Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-09-13
THE SCHLEY COURT martial
It Is Decided That Howison Is Unfit
ss.. To Act And He Is Let @
Out. r. .s,":@5 's%s.s$
Admiral Schley Challenged The Last
Selection and the Board Sus-
~, -, tains the Challenge, =.
Adjournment Taken the First Day
Until a New Member Can Be 1T.
: &, %-Ea Selected to Serve. &@

! Washington, Sept. 13.-The Schley
court of inquiry convened promptly at
/ o'clock, the hour prescribed, and I
when it was called to- order all the
members we're present. Admiral
Dewey occupied a position in the CEN
ter of the court table and was lanked
on either side by Rear Admirals Ben.
ham and Howison, the associate mem
bers of the court. Admiral Schley and
his counsel occupied seats within the
railing at table set apart for them.
All the naval officials, including the
members Of the court and Admiral
Sehley, were in the official undress
uniform. An admiral's salute of II
guns was fired as the court convened.
Admiral Dewey simply said in con-
vening the court, "the court is open"
Immediately afterwards the mem
..bers Of the court retired at the in
stance Of Judge Advocate Lemly to de-
eide whether the court should sit with
open or closed doors, Admiral Dewey
announcing that this order would be
followed instead of clearing the court
room. - - r-.s..a
The court was absent about Is
minutes and when they returned the
proceedings began in view Of the pub
lie without formal announc cement The
| first matter brought to the attention of
the court was Admiral Schley's letter
requesting the court OF inquiry. This
was read by Captain Lemly. =. =. = ~ :.
L Admiral Schley then arose and said
that with extreme regret he was
liobliged to challenge Admiral Howison
| fas member Of the court. 81
y 4 A, , hurried consultation among the
members Of the court followed. Ad-
imiral Dewey first turned to Admiral
iBenham, then stepped around the
table and engaged Captain Lemly in
Sconversa He afterwards spoke to
Rear Admiral Howison.
| Captain Lemly then asked If there
was any evidence in support of the
statements concerning Rear Admiral
!Howison, to which Mr.. Raynor, speak
ing for Rear Admiral Schley, said
there was. Admiral Dewey announced
that this would be heard. % 49, >@
| / In asking Admiral Schley for des-
tignation of his witnesses, Captain
Lemly referred to the admiral, as the
4 ACCUSED" Admiral Dewey promptly
called his attention to the error and
1 the judge advocate general corrected
! it, referring to him then as, the ZAP
plicant." Ea. -s@s'
|, Schley Introduces Witnesses.
| Francis A. Frost of the Boston Rec
ord, who had reported g. conversation
with Rear Admiral Howison in which
the latter was alleged to have made
/ reflections upon Admiral Schley, was
/ called to, the stand. ~ -.t g.. ... Be-
I The witness explained the nature
of his duties in securing news from
1 the Charlestown navyyard. He then
detailed the conversation he is said
| to have had with Admiral Howison.
This occurred, he said, in the COM
1 mandants office and while it had not
been given with the distinct under
standing that it should be published,
there was no Injunction to secrecy.
ii Publications had begun to appear
concerning the credit for the victory.
! This had been referred to during the
4 witness visit to Admiral Howison and
| in reply the admiral stated. so the wit
4 ness testified, that Sampson was en-
4 titled to the credit Of the victory at
!: Santiago. .~,. 4" Il
4 Admiral Schley introduced two
! other witnesses in support OF his al
4 Legations Of unfitness on the part OF
{ Admiral :Howison. They were Will
i lam e. Spon of New York, who
j claimed to have heard Admiral How
4 $ison say that Admiral Schley should
l5have been courtmartialed, and Foster
Il Nichols OF Yonkers, N. Y, who stated
Il that Admiral HoWison said to him
that If Schley had been an officer in
II the English navy he would not have
i been allowed to retain his commits
y sion. All said Admiral Howison had
/ I3given them the impression that he
Y was prejudiced against Admiral
4 1SSchley. When the last witness left
4 the stand, Counsellor Raynor, for Ad-
miral Schley, called attention to the
!, fact that Admiral HoWison had made
Il no defense. The court then took a
recess to permit Admiral Howison to
formulate a statement. s,z s &.
4 After the reading OF Admiral How.
q ison's reply, Assistant Judge Advocate
II Hanna read the admirafs letter to
II Assistant Secretary Hackett, after
Il which Mr.. Raynors questioned the ad.
4, niraI concerning his attitude de.
/, Admiral HoWison said that he could
& not volunteer his Withd draWaI to the
a court Nor did he think that the fact
hat he considered Sampson com
4 mander-in-ehief inca citated him as g
member Of the court
After further questioning the court
q recessed to consider the question q
4 IIowison's fitness to- act and upon re
!. cunvening announced that Admiral
q Howison had been excused. An ad
journment was then taken until 8 sue
L