The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-25
SCHLEY COURT
 ADJOURNED Judge Wilson's Death Caused Deep Sorrow. WAS ADMIRAL'S COUNSEL Will Resume Consideration of
 Case Today. Machinist Claxton of the Battleship Texas Was on Witness Stand When the Announcement Was Made.

Washington, Sept. 2.-The Schley court of inquiry was brought to sudden ter minsticn for the day eighteen minutes after converting this morning by the am nouncement of the sudden death of Judge
 Jeremiah Wilson, senior counsel for Ad- miral Schley.
 The announcement was made to the
 court by Hen. Isador Raynor. assistant counsel, in the following languagei T have a very sad announcement to make. have just heard of the death of Ju6ge Wilson. I left him st 10 o'clock
 this mcrnil g. slightly indisposed. was
 with him until late last night. I saw him this morning at o'clock and left him at 10. We have confirmed the rumor through the telephone that he has just died at the Shoreham Hotel, and would
 respectfully ask the court, if 1t meets with the approval of the court. to adjourn for tCday."
 Admiral Dewey said:
 "I have to announce that owing to the death of Judge Wilson, of counsel. the court will adjourn for today until to- MT. Raynor said that so far as he could now see the counsel for Admiral Schley would be able to proceed tomorrow, put he added that there would be desire to attend the funeral when 1t occurred. Ad- miral Dewey and Captain Lemley agreed that this detail could be arranged later. The announcement of Judge Wilson's death created consternation not only among members of the court, but among | the spectators, and somo minutes elapsed
 before people generally would accept the
 The Judge had been present in the | court all day yesterday, and while he had
 the proceedings, he had appeared physi- cally active and wtde-awake 10 all tnaS
 was said and done. l..
 The report hrst reached Mr. haynor in after Machinlst A. B. Ciaxtou. of the Texas. the second witness lad been pres
 cantain parker and Mir. Teague of Ad- miral Schley's counsel, immediately went l to the telephone They returned in a few
 moments, saying that the report had been ] MT. Raynor then made his announce
 ment to the court and asked an adjourn | ment for the day. ..,, l counsel for the government and for Ad- | miral ScEley. expressed the utmost sur Irise and sorrow over the news "hiie Admiral Schley himself said:
 ''The news is so shocking that can not trust myself to give expression 70 my estimate of the man. can only say that have lost not only clear-headea and brilliant counsel, but also dear ana much beloved friend l am shocked De- yond measure at the news, and nnd my. self almost unable to accept the report It was announced at the court room that Judge Wilson's death had occurred at 11:O8 a. m., at the Shoreham Hotel. and that 1t had been due to acute inoi- gestion and kidney affection.
 Tho proceedings of the court were rem
 dered very brief by the announcement or
 Judge Wilson's death: CommanoeTs t a,stsn Stes to
 the reading of the official report or their
 testimony as given yesterday and Ftst
 Class Machinist A. B. Ciaxton. or tnis
 of the Texas on the day Of the battle or
 Santiago. had just taken the stand Wnen
 the announcement of Judge Wilson 2
 by the government that MT. Claxton
 would confirm the statement of Engineer
 Bates. concerning the reversal of the engines of the Texas. During the short
 time he was on the stand Engineer Bates
 was asked few questions One Of these
 was by Captain Parker, and was in re- reply to the first inquiry Commanders Bates said the log had been written up
 the day after the battle.
 court and related first to the coal sup ply of the Texas on May 26, 1898. and | second to the condition of the machinery | of the Texas on the 31st of that month. | The questions of the court and the res ponses to them were as follows;
 Are you positive that the quantity of
 coal reported on hand May 2Sth was cor
 'Yes. sir, as nearly as anybody can be positive. There was no accurate means Of weighing what was sent uSs anu BSh- eraIly there is no accurate means by
 which coal is weighed coming aboard ship EAll naval officers know that coal is
 weighed to the best of our ability and an Accurate account kept to the best of our ability, and 1t is generally good estimate. It Is weighed out In the same way.
 "Was the machinery of the Texas in ef- | hcient condition for service on May Mst. T should say by recollection, yes. I do
 not recollect that anything was wrong | about the machinery.
 l Judge Advocate:
 Tt is the day of the bombardment of
 the Colon that is referred to, the Slst of
 May" | Commander Bates: There was nothing
 the matter with the engines as remem-
 Der. On that day-we were on coalng.
 ii had been the intention of the court l to call Admiral Cotton, Captain Wise and
 others connected with the government
 ships immediately after the discharge of
 Machinist Claxton.