Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-13

Washington, Sept 13.-The naval
 court of inquiry, called at the request
 of Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley to
 pass upon the charges against him growing out of the Spanish-American
 war and which convened at the Wash
 session of three hours announced that Rear Admiral Howison was disquali-
 fled from serving as member of the
 court and was excused from further duty.
 The following is the full text of Ad-
 miral Schley's challenge of Admiral Howison as a member of the court:
 Rear Admiral W. S Schley, in the
 exercise of his legal right of challenge,
 objects to Rear Admiral Henry l.. Howison, upon the grounds:
 1.-That Rear Admiral Henry l.. Howison has already formed and eX- pressed an opinion on the merits of the case about to be investigated and that he is, therefore. ineligible for ser vice as a member of this court. 2-That Rear Admiral Henry L.. Howison has already formed and ex-
 
 case about to be investigated Adverse
 " to said Rear Admiral W. S. Schley,
 thereby indicating bias and prejudice
 which renders him, said Rear Admiral Henry l.. Howison ineligible for ser vice as member of this court. 3.-That Rear Admiral Henry L. HoWison has, i'll connection with the
 subject matter about to be investigat-
 ed, expressed an unfavorable opinion
 on the personal and professional char
 acteristics of said Rear Admiral Schley
 thereby indicating a bias and prejudice
 which renders him, said Rear Admiral Howfson, ineligible for service as
 member of this court.
 4.-That Rear Admiral Henry L. HoWison, in connection with the opin- lon formed and expressed by him upon the merits of the case about to be in yestigated, has instituted and an- I nounced a comparison between the acts and personal and professional characteristics of the principal parties to the present issue-namely, Rear Ad- mirals Sampson and Schley-to the dis advantage and Encouragement of the latter, thereby indicating a bias and prejudice which renders him, Rear Admiral Henry l.. Howison, ineligible | for service as a member of this court A hurried consultation among the
 members of the court followed Ad-
 miral Dewey first turned to Admiral
 Benham, then stepped around the table
 and engaged Captain Lemly in con l versation. He afterward spoke to
 Rear Admiral Howison.
 | 4asx~ r | was any evidence in support of the statements concerning Rear Admiral
 Howison, to which MT Raynor, speak l ing for Rear Admiral Schley, said there was.
 Admiral Dewey announced that this ! would be heard.
 l Francis A. Frost of the Boston | Record, who had reported a conversa-
 tion with Rear Admiral Howison in 1 which the later was alleged to have | made reflections upon Admiral Schley,
 was called to the stand. The witness | explained the nature of his duties in
 securing news from the Charlestown navy yard. He then detailed the con- versation he is said to have had with
 Admiral Howison. This occurred he 1 said, ill the commandant's office. and while it had not been given with the 1 distinct understanding that it should I not be published, there was no injunc- | ton of secrecy.
 Publications had begun to appear I concerning the credit for the victory. l This had been referred tG during the witness's visit to Admiral Howison, 1 and in reply the admiral stated so the witness testified that Sampson was en- l titled to the credit of the victory at l Santiago. Admiral Howison described l the duties which had devolyed on l Sampson; how vessels had been placed l off the entrance of the harbor to guard
 against the escape of the Spanish fleet. | The witness said Admiral Howison 1 stated that if the American fleet had
 been defeated, Admiral Sampson
 would have been asked how it oc- l cured. MT Frost said he had sug-
 gested that the public seemed disposed | to give the credit to Schley. In re- 1 sponse, he testified, Admiral HoyVison
 went on to say atfSampson's stand l ing as an officer and as man was greatly superior to that of Schley.'' "What he said" continued the wit ness. sinclined me to be belief that l he had no use for Admiral Schley. The witness also gave in detail the circumstances leading up to the publi- l cation. On cross examination he was l shown the precept and was asked by 1 Solicitor Hanna if Admiral Howison l had expressed an opinion on the points l in the precept. The witness thought l he had not involved in the conversa- l ton. The witness adhered strictly to l his first statement. On redirect exam l ination MT Raynor asked: 'sWhat was l Admiral Howison's manner during his l conversation with you?"
 l "He spoke of Schley ill what l would
 call sneering manner" replied the l witness.
 Occasionally during the examination l of this witness there was a slight is
 sue between counsel, but on the whole,
 fhnrQ was 1iffIa Or m 0bipptiOn to The