The sun., 1901-09-13

taken seats at the spacious table. 1t
was striking picture, with Admiral
Dewey in the middle, Rear Admiral
Benham on the right and Rear Admi-
raj Howison ON the left. Their faces
were stern. They were in full uni
form the four starred collar Of the adj
miral indicating his supreme rank In
the navy. His sword hung at his left
side but 1t was his service sword and
not that presented by congress In re-
membrance Of Manila Bay.
schIey In Full Uniform.
Admiral Schley sat at the table pro-
vided for him and his counsel. He, too.
was In full uniform, his epaulets show
ing the two stars and anchor of his
high rank. His back was to the spec.
tators, and, with his counsel, he faced
the members of the court. just across
from the officers sat Judge Advocate
Lemly. the law officer of the navy and
OF the court, with Solicitor Hanna of
the navy department at his side. Out.
side of the rail could be seen many
well known in the naval and govern.
ment service as well as many ladies',
including the wives of those taking n
prominent part in the proceedings.
The formal proceedings of the court
were begun with the reading by Cap
tain Lemly of Admiral Schley's letter
requesting the convening of the court
and the navy departments precept.
The court assumed listening atti
tude, but Admiral Schley, known as
"the applicant" in the case, gave only
Indifferent attention to the document
The admiral gave closer attention, how
ever, when the judge advocate began
the reading of the order appointing
Rear Admiral Howison member OF
the court in place of Rear Admiral
Kimberly, and he continued to give
careful heed when his letter to the de.
partment asking for a modification OF
paragraph of the precept, regarding
Admiral Schley's dlsobedience of or
ders, was read, together with the de
partment's refusal to comply with the
request.
None of these documents received
more than perfunctory attention from
the auditors, but there was general
change of attitude when the next order
of proceeding was reached. This was
the challenge on the part of Rear Ad
miral Schley of Rear Admiral HowisoI
as Il member of the court.
While this challenge, of course, was
expected. 1t created no little commo
tion, coming as it did without prelimi
a at.N-. n Inn In
tion on the part Of Captain Lemly rs to
whether the applicant had any objec
tion to the court to urge. Admiral
Schley responded promptly. Rising
from his seat. he said, Il have to state
with extreme regret that am obliged
to object to Rear Admiral Howison as
a member Of the court" He then read
his formal objection as follows:
l. That Rear Admiral Henry H. Howison has
already formed and expressed an opinion on the
merits Of the about to be Investigated and
that he is ther fore ineligible for service as a
mi nillcr Of this court
?. That Rear Admiral Henry L. Iowison has
alIeaily formed and expressed an opinion the
merits OF the about to he investigated ad
yerscly TO said Rear Admiral W. s. Schley, there
by indicating a bias and prejudice which renters
eligible for service member Of this court.
3. i'lat Rear Admiral Henry L. Iowison has
in connection with the subject matter about &c
be investigated, expressed unfayorable opin
len on the personal and professional characteris
tics Of said Rear Admiral Schley, thereby ind
eating bias and prejudice which renders him
said Rear Admiral i.owison, ineligible for service
as a member Of this court
4. That Rear Admiral Henry L. Howison, ir
connection with the opinion formed and expressed
By him upon the merits OF the case about to be
investigated, has instituted and announced q
comparison between the acts and personal anG
professional characteristics Of the principal par
ties TO the present issue-yiz, Rear Admiruls
Sampson and Schlcy-to the disadvantage art
disparagemcnt of the latter, thereby Indicating
bias and prejudice which renders him, Rear Ad.
miral Henry l.. iiowison, ineligible for service a.
a member Of this court.
A hurried consultation among the
members of the court followed Admi-
raj Dewey first turned to Admiral Ben.
ham, then stepped around the table
and engaged Captain Lemly in conver-
sation. He afterward spoke to Rear
Admiral Howson.
Captain Leinly then asked if there
was any evidence in support of the
statements concerning Rear Admiral
IIowison. to which Mr.. Rayner, speak
ing for Rear Admiral Schley, said
there was Admiral Dewey announced
that this would be heard
Sch1ey Introduces Witnesses.
Admiral Schley introduced three wit
nesses in support of his allegations Of
unfitness on the part of Admiral How
ison. They We're Francis Il. Frost, re-
porter on the Boston Record, who pub
lished an interview with Admiral How
ison in which the latter was represent
ed as reflecting upon Admiral Schley;
William IL. Spon of New York, who
claimed TO have heard Admiral How
ison say that Admiral Schley shanld
have been court martialed, and Foster
Nichols of Yonkers, n. u, who stated
that Admiral Hewison said to him that
If Schley had been an officer in the
English navy he would not have been
allowed to retain his commission.
All said Admiral Howison had given
them the impression that he was preju-
diced against Admiral Schley. When
the last witness left the stand, Coun-
sei0r Rayner for Admiral Schley called
attention to the fact that Admiral How
ison had made no defense. The court
then took RECESS to permit Admiral
Howison to formulate statement.