The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-02
INQUIRY NEARS END
BOTH SIDES ANNOUNCE CONCLUSION
OF TESTIMONY.
BEGUN SEVEN WEEKS AGO.
ORDER AND SCOPE OF ARGUMENT
DETERMINED

Correct His Five Days of Evidence
and VIII Add Something to His
Former Statements-Mr. Hanna
Will Open for the Department,
Followed by Capt. Parker and MIR.
Rayner for Admiral Schley and
the Judge Advocate Will Have the
CIose-Court VIII Take Its Time in
Making Up Its Decision.
Washington. Nov. 1.-The hands OF
the elongated antique timepiece which
stands against the wall in the hall oc-
cupied by the Schley court of inquiry
pointed to 12:45 o'clock to-day when
Judge Advocate Lemly announced that
he had no more witnesses to call and
when Mr.. Rayner, following him, said
that no witnesses would be summoned
on behalf of Admiral Schley in sur-re-
buttal. For moment it appeared as
if the now famous case was about to
reach a sudden conclusion. But this
delusion was soon dissipated by the
announcement on the part of Capt.
Lemly that he might ask to be allowed
to bring in one more witness on Mon
day and also a statement from Mr..
Rayner that Admiral Schley would
himself desire to return to the stand
on Monday TO correct errors in his evil
dence as officially reported.
There is a probability that the ad-
miral will consume considerable time
in going over the printed record of
what he said, and there also is an
understanding that he will make some
additions to his former statements.
But it is not believed that beyond what
he may have to say. there will be much
more testimony taken in the case. The
only witness that the judge advocate
still has in mind is Lieut.. Strauss. and
Capt. Lemly said to-day that if the
lieutenant's testimony could be secured
he would detain the court for a short
time only. Capt. Sigsbee also will re-
turn to the stand Monday to make cor
rections in the testimony given yes
terday by him.
These details completed, the argu'
ment. of counsel will be begun, and
then counsel and the public will with
draw and leave the court to its delib
erations. The task before the court il
not a light one, and it may be weeks
before the final verdict will be reach
ed How long the court may take tC
consider the evidence is entirely pro
blematical The members of the tribun-
al are evidently preparing to devote
considerable time to the consideration
of the testimony, for they have taken
rooms in the city for this purpose. The
testimony covers 1000 printed pages
and the court sat Sc days in listening
to it. With the additions yet to be
made in the way of argument and doc
uments the record probably will run
over LOO pages.
Admiral Schley was in the court
room half an hour before proceedings
began. but he announced that he would
not be able to undertake the correc-
ton of his testimony before next Mon
day.
There were five whole days of it,
he said, "and to go over it and make
the necessary corrections is not a
light task"
SchIey to Answer Chadwick.
1t is probable that he will have
something more to say concerning his
interview on May IS with Admiral
Sampson relative to which Capt.
Chadwick spoke yesterday. To-day s
witnesses were Sylvester Seovel, for
mer newspaper correspondent, who
saw service in the Cuban campaign;
Lieut.. Hood, who commanded the
Hawk during the Spanish war, and
also a number of officers who were
heard yesterday and who returned to
the stand to correct testimony. The
court held only one session and ad-
iourned over until Monday. The at
tendance upon the court to-day was
the smallest since the sessions began.
The court was six minutes late in
entering the hall to-day, this being the
first time that absolute promptness
has not been observed. Judge Advo-
cate Lemly announced that counsel
had agreed on the order of the speeches
in closing the case, subject to the sane
ton of the court. Mr.. Hanna is to
open for the department. He will be
Rayner for Admiral Schley and Judge
Advocate Lemly will close for the de-
partment.
Admiral Dewey announced that this
arrangement was satisfactory to the
court. .sass
The Scope of Argument.
Capt. Lemly then brought up the
question of the character of argument
to be made. saying:
"I would like, for my own informa-
ton to ask the instructions of the
court as to whether or not we are ex-
pected in the closing argument to
confine ourselves to the evidence and
to the scope of the precept as defined
by the court. I mean the argument
both by counsel for the applicant and
by my associate and myself"
Mr. Rayner: 1--WE have to confine
h1Tf I Ia
want to be entirely restricted. We
cannot allude to any facts that are moi
in the evidence, but we will, in max
ing our allusion, do it very respect
fully and within proper bounds"
Cant. Lemly: IT think that should
be the general scope of the argument
The court has defined the scope of the
precept but, Of course, we could not
undertake, and the court wont under
take, 10 restrict ourselves entirely,
assume in stating just exactly the
words, the manner, and so on. Tha'
would be a question which at the time
they would have TO say whether 1t was
proper or not"
Mr. Rayner; "Of course, In making
an argument we wont pretend TO refer
to anything not in the record. We are
hound by that, but / do not want Ia
have any more restrictions placed upon
my argument than I would IN any 9TH
er court. / want the constitutional
right 10 argue this case within proper
bounds and with great respect "a
everybody concerned but 20 make
criticisms az they appear proper 70 me
or 10 make comment. n ] should IND
for instance that ! believed a witness
has not t0ld the truth, ! should not
hesitate 20 say so.'
Capt. Lemly. That is right"
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