The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-31
Leads all North Carolina Dalesim News and Circulation

cussed with acquaintances matter pub
| lished in the newspapers relating to our
navy's success as well as the unfor-
| tunate dispute so widely commented on
There are few or no persons in the
| navy or in our country, who have not
daily discussed these newspape arti.
cles.
From the papers it appears that
Admiral Schley has strong doubts as
to my fitness to fairly judge this case
with Admirals Dewey and Benham
AS 1t is a case of grave Importance
to those concerned and to the country
am desirous of giving my little help
to clear away the troubles.
The duties of members of courts
martial and courts of inquiry are not
| sought or desired by officers.
While l feel highly honored by the
/ departments selection of myself for
this duty. it is anything but pleas
ant task to sit in judgment on brother
| officers.
However, the honor of the selection
nor the unpleasantness of court duties
| 90 not enter into the reasons for my now
writing to say to you, personally, three
! things, viz: First-To re-assure YOU
! that am not responsible for and did not
give out such an interview as is alleged
| in the dispatches from Boston, and as
stated in the newspapers to have been
mentioned by Admiral Schley in a recent
letter to the department.
| Second. If however, the Department
feels that the cause of the navy and of
justice will be better served by relieving
me from duty on the court, | am entirely
ready to withdraw voluntarily, or to have
the Department relieve me upon it's own
initiative
Third. If on the other hand. the de-
partment, knowing all the circumstances
desires that / should perform the duty /
am entirely ready to perform it, and can.
upon my conscience and OATH do my duty
as member of the court without par
tiality' as the law requires
Yours sincerely and respectfully.
ugned) III L. HOWISON,
| Rear Admiral U. S. Navy.
Hon. Frank w. Hackett, Washing
ton, d. c."
/ Washington, August 26th 1901
/ Personal:
Dear Admiral: Your personal letter
OF the 24th deserves an immediate reply.
/ You say substantially that there is no
|
/ TO you as having been set forth in an in
| terview afterwards published in the Bos-
ton Record, and lately made the subject
OF communication from Admiral Schley
to the Department You evidently have
read the correspondence between the Ad-
miral and the Department as published
last week in the papers
The Department, let me assure you.
| mas mo purpose of relieving you of this
| duty 1t has implicit confidence in your
sense of justice and fair mindedness.
Should the counsel of Rear Admiral
Schley proceed to offer to the court OBJ
lection to you, it will be for the court it
SELF to decide the question of your COM
potency to sit as a member.
Were your letter official instead OF
| being merely personal l should refer il
to the Judge Advocate of the court. to be
laid before the court. / would like to
know if you have any objection to nv
giving the public your frank and manly
letter, in the event that it shall seem de
| sirable to do So
What you have said only confirms me
| In the belief that the Department has
been fortunate in selecting you as the
third member of the court.
Kindly accept the assurance of my
| personal esteem and believe me,
Yours truly,
FRANK w. HACKETT.
;"Rear Admiral H. L. HOWISON, U. S. N,
''Yonkers N. "
The correspondence was sent to Ad-
miral Schley who discussed it with his
counsel. Later in the day the following
announcement was made:
Admiral Schley's counsel is entirely
dissatisfied with the position of Armira
Howison as disclosed in his letter TO Act
ing Secretary Hackett, made public to-
day."
The lawyers hold that it is not COM
prehensive denial of the statement at
trlbuted to Admiral Howison, nor, they
say, does it disclose sufficiently the Ad-
mlraIs freedom from bias. 1t is prob
able they will set forth these objections
In letter to the acting secretary of the
Navy.