Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-13

lines on which the evidence was de
 veloped.
 There has been no announcement of the names of witnesses who would be
 introduced to substantiate Mir Frosts testimony as to Admiral Howisons
 attitude toward Admiral Schley, and
 considerable interest was manifested when the next witness, William ID.
 Spon, of the firm of Spon x Chamber lain, booksellers and publishers, in New York and London, made his ap- pearance.
 MT Spon testified that he had been a passenger on the steamer Mlnneapo- lis, which sailed from London for New York October II, 1900, and that Ad- miral Howison had also been pas Senger on the same vessel on this ' voyage. The witness related that one day during the voyage the Sampson Schley controversy came up and one
 gentleman expressed himself as to Ad-
 miral Sampson. MT Spon had taken the opposite side, and i'll his effort to show that Admiral Sampson was not
 a fit man for that position had remark ed that the admiral had been the last
 member of the board of ordnance to agree to the use of smokeless powder
 by the navy.
 Continuing, MT Spon said that Ad.
 miral Howison came within hearing of the conversation at this point, and walking up to the group, said: T cor rect you; this is not so. You men do
 not know what you are talking about. You don't know anything about it. Sampson is very much respected and
 looked up to, and especially by the younger members of the navy Con tinuing the witness said that some col loquy had followed, of which Admiral Howison had said: "Anyhow, Schley should have been courtmartialed He was the main cause of all this con- troversy in the newspapers" NIT Spon added that Admiral Howi- son had seemed much excited during this conversation and that the other members of the party had listened in silence to what he had to say. From his whole manner,' the witness weIlr ! on, ''E infer that he was a very violent l partisan of Sampson, and correspond- ingly prejudiced against Schley. He was not content to correct me as to Admiral Sampson. but seemed willing to say bitter things almost vindic- lively, against Admiral Schley." MT Spon was immediately succeed-' | Y, which is Admiral Howison's place 2 of residence Mir Nichols is interested E in naval publications and in this ca pacity called upon Admiral HowisOn l July 1, last, to secure from him notes for q biography of the admiral. He said that the day on which the call ! was made was very hot, and on this Eaccount the admiral had asked to be ! excused from granting an interview. 1 MT Nichols said that after this con versation he had produced copy or l the work which his house was getting out. containing sketches of the leaders | ill the Spanish-American war, and con- 1 taining pictures of Sampson and I Schley. The witness said at the sight | of Schley's picture, Howison salu
 Schley has no business in the navy, and added that if Schley were ill the
 English navy he would have been put out for less cause than there is in his l case.
 1T asked,' the witness continued, 'sthe reason why Schley should have been put out. Admiral Howison re. piled, For disobedience of orders I
 asked him why if he disobeyed or ders, he was permitted to remain. The l admiral replied, Because he gave the
 excuse that he had to go to port to
 coal; yet everybody knows that coaIing
 at sea is possible.
 The witness said he had expressed
 surprise at Admiral Howison's atti- tude, and that i'll reply the admiral had said: ssYou would not be surprised IF
 you were in touch with the sentiment
 among naval officers" Witness said
 that in response to ah inquiry from himself Admiral Howison had ex-
 plained the absence of Admiral Samp- ] son from the scene of action when the l Santiago naval battle occurred by say l ing: "The explanation is that there
 had been lack of cooperation between | the land. and naval forces, and Samp- | son was trying to harmonize them. l The day on which the battle occurred
 was the last day on ear,h when the | Spanish fleet should have been expect | ed to come out"
 When the last witness left the stand, l Counselor Raynor for Admiral Schley called attention to the fact that Admi-
 ral Howison had made no defense. l The court then took Il recess to permit l Admiral Howison to formulate a statement.
 The following is the Howison state ment:
 Mir President and Gentlemen: Tn | feply 10 tue ODJecllOH to He dS tl Llciil-
 Der of this court, I submit copy of l the letter.
 | Mir Frost, I think, is answered in
 this letter above referred to- MT Spon's statement Is one l cannot | fathom.
 I am here to obey orders.
 These orders were not sought by me
 nor are they agreeable ones, but have been taught obedience to all law full orders by my long service. do
 not propose to enter into the subject
 of my private discussions. I do not wish to recall for the information of
 the public; in fact it would be a diffi-
 cult task to perform. Private utter