The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-11-15

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II
Warrington, No4. s The climax OF
| tho schley court OF inquiry came yes
serday afternoon when Mr.. Rayner,
the chief counsel for Admiral Schley.
concluded q brilliant argument Of over
Three hours with a peroration SO elo-
quent and impassioned that all within
the sound of his voice were profoundly
touched. This remarkable trial, he
said, sought to condemn the man who
had brought TO a successful termi.la-
ton as great a naval triumph as was
ever won. In vivid colors he painted
the picture Of the BROOKLYN, with Com
modore Schley on the bridge. fighting
the entire Spanish fleet until the Ore-
| son appeared out of the smoke. The
thunders Of the Brooklyn, music to
the ears of his countrymen, he said,
aroused Admiral schley's envious foes.
He pictured the victorious sailor suf-
fering as few have suffered for three
long years while the fires of persecu-
ton leaped around him and now await
Ing the hour of his vindication in the
verdict Of the court. '.And when it
comes" he concluded, ''he can. from
tn high and exalted position that he
occupies, look down
| Upon His Trnducers
and maligners and with excellent
pride exclaim: 7 care not for the
venomous gossip of clubs, drawing
rooms and cliques and the poisoned
shafts Of envy and malice. 1 await
under the guidance Of divine provi-
dence the verdict of posterity'"
The scene in the court room as he
| finished with the words was thrilling.
The attendance had been large all day,
and at the morning session lady had
| tainted from excitement AS Mr..
Rayner began his eulogy Of Admiral
Schley those in the audience, many of
| whom were ladies, leaned forward in
their seats. The spell Of his oratory
was over them, and when he de-
| scribed the admirals gallant deeds
and the long persecution to which he
had been subjected, macy Of them
broke down and went. The members
| Of the court displayed evidences of
emotion and Admiral Schley himself
was plainly moved. He sat, leaning
back, with his hands behind his head.
His chin twitched, and as his counsel
said he could afford to await the YER
dict of posterity, two big tears rolled
down his cheeks. He moved uneasily
to conceal his emotion, and under the
pretense of adjusting his glasses,
Brushed the Tears Aside.
For fully thirty seconds after Mr.
Rayrer closed there was not sound
Then the tension broke into a burst of
applause.
Admiral Dewey, after about half a
minute. arose to remind the spectators
that such a demonstration was out of
place. A moment afterward the court
adjourned. the judge advocate pleading
hat he could not we'll gon on at that
lime. Then another remarkable thing
happened. As socr..a as the gavel fell.
the entire audience surged forward to-
shake the hands of Admiral Schley
and Mr.. Rayner. But the on-coming
spectators fell back a moment as they
saw Admiral Dewey and his two assoc
ciates move around the table, as if by
common impulse, and congratulate
Admiral Schley and his counsel Even
Capt Lemly, the judge advocate, came
forward to join in the congratulations.
fifteen minutes after the court adj
iourned Admiral Schley and Mr..
Rayner were kept busy shaking hands.
MI. Rayner's argument yesterday
consumed the whole day of the court
except half an hour at the opening,
when Capt. Parker. his associate coun-
sci, concluded his argument Mr.. Ray
ner
Took Up the Specifications
one by one. reserving those relating to
the retrograde movement until the last.
SO far as he was able to do so he used
the testimony of the departments wit
nesses to prove his contentious. With
regard tc the retrograde movement,
which he discussed with greater seri-
BUSINESS than the other specifications,
he udduced in justification not only all
Admiral Schley's reasons for believing
the Sr anish fleet was not in Santiago.
but argued that every officer charged
with the responsibility of command
necessarily must be clothed with dis
erection in carrying out instructions.
He displayed good temper in adverting
to the testimony of most Of the officers,
especially the ranking officers who
seemed to contradict his client, giving
them in each case credit for honesty of
purpose. But with few he dealt UNI
sparingly. Lieutenants Hood, Potts and
Bristol he held up to ridicule.
Capt. Lemly will begin the closing
argument this afternoon as the court
Will not hold a session in the morning.
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