Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-30
||aMIRAL HOWIS0N
| MAKES STATEMENT
Roston Record Interview-Cannot
y, Has Not Discussed Schley Case
With Acquaintance.

ters published In the newspapers reial-
ing 10 our nayy's success as well as the
unfortunate disputes so widely COM
mentcd on. H. At.
"rhere are few or no persons IN the
navy or In our country who have NOT
daily discussed these newspaper arll-
Giles. -,
From the papers II appears that
Admiral sohley has strong doubts as
10 my fitness to fairly judge TINS case
with Admirals Dewey and Benham'
"As II is a case Of grave importance
10 tho.e concerned and TO the country
! ala desrOus OF giving my little heip
TO clear away the troubles.
"The duties of members OF courts
martial and courts of inquiry are not
sought or desired by officers. While
feel highly honored by the department.
selection OF myself for this duty II is
ANYTHING but q pleasant task to SIT ~
Judgment on brother officers
WHY HE WRITES.
However, the honor OF the selection,
or the unpleasantness of court duties
does not enter into The reasons Tor my
now writing to say to you, personally
tblee things viz:
First, TO reassure you that ! am not
responsible for and did not give out
such an interview as Is alleged IN the
dispatches from Boston Nd as stated
In the newspapers to have been men
toned by Admiral Schlf In a recent
letter TO the department.
Second, a. however, the department
feels that the cause OF the navy dnd
justice viii be better served by reiieV-
ing me rom duty on the court, | am
entirely ready TO withdraw voluntarily
or to have the department. relieve me
upon its own initiative
Third. If on The other hand, the de"
partment, knowing all the circum-
stances, desires that | should perform
the duty, | am entirely ready TO per-
form IL and can, upon my conscience
and oath, do my duty as member OF
the court without Partially as the
law requires.
Yours sincerely and respectfully
II. l.. HOWlSON,
"Rear-Admiral u. s. N.
Hon, Frank w Hackett, Washing
ton. ID. c."
Mr.. Hackett replied as follows;
MR.. HACKETT'S REPLY.
Washington, Aug. 20, 1901.
Dear Admirai.-Your letter OF the
oath deserves an immediate reply.
You say substantially that there IL
no foundation for the statements at
tributed To you as having been set firth
In an interview afterward published In
the Boston Record, and lately made the
subject OF communication from Rea.-
Admiral Schley TO the department. You
evidently have read the correspondence
between the admiral and the depali-
ment as published last week In tie
newspapers.
THE department, let me assure you,
has no purpose Of relieving you Of this
duty. IL has implicit confidence In your
sense OF justice and fairmndedness.
SHOULD the counsel for Rear Admiral
Schley proceed to offer 10 the court OBJ
lection to you, II will be for the court
itself TO decide the question Of your
competency 10 sit as a member.
Were your letter Official Instead OF
being merely personal, / should refer
II TO the Judge advocate of the court
TO be laid before the court | would
like to know II you have any objection
to my giving TO the public your frank
and manly letter. in the event that II
shall be desirable 10 do so.
what you have said only confirms
me in the belief that the department
has been fortunate in selecting you as
the third member of the court
Kindly accept the assurance of my
personal esteem and believe me,
yours truly,
FRANK w. HACKETT,
Rear Admiral II. l.. Howison, U. g.
N, Yonkers, ~ Y.