire to re.
main on the court and was there
simply in obedience to orders. He
even appealed to his associates On
the court to decide all doubtful ques-
tions as to his eligibility in favor of
Admiral Schley.
THE CHALLENGE SUSTAINED.
Before submitting the challenge
to the determination of the court
Mr.. Rayner o examined Admiral
HowisOn very infinitely as to his
personal sentiments towards Admiral
Sampson and Admiral Schley and
developed that Admiral HOwisOn had
expressed certain ii fined convictions
as to Admiral Sampaon's retention
of authority and responsibility, even
while he was absent temporarily
from the fleet at Santiago. The chal-
lenge then was submitted to the
court, which under the cirCum
stances was narrowed to Admiral
Dewey and Rear Admiral Benham,
to pass upon, After hardly more
than fifteen minutes spent in retire
ment to the consultation room Ad-
miral Dewey briefly announced that
the court sustained the challenge,
and that Admiral Howison would be
excusted from further attendance