The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-25
1T MEETS AGAIN TODAY
Schley Greatly Shocked by His Senior
Counsel's Death
COURT HAD BEEN IN SESSION i8 MINUTES
A. B. CIsxlon, First Class Machinist on the
Texas, on the Stand When Mr. Ray
ner Made Anno'inceme Of
Judge Wilson's Dealh.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated PreSS.)
Washington, Sept. 24.-The Schley
court of inquiry was brought to sud
den termination for the day eighteen
minutes after convening this morning
by the announcement of the death of
Judge Jeremiah Wilson, senior counsel
for Admira, Schley. The announcement
was made to the court by Hon. Isidor
Rayner, assistant counsel in the follow
ing language:
II have very sad announcement to
make to the court. / have just heard of
the death of Judge Wilson. / left him
at 10 o'clock this morning, slightly in
disposed. ] was with him until late
last night / saw him this morning at
s o'clock and left him at 10. We have
confirmed the rumor through the tele-
phone that he has just died at the Shore
ham Hotel, and 1 would respectfully
ask the court, if it meets with the APP
proval of the court, to adjourn for to-
day."
Admiral Dewey said: II have to an
noupees that owing to the death of Judge
Wilson, of counsel, that court will adj
journ for today until tomorrow morn
ing"
Mr.. Rayner said that so far as he
could see the counsel for Admiral
Schley would be able to proceed tomor-
row, but he added that there would be
iesire to attend the funeral when it
occurred. Admiral Dewey and Captain
Lemley agreed that this detail could be
arranged later.
hn of Wilson's
death created CONSERVATION not only
among members of the court, but among
spectators and some minutes elapsed
before people generally would accept
the report The judge had been pres
ent in the court all day yesterday and
while he had not participated to any
great extent in the proceedings, he had
appeared / hyscally active and wide
awake to all that was said and DONE
All the members of the court includ-
ing counsel for the Government and for
Admiral s;chley expressed the utmost
surprise ard sorrow over the news, while
Admiral Schley himself said: "The
news is so shocking that l cannot trust
myself to give expression to my esti-
mate of the man. | can only say that
l have lost not only clear-headed and
brilliant counsel, but also a dear and
much beloved friend. l am shocked be-
yond measure at the news and find my
self almost unable to accept the re-
port"
The proceedings of the court were
, rendered very brief by the announce
ment of Judge Wilson's death. Conn
manders Bates and Schroeder were re-
| called to listen to the reading of the Of
~r;xr
yesterday and First Glass Machinist, A.
! B. Claxton, of this city, who had charge
of the port engine of the Texas on the
| day of the battle off Santiago had just
taken the stand when the announce
ment Of Judge Wilson's death was re-
! ceived.
| 1t had been expected by the Govern
ment thai Mr.. ClaXton would confirm
the statement of Engineer Bates con-
-cernng the reversal of the engines of
the Texas.
During the short time that he was on
| the stand Engineer Bates was asked
! a few questions. One of these was by
Captain Parker and was in regard to
the steam log of the Texas. In reply
| to the first inquiry Commander Bates
said that the log had been written up
! the day alter the battle.
| The other questions were by the court
and related. the first, to the coal sup
ply of the Texas on May 26th, and the
second, to the condition of the machinery
of the Texas on the 31st of that month.
| The questions of the court and the re-
sponses to them were as follows:
Are yor. positive that the quantity
of coal reported on hand May 26th was
correct?'
! "Yes, sir. as nearly as anybody can be
positive. There was no accurate means
of weighing, what was sent us, and gen.
orally there is no absolutely accurate
| means by which coal is weighed coming
! aboard ship. All naval officers know
that coal is weighed to the best of our
| ability and an accurate account kept to
the best of our ability, and it is gen
orally a good estimate. 1t is weighed
out in the same way"
.'Was the machinery of the Texas in
) efficient condition for services on May
31st?''
II sould say by recollection, yes. l do
not recollect that anything was wrong
about the machinery"
| Judge Advocate 1T is the day of the
bombardment of the Colon that is re-
ferred to. the 31st of May"
Commander Bates: There was moth
ing the matter with the engines as | re-