The Washington times., 1901-09-09
SCHLEY COUNSEL CONFER.
A Sunday Meeting Necessitated by
the Nearness of the Enquiry.
Junior Officers of the Brooklyn Go
Over the Case FulIy-To Present no
Testimony & Until the Depart
ments Presentation L. CompIcted.

Testimony O. Until the Depart
ment's Presentation Is Completed.
Four more days now remain before the
Schley Court of Enquiry convenes, and the
counsel for the Admiral are busy at work
preparing for probably the most histori-
cal enquiry of such nature which has
ever occurred in the history of the United
States Government. All day yesterday,
in spite of the fact that it was Sunday,
Admiral Schley, Judge Jere NJ Wilson,
and Captain Parker were busily engaged
upon the immense mass of work which
must be performed in the short time in
tervening before the enquiry is called
to order in the workshop at the navy
yard.
Although many witnesses have been
examined and others will be subjected to
examination before next Thursday, no
witness for Admiral Schley will be put
upon the stand to testify before the court
until the judge advocate has made a COM
plete and exhaustive presentation of the
department. case. This has been learned
on good authority, and there is no doubt
that the determination, said to have been
reached by the counsel for Admiral
Schley, will be carried out to the letter.
1t is also understood that Admiral
Sahley and his counsel are perfectly sat
isfled with the action taken by the Navy
Department in regard to the recent let
ter addressed by the Admiral to Assis-
tant Secretary Hackett, presenting list
of civilian witnesses whose testimony he
will require at the Court of Enquiry In
this communication, already printed,
he asked that these civilian witnesses be
summoned. In the opinion of the Judge
u a. II,
witnesses could not be summoned by the
Navy Department, and Admiral Schley
was informed of this decision
When asked if the course pursued by
the Navy Department was entirely sat-
isfactory, the reply was received that it
was. This is probably due to the fact
that the civilian witnesses whose names
were given to the Navy Department by
Admiral Schley will not be needed as
soon as was formerly supposed by the
attorneys representing the interests of
Admiral Schley. 1t is regarded as strange
that after making the request for the
witnesses whose names were given the
department to be summoned Admiral
Schley should be apparently perfectly
satisfied with the action of the depart
ment in not summoning them. The wit
nesses, other than those of the navy,
will be summoned when the court meets.
This is regarded as giving them ample
time, but 1t will not give Admiral Schley
or his counsel opportunity to examine
them previous to the first session of the
court.
The decision of Admiral Schley's coun-
sci not to present any witnesses until
after the case of the department has been
made, is said to be an entirely new fea-
ture in the matter. Heretofore, while
nothing definite could be learned authori-
tatively, it was understood that the wit
nesses would be called early in the en-
quiry If the court is In session as long
as is generally believed it will be. it may
be cold weather before the first Schley
witfess is put on the stand.
Yesterday at the Shoreham, Admiral
Schley and his cOus.sa'- again held a con-
ference with the junior officers of the
Brooklyn, who reached the city on Satur-
day. Captain Parker and Judge Wilson
continued the examiDatio of the oincers,
who will be among the most important
witnesses to be called by the admiral.
These are the men who were on the
Brooklyn with Admiral Schley at the bat
tie of Santiago, and their testimony will
be of the utmost Significance The group
OF officers remained for several hours in
the apartments of Judge Wilson at the
Shoreharl
The question of the present physical
condition of Admiral Sampson is furnish
ing food for considerable thought on the
part of naval officers generally. 1t is not
yet known whether he viii appear per-
sonally at the Court of Enquiry, although
the opinion. unofficiaIly given by many,
IS that he will not, If he can by any
means escape the ordeal
Admiral Schley and his counsel now
have the presentation of their case. as It
will se given at the Court of Enjuiry,
the evidence when the court convenes on
Thursday next.