The sun., 1901-11-05
INQUIRY NEARSI7SE END
Counsel Begin Argument Before the
Schley Court.
ADDRESS OF MR.. HANNA.
Admiral scbIey and Captain sigsbee
Both Called to the Witness
stand to Review Their
Testimony.

ed for the purpose or reviewing his
former testimony. Admiral Schley also
was called for this purpose, and his
statement occupied good portion of
the time of the court.
While Captain Sigsbee was on the
stand Mr.. Rayner asked him II he had
megaphoned or otherwise communicat-
ed to the pressboat Premier while off
Santiago the fact that the Spanish fleet
was not in Santiago. The witness re-
Piled that he had not done so, although
he would have been justified in saying
50 il he had thought it proper under
the circumstances of war.
When Captain Sigsbee was excused,
captain Lemly announced that he had
no more witnesses to call. Frank b.
Richards was then sworn. Mr.. Rich
ards stated that he was on the dis
patch boat Premier during the Sant-
ago campaign and that the boat was
hailed by Captain Sigsbce on the night
of May 81 or 2S. At this point Captain
l.cmly objected to this line Of evidence
on the ground that Commodore Schley
was not present during the conyersa-
ton: also that it was not material to
the issue. Captain Lemly referred to
thc ruling of the court regarding the
Potts-Sears conversation, which had
been ruled out, and claimed that this
was exactly a parallel case.
Mr.. Rayncr contended that this al
legged conversation with Captain Sigs-
bee is one of the vital points of the
ease; that ii bears directly upon one of
the most important specifications of the
precept. Mr.. Rayner said lie did not
desire TO impeach the credibility of
Captain Sigsbee, but would endeavor
to impeach very strongly his recolec-
tion. After short argument by Mr..
Hanna in support of Captain Lemly's
objection the court retired to consider
the point raised.
Testimony Ruled Out.
The court was absent but short
tme. When II returned, Admiral Dew.
ey announced that ''aS the testimony
Uf this Witness is not considered by the
court as material to the case the objec
ton is sustained in accordance with the
cOnrt's previous ruling"
Under this ruling neither Mr.. Rich
ards nor Mr.. Lynch, another war cor
respondent, could testify, ana Admira
Schley took the stand for the purpose
of correcting his testimony The ad
tniral was suffering from Il cold an,
his voice was quite hoarse. He begal
his corrections mt the very first of his
testimony. Most OF these corrections
were of Typographical errors or til,
changing of words to make sentences
read more smoothly. Referring to th'
order from Admiral Sampson dated
Key West, May 10. instructing til,
commander OF the flying squadron t,
establish blockade of Cienfuego
with The least possible delay, the wit
nrss read a sentence from ii as fol
lows:
After | have the situation more il
Gnd | Will write You to give you an.
more information rs suggests ITSELF
THE word more should be omitted,
said Admiral Schlcy, ''and the sentenc
read rs follows, After have the situa
tion more in hand will write you an
give YOU any Information as suggest
Itself"
referring to his testimony regarding
lie reconnaissance of May 81. the ~
nliral changed his statement that lift
i not more shells passed over the fleet
TO read that "a number of shells pass
ed over the fleet" He also change
his evidence concerning suspicion
movements in the harbor of Santiag
July to read that ''before dark
noticed in the harbor Il good deal Q
smoke coming up" The official rccort
he said, made him say that he saw til
smoke after dark.
Emphasizes His Evidence.
Coming to his reply to question
reference to his order sent below du
Ing the early part of the battle
''stand by TO ram" Admiral Schlcy ell
phasized his former testimony by sta
ing that ''there was distinct atteml
to ram on the part of the Maria Teres'
Admiral Cervera's flagship, and the vi
caya.' He also reiterated his conf
dence in the Brooklyn's speed by sta
ing that with one engine and all Il
boiler power" she could have got up a
speed that was needed.
The witness corrected but one of Ii
answers to the questions Of the coui
This question was to the effect that
he was ordered to go to Cienfuegos
establish Il blockade, was it not II
duty under the circumstances to COZ
municate direct, either by signal
otherwise, with the senior officer of Il
vessels returning from Cicnfucgos nj
obtain from him all information regar
ing the situation at or near that port?
The answer as corrected reads: "Tl
communication which he made to II
through the Eagle indicated that Ca
tain McCalla knew | was bound f
Cienfuegos, and |, of course took it Fl
granted if he had had anything impc
tant he would have notified me of Il
fact without inquiry"
At this point Admiral Schley a
nounced that he had no more CORE
tions to make. Captain Parker call
the admiraPs attention to the eviden
of Captain Sigsbee, in which he hi
said that when he went on board t
Brooklyn the whole question, so far
he could remember, was coal, and not
ing but coal, and that Commodo
Schley already had made up his mi
to go to Key West.
"That was not the first quest
SigSbee asked me at all" replied
miral Schley. 81 did not say to G
tain Sigsbee that we were going
Key West, as the signal will she
H. ,1Nsr a