The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-11-14
Brilliant Argument of Schley's
Chief Counsel Caused Many
in Audience to Weep.
The ADMIRAL BRUSHED TEARS AWAY.
When Court Adjourned Entire Crowd
Surged Forward to Congratulate
Adm. Schley and Mr. Rayner.
Even Adm. Dewey and His Two As
sociatcs. Together with Capt.
LemIy. Joined In the
Cong grat atulptions.

loh, WY. 81 nt Clli1dN vi
the Schley court of inquiry came
Wednesday afternoon when Mr.. Ray
ner, chief counsel for Adm. Schley,
concluded a brilliant argument of
over three hours with a perora ton
so eloquent and impassioned that ali
within the sound of his voice were
profoundly touched. This remark
able trial. he said, sought to con-
denim the man who had brought to a
successful termination as great a
naval triumph as was ever won. In
vivid colors he painted the picture
of the Brooklyn, with Commodore
Schley on the bridge. fighting the en-
tire Spanish feet until the Oregon
appeared out of the smoke. The
thunders of the Brooklyn, music for
the ears of his countrymen. he said.
aroused Adm. Sch!ey's envious foes.
He pictured the victorious sailor suf-
fering as few have suffered for three
long years, while the fires of persecu-
tion leaped around him and now
awaiting the hour of his vindication
in the verdict Of the court.
And when II comes." he concluded,
"He can. from the high and exalted
position that he occupies. look down
upon his traducers and maligners
and with excellent pride exclaim: 4
care not for the venomous gossip of
clubs, drawing rooms and cliques and
the poisoned shafts of envy and Of
malice. I await undrr the guidance
of Divine Providence the verdict of
posterity.'"
The scene in the court room as he
finished with these words was thrill
ing. The attendance had been large
all day, and at the morning session
a lady had tainted from excitement
AS Mr.. Rayner began his euloyy Of
Adm. 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 described the admiral's gallant
deeds and the long persecution to
which he had been subjected. many
of them wept The members of the
court displayed evidence of emotion.
and Adm. Schley himself was plainly
moved lie sat, leaning back. with
his hands behind his head. His chin
twitched, and as his counsel said he
could afford to await the verdict of
posterity, two big tears rolled down
his cheeks. He moved uncasily to
conceal his emotion. and under the
pretense of adjusting his glasses,
brushed the tears aside. For full
80 seconds after Mr.. Rayner closed
there was not sound. Then the
tension broke in a loud burst of ap.
plause.
Adm. Dewey, after about half
minute. arose to remind the spec
tators that such demonstration was
out of place. A moment afterward
the court adjourned, the judge advo-
cate pleaded that he could not well
go on Wednesday. Then another
remarkable thing happened. AS
soon as the gavel fell the entire au-
hands of Adm. Schley and Mr.. Ray
ner. But the on-coming spectators
fell back a moment as they saw Adm.
Dewey and his two associates move
around the table, as if by a common
impulse, and congratulate Adm.
Schley and his counsel. Even Capt.
Lemly, the Judge advocate, came for
ward to Join In the congratulations
Then the public had it's inning, and
for IS minutes after the court ad-
journed Adm. Schley and Mr.. Ray
ner were kept busy shaking hands.
Washington, Nov. S.-After sittings
covering 40 days, and with a record
which, when completed, will cover
about 1000 pages, the Schley court of
inquiry, at 3:45 p. m, adjourned its
last public session. To Capt. S. c.
Lenly, the judge advocate had been
assigned the duty of making the
closing argument in the case. Soon
after he had completed his speech,
Adm. Dewey, bringing his gavel down
upon the big, fiat table, said:
"There being no further business,
the court is adjourned"
There was only one session during
the day. 1t began at 2 o'clock, and
the entire time was devoted to Capt
Lemly's address. He read his speech
in clear and distinct tones. and was
given careful attention. The speech
in the main was an analysis of the
testimony, but occasionally a con-
clusion was drawn and frequently
there was criticism of the course pur-
sued by Adm. (then Commodore))
Schley.
Rattleshiu UIlinois stlvs. so.vso.