New-York tribune., 1901-11-07


away. while the chart. which he helped pre-
pare the distance between the two ships is given
as 200 feet Whether the engines OF the ieAas
were stopped or backed mattered little Ihis Whoie
controversy about the loop seemed to nave neen
started prove that the Brooklyn ran away
When this failed an attempt was made to drag III
the alleged danger to the Texas Tne testimony
of Captain Cook he declared, exploded ooth-
! Counsel Oh the other side would have to argue
that Captain Cooks testimony could not be relled
on or abandon the specification about the loop ana
the danger of collidng with the Texas
THE HoDGsoN CONTROVERSY.
Mr.. Rayner then took up Specification No 10,
concerning the Hodgson controversy. He said he
would not undertake the task Of extricating Lieu
tenant Commander Hodgson from his predicament.
He read portions of Hodgsons testimony, and
again fell back on Captain Cooks evidence as de-
cisive the point at issue. Captain Cook had
said that the danger collision had never entered
his head Referring to this testimony Mr.. Rayner
said:
on ipSF nna hm + had aseS hd hs y
when Captain Cooks testimony was done l DID
stand in his own vindicaton
No one, he said had intended to attack Lieuten-
ant Commander Hodgson, but the entire contro-
versy Hodgsons fault. There has been
too much magazine discussion and too much sos-
sip ne said. Imagine such a conversation De
tween the comma ndng officer of great fleet and
a subordinate officer at such time Even II
Commodore SchIey mad said Damn the Texas!
it would not have been such a very serious mat
ter, as 1t could have been meant seriously
Down in Anne Arundel County. Maryland, he said
they such language in saiutation' saylhs'
Damn you, how you this morning?
But the trouble was, he said. that the pubic did
not have the proper conception of the occurrence
as reported, but had gathered the idea that the
BROOKLYN was running away from the scene OF
conflict Admiral Schey had denied the reported
coIoauy. he said. but not until after 1t had done
him great injury
rba .rouhla about all this said Mr.. Rayner. is
that = newspaper has been taken too seriously
Never quarrel with a newspaper ne conuhued,
unless yourself MI fNayhei sou
he was friend OF the American press ana II ne
had had the opportunity of consulting Dir. Hodsson
ha voi,id have said to him. BE a little careful now
YOU converse with enterprsing newspaper re-
porter and be extremely careful not TO quaiiiy any
statement he may charge you with having MADE
no matter how innocent you may be- III was d
caee ~ confding innocence he said upon the
one side and business enterprise upon the other.
There are a hundred idle charges" he continued
That YOU could bring against Admiral Schey or
anv one else ii you ransaCk and pillage our careers
TTpon this specification ! desire 10 say that me
whole controversy has passed into history IohR
before the specification was framed that ooth OF 'he
narties TO IL were satisfied: that the honor OF the
navy is not in the slightest degree involved and
the unblemshed honor OF AdInirai SchleS ho' SUI
lied In a single place
Mr. Ravner then took up the first specification
relating 10 Admiral Schley's conduct In the cam
paign Now we come TO Mr.. Wood and Mr.
Potts" he began "Mr. Potts and MI WOOD: MI
Wood and Mr. Potts" daughter In the COURT
After reading the testimony of several officers az
n the splendid bearing OF Admiral Schley, Mr.
Rayner read the testimony OF Dir. Potts. to the
effect that Admiral appeared nervous; that he
got I'd and down
..IsAr,enant Potts" went on Mr.. Rayner has
Itch Ga ar0e TX
through the ages of undyinG fame When Manila
shall be forgotten and Santiago will be buried IN
oblivion the name OF Potts shall live whenever
an admiral or a commodore or A captain Is engaged
IN the carnage of mortal conflict beware Of Potts
Beware of your looks. Be careful how you Walk.
BE careful how you sit down Be reserved ana
retcent I'm your speech Model your ontire course
and conduct Of action according TO Potts. that
,recocious child of the kindergarten. who con-
fesses he was always scared in battle. but who IN
fortunately was never engaged in any battle SUM
c;ent enough even 20 arouse his tmidity
SHARP TILT BETWEEN COUNSEL
At this point Captain Lernly protested against Mr
psv,er.s structures on Lieutenant Commander
Ports and his protest led TO dramatic scene IN
the courtroom. -
.Nr President" said Captain Lemly. Il think
counsel asked to be interrupted II he did not abide
by the facts. Now he is not abiding by the facts
Lieutenant Commander Potts has never said that
he was always scared when he was In battle RE
Is traducine the reputation OF officer who Is
well known to you--an officer of ability and high
standing He IS abiding by the facts Many
instances have occurred in which counsel has ABB
solutely msstated the evidence. and think he
should be compelled to abide absolutely by the
facts particularly when he ~ attempting 10 ira
duce the reputation of an officer. He has no right
TO speak in this manner Of an officer who Is above
any such assault
MI Rayner-And you have no right 20 traduce
the reputation of Admiral Schley shall traduce
u-bp
established his reputation. You say have made
remark that he said he was scared
Captain LemIy-There again. he is inaccurate
and IS stating the fact
Mr Rayner-I thought my brother had abandoned
these ten1pestuous RACES. II I made a misstate-
ment and he had spoken TO me about II quietly. 1
would have taken it back.
Mr. Rayner then read from the evidence of Mr..
Potts 10 prove his about the latter being
scared How does that suit you?' he asked.
TT does not suit" Captain Lemly said II still
say it is incorrectly stated and. may the court
please / do think that counsel should say this
is an attempt TO traduce Admiral Schey. 1 am
here not because I wanted 10 be. but because it is
nv duty was ordered TO come. and think it is
unjust and IT shows how utterly unreliable he is In
his statements
Mr. Rayner-I do think the court will permit
this You must not make a statement Of that sort
will permit ii.
Admiral Dewey-No.
Mr. Rayner-He is not only unreliable, but very
offensive.
Captain Lemy-Counsel gets up and says that we
are in the discharge of painful duty, trying to
traduce Admiral Schiey.
Mr Rayner-I have born willingly testimony TO
the impair tiality with whici4 he has tried his
and the delicate position he occupies. But 1 do
ask my brother not to get UP and contradict me
and say that I unreliable when I read the
testimony that sustains me. l appreciate the posi-
ton he is in He has filed that position well
and faithfully It could possibly be filed by any
one have said word in criticism of his