Evening star., 1901-07-26

IuteIy disassociated from the great con-
troversy In any phase. 1t is believed he
has found one in the person of Capt. Lem
ly, the judge advocate general of the navy,
selection calculated, because of the rank
of the officer, to constitute full recogni-
tion of the dignity and Importance of the
court of inquiry.
Capt. Lemly's Attitude.
Capt. Lemly says he would feel hurt to
have it even intimated that he has any per-
sona1 feeling whatever in the controversy.
In all the time he has been at the head
OF the legal department of the navy, his
service dating back to 1892, he has, for
tunateIy, never had occasion to pass upon
any question that involved either Samp-
son or Schley in any personal aspect He
has known both-Schley better than Samp-
son perhaps. He was one of Schiey's per-
sonal friends when he Gemly) was in ac-
tive line service. Indeed, he accompanied
Schley on the famous Greeley relief expe-
dtion, and he rendered valuable service to
Schley that occasion, which the senior
officer recognized. On the other hand
Capt Lem1y has known Sampson official
ly in the Navy Department when the adj
miral was at the head of the ordnance
bureau, and they were thus thrown into
close contact in a business point of view
at least for several years.
Captain Lelnly had already arranged to
depart from Washington on his annual
leave on trip through Canada some time
in August. He will arrange to leave on an
earlier date now, in order to be able to
return in season to study up this cele-
brated case before the court meets Sep
tember II.
Preparing the Documentary Evidence
Meanwhile the clerical force Of the judge
advocates department can prepare the
mass of documentary evidence necessary
for use before the court, and witnesses at
distant points may be gathered ready for
the opening. 1t should be noted that under
the ordinary rules Of practice the judge
advocate general of the navy is called
upon to review the proceedings Of court
martials and courts Of inquiry. Secretary
Long has promised Captain Lemly that he
will be exempted from the duty of review
ing the proceedings of the Schley court.
Capt. LemIy's Experience.
Captain Lemly has probably had more
experience in the prosecution Of naval law
cases than any other officer in the navy,
and is generally regarded as one of the
best-equipped officers in the navy for the
important duties which will devolve upon
him as judge advocate Of the court selected
to pass upon the controversial points re-
sulting from the conduct of the naval cam
paign in the West Indies.
Prior to his assumption Of his duties as
Judge advocate general of the navy, in
June, 1892 he was prominently identified
with several of the most important trials
and Investigations In the recent annals of
the navy. AS judge advocate and recorder
of various courts he traversed nearly all
points of the world visited by United States
warships, going as far as China and Japan
in the prosecution of such work.
He was judge advocate of the court-mar-
tial convened in China as a result of the
loss of the U. s. S. Ashuelot and was also
judge advocate in the court-mart.cl case of
Paymaster Watkins, which sat at Yoko-
hama He was also judge advocate in the
court-martial cases appointed for the trial
of ex-Surgeon General Wales and ex-Pay-
master General Smith. Probably his most
important work of this kind, however, was
as judge advocate of the court of inquiry
which investigated the loss of the jean
nette in the Artic. That investigation was
conducted in this city and was marked by
almost as much acrimony and controversy
as the pending Sampson-Schiey case
Naval officers in speaking OF the fairness
of Secretary Long in selecting the court Of
inquiry point to the fact that Admiral KIM
berly was Schley's commander back in the
los