The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-11-21
Rayner'S MaStcrful Effort
THE SCHLEY INVESTIGATE :, THE COURT
AND THE ADVOCATE.


AND THE ADVOCATE.
Lemiy's Speech the Last Expiring
Agony of Defeated Combinations
Tame. Flat and FaIIacious as Com.
pared With the Sweeping, Over
whe!ming Argument of the Brilliant
Baltimore Lawyer for the Brave,
Gallant and Ve-y Meritorious Hero
of the Sea Fight off Santiago.
Commenting on the closing scenes of
the Schley Court Of Inquiry the Will
mington Messenger says:
Captain Lemly made the closing
speech. 1t was the last agony OF a
defeated combination. 1t showed how
very weak is the case Of the unworthy
prosecution. After Mr. Ravner's 5
masterful effort in behalf of the great
Rear Admiral. Lemly was tame. flat,
falaciOus. lie WAS moderate and even
tempered, but was forced by the over
whelming evidence in behalf of Schlev
to acquit him of all charge or suspi-
cion Of cOwardice. But for this he
deserves no credit. He simply did
not have a leg to stand upon. He
conducted the prosecution with a
paramount desire to ruin, to blast
the good name and brilliant record as
naval commander of the distinguish
ed son Of Maryland. At the last
Lemly bore himself better and al
though eager to destroy Schley he
kept within the bounds Of decencv, OF
legal decorum He is praised for his
moderation, but he was not ALWAYS
that in his efforts to convict a pure,
noble, innocent man. In spite of the
great victory of Schley he charged
that he was unsteady in purpose and
disobeyed orders. We believe the
whole thing from first to last was a
most foul conspiracy, and the man
engaged had no real conception of
the strength of Schlsy's case. The
court will carefully revise the whole
testimony and then report results.
The country expects fair, conclu-
sive. complete vindication of the
great commodore.
Mr.. Rayner has returned to his
home in Baltimore. He thinks the
court was composed of remarkab BILE
men. We quote pleasant tribute to
Admiral Dewey as jurist, we find in
The Sun of that city: .Admiral
Dewey told me he came from family
Of jurists and that he heard great
deal of law before going to sea. This
was in answer to my question as to
how he could decide so readily upon
technical questions of law. | had no
idea that the hero of Manila had the
qualifications of great judge with
out perhaps ever having read law
book
He even praised Lemly and says
that be had had an exceedingly deli
cate duty to perform. He was per-
sonalIy very friendly to Admiral
Schley, and it fell upon him to con-
duct this case against him. He acted
with becoming degree of impartial
ity. | believe"
OF the great Rear Admiral hs spoke
in exalted strain of eulogy. He was
asked:
What impression did Admiral
Schley make upon those connected
with him in the ca e?" was then asked
OF Mr.. Rayner. He replied:
He could make but one impress
sion. He is as brave and fearless a
man as ever breathed fire of battle.
He is great in every quality that con-
stitutcs greatness. In this battle of
words and thought. he stood as
steadiast as he did in the battle Of
Santiago. His presence, his firm
conviction that he had performed his
duty for bis country and his eXultant
spirit in every moment OF this trial
became an inspiration to us. Schley
10 not only great naval here, but he
is scholar and man of the most
brilliant accomplishments. His jour
ney to and from the courthouse was
an ovation and a triumphal process
sion from the commencement Of the
trial to its close"
Thus closes the most famous, the
most malignant. the most infamous
persecution Of naval record and
modern times. No other great victor
in q great battle was ever put on
trial to prove his own fair name and
to rebut the assaults and calumnies
of most vile conspiracy. We make
another extract from his reported
conversations:
The other side had all the re-
sources OF the government OF the
United States to draw upon at q
| moments notice. and upon call every
I, l.: 4 Il fr>,
officer and subordinate employe o1
the navy department. Mr.. Hanna,
the solicitor in the Judge Advocate
Generals office, tried the case admir-
ably
The great speech Of the great law
yer is to be published not long hence
1t will appear in a pamphlet OF l5C
pages. 1t is a review of every episode
from the time Admiral Schley lefi
Kew West until the destruction OF the
Spanish fleet off Santiago.
OF thi. truly magnificent effort 7h
Sun says editorially that it ''wss 1
MASTER piece of eloquence, Of logic
and Of analysis" We may add tha
it contains some of the keenss
tlruSIS, inc luOSt oaiSooAA II
and ridicule, and some high and yer.
impressive eloqueuce, highly finished
somewhat classical, and admirabi,.
sustained. 1t made a very great i'm
preston on the auditors. The 81"
says:
MIR. Rayner has displayed some
thing more than eloquence and wit IL
his presentation of the defence OF Ad
miral Schlsy, a. fine As his eloquenc
was and as cutting as his satir
proved to be. He has not relied upol
sentimsnt or ridicule to obtain vim
ldicstion for his client, but has estab
llished his case by clear and relentles
Ilogic, and by reasoning of the mos
convincing character"
The country should not lose sigh
Of the malignity and the cslumny at
tempted. 1t was develish attemP
hro