The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-05-03
Consisted Of Trying to
Shield Major Davis.
HE SOLICITED MONEY
Also Had Lieut.. Towniey Ask
For Money From Firms to
Cover Up Davis's
Shortage.

Manila, April 3O.-The trial OF Cap
tain James G. Reed. former depot
commissary at Manila, and who was
arrested about fortnight ago for al
legged participation in the commissary
frauds. was begun here and bids fair
to develop into a celebrated case.
Captain Reed Is charged with solicit
ing and receiving bribes and with
other official misconduct.
Objections to Jurisdiction overruled.
At the beginning of the trial coun
sci for the defendant objected to the
jurisdiction of the court alleging that
under an act promulgated in 1901
officers of the regular establishment
are ineligible as members of a court
martial to try an officer Of volunteers.
The defense further denied that
state of war existed in Manila today
and alleged that the provost marshal,
General George w. Davis, is unau.
thorized to convene general court
martial, and intimating that as Gen.
eral Macarthur virtually preferred
the charges against Captain Reed,
the orders directing his trial by court
martial should come from Washing
ton. The defense further objected
to the fact that several members of
the court were Of inferior rank to
Captain Reed. All these objections
were overruled and the hearing Of
testimony was begun.
Mr. Shindler. manager Of the Al
hambria cigar factory, testified that
in November Captain Reed had told
him that Major George b. Davis, who
was the depot commissary before
Captain Reed. but who was sent to
the United States on sick leave, and
whose name appeared on the books
Of Evans & Co., government contrac-
tors at Manila, as the recipient of
81 900, was $4,000 short In his ac-
counts. Continuing. Mr.. SCHNEIDER
testified that those having profitable
contracts with the government were
asked to assist in making good Major
Davis deficiency. SCHNEIDER gave
Captain Reed $1,050, which was 2k
per cent commission on the cigars
sold to the commissary department
during the time that Major Davis was
depot commissary at Manila.
An officer named Franklin, who was
assistant commissary, testified to the
effect that on March 18. and following
the direction of a superior officer, he
obtained $1,000 from Major Davis and
paid this money over to SCHNEIDER.
Claimed Trying to Protect Davis. Il
Inspector General Darlington testi-
fed that during the preliminary in.
vestigation of the commissary scan
dals Captain Reed admitted to him
recovering money from SCHNEIDER and
others. and gave as an excuse that the
money SO recovered was intended to
cover Major Davis beef shortage.
Lieutenant Richard H. Townley, Of
the navy, at present superintendent of
the Manila nautical school, testified
that as the result Of a conference with
Captain Reed he went to see Castle
Brothers, contractors. who supply the
commissary department with vegeta-
bles, ETC.. and wanted them to give
Captain Reed $4,000 and 10 per cent
commission on all sales. Castle
Brothers demurred to this proposition.
Lieutenant Townley again went to
Castle Brothers and this time only
asked them for $4,000. Castle Broth
ers were reluctant to hand over this
sum, and Lieutenant Townley ex.
planned that Captain Reed was In a
position to advance the interests of
the firm and that 1t would be ad.
yantageous to Castle Brothers to
oblige him. Lieutenant Townley tes-
tilted that he further explained to
Castle Brothers that Captain Reed
might allow them the use Of govern
ment lighters, and possibly be less
rigid in the inspection Of goods pur.
chased. Lieutenant Townley said
that he thought Captain Reed was
doing a noble thing In attempting to
protect the character OF a brother of.
ficer He also said that such trans.
actions wer not customary In the
navy. When cross-questioned Lieu
tenant Townley said. rather sheen.
ishly, that he was not SO sure he was
doing right In taking the witness
chair.
Gave Same Reason to Woodruff.
Colonel Charles A. Woodruff, chief
Of the subsistence department in
Manila, explained the circumstances
Of Captain Reeds appointment, and
described the duties of the depot com.
missary, not knowing whether the &C.
counts of Major Davis were correct
or not. Colonel Woodruff explained
that ON Dec. 80 Castle Brothers
aroused his suspicious by intimating
that money was being collected by an
officer of the commissary department.
Later Colonel Woodruff sent for Cap
tain Reed, who admitted receiving re-
bates for the purpose OF covering the
delinquencies Of Major Davis. The
testimony Of Colonel Woodruff was
unfinished at Mondays session and
other witnesses were awaiting exam
inntion.
Lieutenant John w. Haussermann.
Of the Thirty-fourth infantry, is Judge
advocate of the court, and Major
Thomas l.. Hartigan, OF the Thirtieth
infantry, and Captain Charles H.
MARBLE. Of the Fortieth infantry, are
tch attorneys for the defendants,