The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-30
REEDS ROTTENNESS
MANILA INVESTIGATION MAKES
BAD SHOWING.
SEVERAL OFFICERS INVOLVED.
FORMER CoMMISsARY SAID TO BE
sEsoRT $1,000.


Excuse Reed Levied or Merchants
Who Were Furnishing Supplies.
Naval Lieutenant TOwnIry Testi-
fies to n Very DisreputabIe Deal In
which He Engaged at Reeds In
stance--Morc Revelations Likely TO
BE Made.
Manila, April 29.-The trial of Capt.
James c. Reed. former depot commits
sary at Manila and who was arrested
about a fortnight ago for alleged partici-
patton in the commissary frauds, was be-
gun here to-day and bids fair to de-
velop into a celebrated case. Capt. Reed
is charged with soliciting and receiving
bribes and with other Official misconduct.
Mr.. SCHNEIDER. manager of the Alham-
bra Cigar Factory, testified tina Il in No
vember Capt. Reed had told him that
Maj. George B. Davis, who was the depot
commissary before Capt. Reed, but who
was sent to the United States on sick
leave and whose name appears on the
books of Evans & Co, government con-
tractors at Manila. as the recipient of
81 .OOO was 5000 short in his accounts.
Continuing, Mr.. SCHNEIDER testified that
those having profitable contracts with the
government were asked to assist in maxi
ing good Maj. Davis deficiency. Schind-
Ter gave Capt Reed $l.05O. which was 2ls
per cent. commission on the cigars sold
to the commissary department during the
time that Maj. Davis was depot commits
sary at Manila.
An officer named Franklin, who was
assistant commissary, testified to the eff
feet that on March IS and following the
direction of a superior officer. he obtained
$1,000 from Maj. Davis and paid this
money over to SCHNEIDER.
Inspector General Darlington testif ed
that during the preliminary investigation
of the commissary scandals Capt. Reed
admitted to him recovering money from
SCHNEIDER and others and gave as an ex-
cuse that the money so recovered was in
tended to cover Maj. Davis beef short
age.
TOwnIey's Nice Conduct.
Lieut.. Richard H. Townley of the navy,
a present superintendent of the Manila
Nautical School, testified that as a result
OF the conference with Capt. Reed he
went to see Castle Brothers, contractors,
who supplied the commissary department
with vegetables, etc, and wanted them
to give Capt. Reed $1,000 and 10 per cent.
commission on all sales. Castle Brothers
demurred 10 this proposition. Lieut..
Towney again went to Castle Brothers
and this time only asked them
for $1,000. Castle Brothers were
reluctant to hand over this sum. and
Lieut.. Townley explained that Capt. Reed
was in a position to advance the interests
of the firm, and that 1t would be advanta-
geous to Castle Brothers to oblige him.
Lieut.. Townley testified that he further
explained TO Castle Brothers that Capt
Reed might allow them the use of govern
ment lighters. and possibly be less rigid
in the inspection of goods purchased
Lieut.. Townley said that he thought Capt
Reed was doing noble thing in attempt
ing to protect the character of brother
officer. He also said that such transact
ions were not customary in the navy.
TownIey's'sheepishness.
When cross questioned, Lieut.. Townley
said, rather sheepishly that he was not so
sure he was doing right in taking the wit
ness chair
Col. Charles A. Woodruff, chief of the
subsistence department in Manila ex-
planed the circumstances of Capt. Reeds
appointment and described the duties OF
the depot commissary, not knowing
whether the accounts of Maj. Davis were
correct or not. Col. Woodruff explained
that on Dec. 30 Castle Brothers aroused
his suspicious by intimating that money
was being collected by an officer of the
commissary department. Later Col.
Woodruff sent for Capt. Reed. who ad-
mitted receiving rebates for the purpose
of covering the delinquencies of Maj.
Davis.
finished and other witnesses are awaiting
examination.