The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-08
ARMY SCANDALS.

The trial Of Capt. jams G. Reed,
former depot comuissary at Manila,
who was arrested about fortnight ago
for alleged participation in the com-
missa1y frauds, was begun here Thurs
day and bids fair to develop into a
celebrated case. Capt. Reed is charged
with soliciting aud receiving bribes,
and with other official misconduct.
Mr.. .S,hindler, manager of the Al
hsmbra Cigar Factory, te ssi6ed that in
November Capt Reed had told him
that Major George B Davis, who Eas
the deputy commissary before Capt.
Reed, but who was sent to the United
States on sick leave and whose nsue
appears upon the books of Evans & Co.,
| Government contractors at Manila, as
the re ,ipient of $1,000 vas $4,000
short in his accounts. Continuing Mr..
Schindlcr testified that these, having
proftsSie contracts with the Govern
ment, were asked to assist in making
good Major Dav.s's shortage. Schind-
Ter gave Capt. Reed 81, 050, which was
q per cent commission on the cirgars
sold to the commissary department dur
ing the time that Major Davis was depot
com missary at Manila
An officer named Franklin, who was
assistant commissary, testified to the
effect that on Msr,h IS; and following
the direction of superior officer, he
obtained 81, 900 from Major Davis and
paid this money over to Schindler.
Inspector General Darlington testi-
fed that during the preliminary inves-
tigation of the c,mmissary scandals
Capt. Reed admitted to him recovering
money from SCHNEIDER and others and
gave as an excuse that the money so
recovered was inten6el t. cover Major
Da7is's beef shortage.
Lieut.. Richard 3. Town!ey, Of the
navy, at present superintendent Of the
Manila Nautical School, testified that
as the result Of conference with Cspt.
Reed he went to see Castle Brothers,
contractors, who supplied the com mis-
sary department with vegetables, etc,
and asked them t6 give the Captain
5000 and 10 per C mt. commission on
all the sales. Castle Brothers demurred
to this proposition. Lieut.. To#Dley
again went to Castle Brothers and this
time only asked them for 1900. Cas-
tie Brothers were reluctant to hand
over this sum, and Lieut.. ToEnley eX-
planned that Capt. Reed was in posi-
tion to advance the interests of the firm
and that it would be advantageous to
Castle Brothers TO oblige him. Lieut..
Townley testified that he further ex
planned to Castle Brothers that Capt.
Reed might allow them the use Of
Government 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 attempting to protect
the character of brother officer. He
also said that such trausactlons Eero
not customary in the navy.
When Cross. examined Lieut.. Town
ley said, rather sheepishly, that he was
lot 30 sure he was doing right in tax
ing the witness chair.
Col. Chsrles A. Woodruff, Chief Of
the subsistence department in Manila,
explained the circumstances Of Capt.
Reeds appointment and described the
duties Of the dspot commissary, not
knowing whether the accounts of Major
Davis were correct OF not. He eZ
planned that on December 80 Castle
Brothers aroused his suspicious By in:
tim ating that money was being collected
by an officer Of the commissary depart
ment. Later Col Woodruff sent for
Capt. Reed, who admitted receiving re-
bates For the purpose of covering the
delinquencies Of Major Davis.
The testimony OF Col. Woodruff is
unfinished and other witnesses are