The Washington times., 1901-09-13

among naval officers in that conversation
a. Yes, sir. As / remember 1t, he sal
in answer to some comments that | mad
upon his remarks that | would not /
surprised at them If | were in touch wit
naval officers, as the sentiment of tn
navy was quite general in opposition t
Admiral Schey.
Q. Now, what was the admiral
bearing and manner when he was talk
ing to you?
a. Wen, it was such that it gave m
the impression that Admiral Howisol
was decidedly unfriendly to Admira
Schley. and that probably there had beel
some rupture between them at some tim
or another. 1t seemed to me like per
sonal matter, and for that reason
undertook to cast the thing out of m!
doing so.
The judge advocate said he had ne
questions to ask this witness. and MT
Rayner remarked; That is all the tes
Howison Admiral Dewey asked
is there anything you wish to ask th'
witness?"
NO" was the prompt response.
No Testimony to Offer.
The judge advocate said he had nc
testimony to offer and Mr.. Rayner ad'
dressed the Court. His voice was cleal
and could be heard nearly all over the
big room, although the wind from the
electric fans overhead did much to carry
the sound away. Mr.. Rayner is a good
speaker, ard showed before the day was
over that he was a good fighter as well
de could have been heard better perhaps
IL 1t were not for a habit of throwing
ms head back at times and sending his
voice toward the far away roof.
lie maintained that the testimony to
SHOW that Admiral Howison was pre-
JUDGED had gone in uncontroverted. Ad-
miral Howison had not been examined
and had not asked any questions. Els
letter to Assistant Secretary Hackett
about the Boston Record" interview
had not even been produced Mr.. Ray
ner maintained that the testimony must
be taken as absolutely true as il had
not been impeached and Admiral How
ison had not made any denial He does
not deny the conversations. although, of
course, all opportunity has been given
him TO d. So" Mr.. Rayner remarked
The judge advocate interrupted Mr.
Rayner to say that before he began to
speak it had been arranged that Admiral
ifowison should make a statement after
he had heard all that was to be said
IN support of the challenge.
This started the first legal tiff of the
day. Mr. Rayner with some heat begged
to differ from Captain Lemly. He main
tanned that this was not the practice
neither in civil courts, courts of enquiry
nor eourts-martial, and objected to Admit
al ftoWiSon making any statement. Cap
tain Lemly said that the practice of naval
courts was that a member should have
the opportunity of making a statement
when he had heard all that was to be
SAID IN urging challenge against him.
captain Lenly was surprise as a lawyer.
He had not had any practice in courts
Tor many years, and it was not expected
mat ne would show up so well as he did
Yesterday. He proved to be quick, alert,
and thoroughly acquainted with all the
egal points.
After some further argument Mr.. Ray
ner agreed to reserve his argument. and
Admiral Dewey said that Admiral Howl
son would make his statement The Court
hen took recess while Admiral Howl
son retired to prepare what he had to say
N answer to the challenge.
During the recess Admiral Dewey went
,ver and shook hands with Admiral
'chley's counsel and with Admiral Schley
gain They chatted a while.
Admiral Schley took walk around the
'ourt room speaking to newspaper men
ma others and looking happy and conf
lent He also shook hands with Admiral
3ennam. II there is any i'll feeling be-
ween admiral Schley and Admiral How
son they did not show 1t toward each
ther. Later in the day they shook hands
nd chatted pleasantly together for a few
minutes.
Admiral HOwisOn's Statement.
When Admiral Howison came back he
landed to Captain Lemly the following
tatement, which the latter read aloud:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: In
reply to the objection to me as a mem
Der of the Court, l submit a copy of
my personal letter to the Hon. Frank
public by the Navy Department
Mr.. Frost, l think, is answered in
the letter above referred to- Mr.
spon,s statement is one l cannot faith
er | positively do not remember his
face at all. Mr. Frosts face Is familiar
although l have not seen him for two
years or more. and Mr. Spon. By his
statement, since last October.
Mr.. Nichols did call at my house at
Yonkers on very hot day on his own
business. lie would not take no ad-
mittance' for an answer, and during
his stay he did discuss with me sever
al navy matters. among which was the
Sampson-Schley much-talked-of affair
Our talk was short, as i desired him
to leave me in peace.
Il desire to say that I am, as you
know, here TO obey the orders of the
department to report to you for duty
as member of this Court: il is not
optional with me to obey or not obey
these orders. My commission requires
obedience.
These orders were not sought by
me, nor are they agreeable ones, but
| have been taught obedience TO all
lawful orders by my long service in
the navy. ! do not propose to enter
into the subject of my private discus
sions l do not wish to recall for the
Information of the public what has |
been said to me by my acquaintances.
In fact it would be a difficult task to
perform. Private utterances are not |
long retained, particularly when there |
is no personal interest in the matters
under discussion.
Il sincerely hope that during the
examination OF my eligibility for
membership. should there be any
doubtful points in the minds of un-
objected-to members Of this Court
that all such points be decided in
favor OF Admiral Schley, who is the
one most particularly concerned in
the investigation to follow. / will
accept my detachment as l have my
orders for this duty, as an officer
should.
Il have no personal feelings and no
interests in the matter to
come before the Court. except the in
terests i have for the good of the
service.
Il have great faith in the impair
ttality and justice of naval officers
serving on courts. and sincerely hope
that the results finally attained may
be satisfactory to our navy and to our
country. Respectfully,
III. L. HoWIsoN. U. S. N"
Mr. Rayner then undertook the exami-
tlon of Admiral Howisor upon his pre-
red statement. This and his mastery
gument in support of the challenge
adc by Schley were the features of the
Us proceedings. He forced the admiral
ms what reluctantly to admit that he
d Iaid that the credit for the victory
Santiago was due to Sampson the ad-
ral qualifying it by the statement that
nIison was the comma nder-in-chief of
e North Atlantic Squadron.
Mr.. Rayner then contended that Howl
MS mind was made up on very i'm
rtant point in the case and that it
'uld force the applicant to assume the
rden of relieving his mind of a preju-
,e and prejudsed condition. They
'uld prove, he said, that Sampson was
at the battle of Santiago and there
re could not have been in command |
said he did not criticlZe Admiral Enw- |