The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-14
MR. HACKETT TO Be SILENT
Henceforth He VIII Not Talk Cf
Schley Court Witnesses.
SIMPSONS Presence Likely to he Re
gucsted by Opposing Counsel. II He
Is Not Otherwise Summoned - AZ
fdnvits Not Equally Acceptable.


The case of Rear Admiral William T.
Sampson continues to perplex the Navy
Department, although his friends there
are putting up the appearance of being at
ease concerning him. When 1t was
thought that he could be disposed of by
being placed on waiting orders and per
haps allowed to leave the country on &C
count of i'll health, and thus escape being
brought to Washington to testify before
the Court of Enquiry, there comes the
suggestion that If the Navy Department
does not voluntarily summon Sampson to
appear Admiral Schley may himself re-
quest his presence there. SIMPSONS
friends fear the result of the fire of cross
questions to which he will be subjected
before the court by Admiral Schley' S
counsel. and If possible they would glad
ly relieve him of this ordeal.
There is little doubt but that he will be
relieved Of command Of the Boston Navy
Yard within a short time. and. as Acting
Secretary Hackett has already announced.
Rear Admiral NJ L. johnson will succeed
him. Sampson will then be given a leave
of absence until the date for his retire
nent in February His friends have made
the point that he is not on trial before
the Schley Court, and have therefore
sought to have it appear that his presence
is not necessary during the hearing. They
declare that he can make his statement
and submit it to the court. If no more
| than that were required, the same might
be done by every officer of the navy who
is expected to give testimony, and Il
would not then be necessary to summon
any of the witnesses who are at present
serving on distant stations. The court
could then read mass of affidavits and
from these form its decision as to wheth-
or or not Admiral Schley is guilty of all
the various charges made against him.
Such a course would not, however. con-
| stitute a court of enquiry, for. Admiral
Schley's counsel desires to have the OPP
! portunity of cross-eXamining witnesses.
| Counsel will wish to cross-eXamine Ad-
| miral Sampson. and If the Navy Depart
ment does not summon him, it is said 10
be highly probable that Admiral Schley
will request his presence here.
| In the somewhat remarkable statement
which Acting Secretary Hackett gave out
yesterday to the newspapers he says that
Admiral Schley was requested to com
municate with the department regarding
witnesses and that he submitted a par
tial list. Therefore he undoubtedly has
/
present and give testimony.
The statement referred to was accom-
panied by the declaration on the part OF
MIR. Hackett that he would politely, but
| positively decline to have anything fur
Their to say upon the subject of the Schley
Court Of Enquiry henceforth, and that he
desired to have that fact thoroughly
understood by all. The statement is as
/ follows:
There have been numerous enquiries
| by the gentlemen of the press as to who
are to be the witnesses before the Schley
! Court of Enquiry. 1 recognize the in
I tense public interest that attends the con
| vening of this court. / also take into ac-
| count and respect the professional yea
! of the press and the earnest desire OF
/ each gentleman to obtain early and full
| information for his particular newspaper
1t has been found necessary, however, t.
/ say something to put an end to daily en-
quiries on the subject. This is done with
no purpose or desire to keep anything
from the public
The court will convene on the 18th OF
! September. What witnesses will be-
/ brought before the court in behalf of Ad.
miral Schley is for the admiral himself &c
! decide. No one can possibly know what
| witnesses the court is going to summon
/ before tnern-
THE judge advocate of the court OF
the 2yth of July addressed q letter to Ad-
| miral Schiey requesting the admiral t
/ communicate with him in regard to the
| witnesses, if any of them were located
at distance from Washington. whom h,
| might wish to have appear before th'
| court. This was done because it wa!
| taken for granted that most of them Were
! officers Of the navy. 1t was highly i'm
portant that they should be within reacI
| when wanted TO testify.
/ Admiral Schley responded with a par
tial list of those whom he thought h
| would be likely to want present. stating
| that there would doubtless be others H.
| was told that he would have a right Il
| call others as witnesses. and also in
| formed that some of the persons nameC
| by him might possibly be called by th'
| Judge advocate.
THE whole thing is in the preliminary
| stage. to see to il that officers of tn,
| navy who are cognizant of the facts in
| volvcd will be where they can be reached
in season to attend as witnesses if need
ed.