Evening journal., 1901-04-30
Trial Bids Fair to Become
Celebrated Case
OTHER MISCONDUCT CHARGED
Objections Offered by the Defense
OVerrulCd, and the Case Pro-
ceedS in Manila


James c. Reed, former depot com
missary at Manila, who was arrested !
about fortnight ago for alleged par
ticipation in the commissary frauds !
was begun here yesterday, and bids
faid to develop into a celebrated case. |
Capt. Reed is charged with soliciting |
and receiving bribes and with other Of
fetal misconduct.
At the beginning of the trial counsel
for the defendant objected to the juris-
diction of the court, alleging that un-
der an act promulgated in 1901 officers
Of the regular establishment are in
eligible as members of a court martial
to try an officer Of volunteers. The de-
fense further denied that a state of war
existed in Manila today, and alleged
that the provost marshal, Gen. George
w. Davis, is unauthorized to convene
general court martial and intimating
that as Gen. Macarthur virtually pre-
ferred the charges against Capt. Reed
the orders directing his trial by court
martial should come from Washington.
The defense further objected to the
fact that several members of the court
were Of inferior rank to Capt. Reed.
All these objections were overruled,
and hearing of testimony was begun.
Mr.. SCHNEIDER, manager Of the Al
hambFa cigar factory, testified that in
November Capt. Reed had told him
that Mai. George B. Davis. who was
the depot commissary before Capt.
Reed, but who was sent 70 the United
States on sick leave and whose name
appears on the bosks Of Evans & Co.,
government contractors at Manila, as
the recipient of 81 900, was $1,000 short
in his accounts. Mr.. SCHNEIDER testi-
fed that those having profitable con-
tracts with the government were asked
TO assist in making good Maj Davis
deficiency. SCHNEIDER gave Capt Reed
S1,C5O, which was 21s per cent commits
sion on the cigars sold to the commits
sary department during the time that
Maj. Davis was depot commissary at
Manila.
An officer named Franklin, who was
assistant commissary, testified to the
effect that on March IS. and following
the direction of a superior officer, he
obtained $1,000 from Mai. Davis and
paid this money over to SCHNEIDER.
Inspector General Darlington testi-
fed that during the preliminary inves-
tigation of the commissary scandals
Capt. Reed admitted to him recovering
money from SCHNEIDER and others, and
gave as an excuse that the money SO
recovered was intended to cover Maj
Davis beef shortage.
Lieut.. Richard II. Townley, of the
navy, at present superintendent of the
Manila Nautical school, testified that
as the result of a conference with Capt
Reed he went to see Castle Brothers
contractors who supply the commits
sary department with vegetables, etc.
and wanted them to give Capt. Reet
$1,000 and 10 per cent commission OF
all sales. Castle Brothers demurred tC
this proposition. Lieut.. Townley agaiT
went to Castle Brothers and this tim'
only asked them for $4,000. Castle
Brothers were reluctant 10 hand owe
this sum and Lieut.. Townley explained
that Capt Reed was in a position t.
advance the interests of the firm ant
that it would be advantageous to Cas-
tie Brothers to oblige him. Lieut.
Townley testified that he further ex
planned to Castle Brothers that Capt
Reed might allow them the use of gov
eTnment lighters, and possibly be les
rigid in the inspection of goods pur
chased Lieut.. Townley said that h
thought Capt. Reed was doing a nobl
thing in attempting to protect tn
character of brother officer. He ais
said that such transactions were nc
customary in the navy When eros
questioned Lieut.. Townley said. rathe
sheepishly. that he was not so sure h
was doing right in taking the witnes
chair.
Col. Charles A. Woodruff, chief {
the subsistence department in Manil;
explained the circumstances Of Cap
Reeds appointment and described til
duties of the depot oommissary, nc
knowing whether the accounts of Ma
Davis were correct or not. Col. WOOD
ruff explained that on Dec. so Cast
Brothers aroused his suspicious by il
timating that money was being collec
ed by an officer of the commissary d,
partment Later Col. Woodruff SCI
for Capt. Reed, who admitted recer
ing rebates for the purpose Of coverir
the delinquencies Of Maj. Davis.