The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-28
SENATOR RAWLINS NETTLED
DIETRICH's ALLUSION TO "DEsIGN-
ING POLITICIANS" RESENTED.
Official Documents Presented by Cap
tain Mcdonald to Prove FaIsity
of O'Brien's Testimony.

WASHINGTON, May 27.-Captain Nc
Donald continued his statements before
the Philippines committee to-day and pre-
scented official statements to refute the
testimony of Corporal OBrien. Senator
Rawlins said the statements were unneces-
sary to refute O'Brien. Senator Dietrich re-
torted that if O'Brien's statement had been
suppressed at the point where the minority
wanted it, enough would have leaked out
to give designing politicians an opportunity
to make use of it. Mr.. Rawlins sharply re-
sented this remark and said if he could not
be protected in the committee he would re-
main away. Chairman Lodge stated that
Senator Dietrichs remark was not in order
and the latter responded that he did not in
tend to call high-minded senators designing
politicians. All reference to the incident was
then stricken from the record.
Captain Mcdonald was questioned con-
corning the taking of prisoners and also the
burning of some towns He said he gave
orders to burn several towns which were in
a hostile country and sheltered ladrones and
insurgents. Captain Mcdonald stated that
he intended to ask that O'Brien be prose-
cuted by the federal authorities for per-
jury. Senator Lodge, chairman of the COM
mittee, said there was no doubt that steps
would be taken looking to the mans prose-
cution.
Capt McDonald's testimony in the main
consisted of the presentation OF the Of
fetal documents procured from the War
Department for the purpose of refuting the
statements by O'Brien derogatory to the
character Of Mcdonald The first of these
was a record showing that OBrien had
been on duty at San Joaquin from July u,
1900, to Feb. 26. 1901, whereas he had testi-
fled that he was present at Igbaras, thirty
miles away, when that town was burned
Nov. 2. 1900. This was the occasion on which.
according to OBrien's testimony a Spanish
woman was matltreated by American Of
ficers and enlisted men. Having produced
the record OF . Briens absence, Capt. Nc
Donald remarked: This clearly proves
that he has lied in this instance"
The witness also presented a complete set
OF accounts of Company NJ, to show that he
was not thief as O'Brien had charged
he was
The witness related the details of the ex
ecution of the Filipino bandit Pedro Garde-
nero at the town of Guimbal who, O'Brien
had said, was mistreated by Captain Nc
Donald to the extent that he had been sub
jected TO a court-martial. The witness said
that Gardenero had been guilty of many
heinous offenses against the natives and
to be executed in the public square when ne
was rescued by American soldiers and
turned over TO him. Subsequently he had
placed Gardenero in the hands of Captain
BOardman, who turned him over to the
civil authorities and by them he was ex-
ecuted. Captain Mcdonald said he and
Boardman had been tried by court-martial
for placing the man in the hands of civil
authorities and had been found guilty of
the fact. General Hughes, however had
disapproved the finding as Inadequate saw
ing that no punishment was preferable to
that prescribed.
Senator Culberson here entered on a line
witnesses information concerning the adj
ministra ton of the water-cure. Mcdonald
said except occasion he never had
been a witness to this process and that this
occasion was the one in which the pres
idente OF IgbaraS was subjected to this
treatment. He said that at the time Cap
tain. now Major Glenn, judge advocate of
General Hughess department, was in COM
mand, and that he understood the prisoner
had been given the water-cure upon Can't
Glenn's orders for the purpose of eliciting
information, which was secured
Mcdonald said the water was forced into
the mans stomach with syringe but that
he was not badly hurt, as he mounted his
horse soon afterward and rode into the
mountains with the troop.
Captain Mcdonald told of being present
at the burning of Igbaras and of himself
ordering the burning of several other
towns, but he said they were all in a hos
of ladrones and insurgents and the houses
generally being merely Nipa huts, valued
at not to exceed $40. He never had made
any effort to seek out the residences of the
guilty, but generally had included the en-
tire town in his orders for destruction.