The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-07-26
DEWEY is PRESIDENT
HE WILL HEAD THE sCHLEY COURT
OF INQUIRY.
COURT WILL MEET SEPT IL.
ADMIRALS KIMBERLY AND BEN
HAM HIS ASSOCIATES.

Secretary Long Makes the An
eraI LcmIy VIII Probably BE
Judge AdvOcate-PrOceed VIII
BE Open and Court VIII Be Per-
mitted Widest Latitude in Matter
of Witnesses.
Washington, July 25.-The court of
inquiry. which is to investigate the
controversial points in connection with
Admiral Schley's conduct during the
Spanish war will be composed of Ad-
miral Dewey, president of the court,
and Rear Admirals Lewis A. Kimber-
ly and Andrew E. X. Benham.
The court will meet at the Navy De-
partment in Washington, Sept. u. Sec
retary Long announced these facts to-
day. The judge advocate of the court
has not yet been selected, and the pre-
cept to the court which is being pre-
pared by Capt. Lemly, judge advocate
general, has not yet been completed.
The scope of the inquiry will not be
known until the precept and order for
the convening of the court are issued.
1t is expected that they will be pro-
mulgated by the Navy Department to-
morrow. Secretary Long says, how
ever, that the proceedings of the court
will be open, and that the widest lati-
tude will be permitted in the matter of
witnesses, and that Rear Admiral
Schley will be allowed to be represent
ed by counsel. The secretary had moth
ing to say about the composition of
the court, except that he thought IL
spoke for itself, and to express the hope
that the members chosen would be sat-
isfactOry to all concerned. He pointed
out that none of the officers chosen
had, so far as he knew, expressed an
opinion concerning what is known as
the Sampson Schley controversy, and it
was therefore to be presumed that they
would enter upon their work in an inn
partial and unprejudiced spirit.
PiIIsbury Was Ineligible.
All day Secretary Long was engross-
ed in the consideration of the details
of the court, seeking particularly for
suitable judge advocate. realizing
lhuI OIOh LlllS OlAiCldl WOulu utNOiNt
the largest measure of responsibility
for the conduct of the inquiry to a sue.
cessful issue. 1t was thought that
such man had been found in the per-
son of Commander John E. Pillsbury,
a sailor who has the brightest reputa-
ton professionally and is moreover re-
garded as of judicial temperament
In fact, it was announced early in the
day at the navy department that he
had been selected for the place. But
later on more mature consideration
his name was abandoned. 1t was re-
called that as commander of the dyn-
amite cruiser Vesuvius he had served
under Sampson off Santiago. and more
over is equipment officer of the Boston
navy yard, was now again a subordi-
nate of the same admiral. In his de
sire to escape all criticism on the point
of bias. Secretary Long felt that these
reasons were sufficient for looking out
for new material and for some man
who was absolutely disassociated from
the great controversy in any phase.
Capt. LemIy May Accept.
Late this afternoon he believed that
he had found such an officer in the
person of Capt. Samuel c. Lemly, the
Judge advocate general of the navy, a
selection calculated. because of the
idlh Vi lHC OlilCcIs " constitute a Iull
recognition of the dignity and import
ance of the forthcoming court of in
quiry. While it cannot be said that
the matter is absolutely settled, Secre-
tary Long went so far as to ask Capt
Lemly If he felt free to accept the as
signment if it were offered to him, and
it is believed that Capt. Lemly will
answer affirmatively.
Capt Lemly would feel hurt to have
4-.Ns.
sonal feeling whatever in the Sampson
Schley controversy. In all the time he
has been at the head of the legal de-
partment of the navy. his service dat
ing back to 1892, he never has had oc-
casion to pass upan any question that
involved either Schley or Sampson in
any personal aspect. He has known
both men-Schley better than Samp-
son perhaps. He was one of Schley's
personal friends when he Oemly) was
in active line service. He accompanied
Schley on the famous GreeIy relief ex-
pedition and he rendered valuable SER
vice to him on that occasion.
Knows Both Officially.
On the other hand. Capt. Lemley has
known Sampson officially In the Navy
Department when the Admiral was at
the head of the Ordnance Bureau, and
they thus were thrown into close con-
tact in a bushes point of view for sew
eral years.
Capt. Lemly had arranged to depart
from Washington on his annual leave
on a trip through Canada some time in
August. Should he accept this new
trust he will arrange to leave on an
earlier date in order 10 return in sea-
son TO study this celebrated case before
the court meets Sept. 12. Meanwhile
the clerical force Of the Judge Advocate
Generals Department can prepare the
mass Of documentary evidence neces-
sary for use before the court and wit
nesses at distant points may be sum-
moned. Under the ordinary rules Of
practice the Judge Advocate General
OF the Navy is called on TO review the
proceedings OF Courtmartials and
courts Of inquiry Secretary Long has
promised Capt Lemly that n he acts
as fudge advocate OF the Schiey court
he viii be exempted from the duty OF
revolving the proceedings. Capt. Lem
ly was Judge advocate Of the Jeanette
court Of inquiry.
Preeepf 10 ne Extensive.
The prcccpt 10 the court probably
viii be Issued Tomorrow. n promises
TO be 4 rather extended statement of
the scope of the inquiry compared with
such documents ln less important cases
n Win define the scope Of the Inquiry,
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