The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-30
Alleged to Have Collected Money to
Cover Shortage I'm the Ac-
counts of Major Davis.
NAVAL OFFICER A WITNESS
REMARKABLE TESTIMONY OF LIEUT..
RICHARD III. TOWNLEY.
Acted on Behalf Of Read in Soliciting
MOney-What the Defendant
Told Col. woodruff.

MANILA April 29.-The trial of Capt.
James c. Read. former depot commssary
at Manila, and who was arrested about
fortnight ago for participation in the com
missary frauds. was begun here to-day and
bids fair TO develop into a celebrated case.
Captain Read is charged with soliciting and
receiving bribes and with other official mis-
conduct.
At the beginning OF the trial counsel for
the defendant objected to the jurisdiction
Of the court alleging that under an act
promulgated In 1901 officers of the regular
establishment are ineligible members OF
a court-martial TO try an officer of volun-
teers. The defense further denied that a
state OF war existed i'm Manila to-day and
alleged that the provost marshal, Gen. Geo.
w. Davis, is unauthorized to convene a
general court-martial. and intimating that,
as General Macarthur virtually preferred
the charges against Captain Read. the or
ders directing his trial by court-martial
should come from Washington The de-
fense further objected TO the fact that sew
eral members of the court were OF inferior
rank to Captain Read. All these objections
were overruled and the hearing OF testi-
mony was begun.
Mr.. SCHNEIDER, manager OF the Alhambra
cigar factory, testified that I'm November
Captain Read had told him that Maj. Geo.
b. Davis. who was the depot commissary
before Captain Read, but who sent to
the United States on sick leave, and whose
name appears upon the books OF. Evans &
Co. government contractors at Manila as
the recipient of 81 600. was $1,000 short in his
accounts. Continuing, Mr.. SCHNEIDER testi-
fed that those having profitable contracts
with the government were asked to assist
In making good Major Daviss deficiency.
SCHNEIDER gave Captain Read sl,O5o, which
was 2is per cent. commission on the cigars
sold to the commissary department during
the time Major Davis was depot commits
sary at Manila.
An officer named Franklin. who was as
sistant commissary. testified to the effect
that on March Is. and following the direc-
tion of a superior officer he obtained 81. 900
from Major Davis and paid this money
over to SCHNEIDER.
Inspector General Darlington testified
that during the preliminary investigation
of the commlssary scandals Captain Read
admitted TO him recovering money from
SCHNEIDER and others. and gave az an ex-
cuSe inat the money so recovered was IN
tended to cover Major Davis's beef short
,se
Lieut. Richard H. Townley. of the navy.
at present superintendent OF the Manila
| Nautical School. testified that as the result;
| of conference with Captain Read he
went to see Castle Brothers. contractors,
who supply the commissary department
with vegetables. etc, and wanted them
he In,
| commission on all sales. Castle Broth
| ers demurred to this proposition. Lieu
tenant Townley again went to Castle
| Brothers, and this time only asked them
for $1,000. Castle Brothers were reluctant
| TO hand over this sum. and Lieutenant
Towney explained that Captain Read was
| I'm a position to advance the interests of
| the firm, and that II would be advanta.
| geous TO Castle Brothers TO oblige him.
Lieutenant Townley testified that he fur
ther explained to Castle Brothers that Cap
tain Read might allow them the use of
government lighters. and possibly be less
rigid I'm the inspection OF goods purchased.
Lieutenant Townley said he thought Cap
| tain Read was doing a noble thing in at
tempting TO protect the character Of a
| brother officer. He also said that srch
| transactions were not customary in the
navy
| When cross-questioned, Lieut.. Town
ley said. rather sheepishly. that he was
not so sure he was doing right in taking
| the witness chair.
| Col Charles a. Woodruff chief Of the
subsistence department in Manila. ex-
| planned the circumstances OF Captain
Reads appointment. and described the du-
| ties OF the depot commissary. not knowing
! whether the accounts OF Major Davis were
| correct or not. Colonel Woodruff explained
| that on Dec. 30 Castle Brothers aroused
| his suspicion by intimating that money
was being collected by an officer OF the
commissary department. Later. Colonel
| Woodruff sent for Captain Read, who ad-
| mitted receiving rebates for the purpose
| OF covering the delnquencies OF Major
Davis. The testimony of Colonel Wood
ruff Is unfinished. and other witnesses are
| awaiting examination.
| Lieut.. John w Hausermann, OF the Thir-
ty-fourth Infantry, IS Judge advocate OF
the court, and Maj. Thomas l.. Hartigan.
OF the Thlrteth Infantry. and Capt
| Charles H. Marple. OF the Fortieth In
fantry, are the attorneys for the defend
|