New-York tribune., 1902-10-25
ACTS ON WATER CURE CASE
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELTS PROMISE
KEPT TO THE LETTER.
EVIDENCE AGAINST ACCUSED VOLUNTEERS
GOES TO ATTORNEY GENERAI-SIIGHT
BASIS FOR CHARGES.
Ia rELEanArn To rHE rRInrNE.I ]

lBT TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. oct. 24.-The War Department
to-day fulfilled to the letter President Roose-
velts promise TO prosecute to the end any Of
fences committed by soldiers in the Philippines.
The evidence against Captain Cornelius NJ.
BrownelI. 26th Volunteer Infantry, accused OF
the torture of Father Augustine. priest and
Insurgent emissary has been turned over 10
the Attorney General for his action. The In
vestlgation by the legal officers OF the War
Department of the numerous offences alleged
by the aati-imperiallsts in their Lake George
Jetter and lateo documents has apparently
disclosed only one case which tends To substan-
tiate their statements. and this has relation
to the regular army. but to officers and men
long ago discharged from the volunteer service.
The Judge Advocate Generals department has
been busy for the last month carrying out the
order of Secretary Root contained in the follow
ing Endorsement he made on the Lake George
letter when it was referred to him by the Presi-
dent: 90 1000
War Department. Sept. 1S. 1902
Respectfully referred to the Judge Advocate
General of the army. with instructions to call
on Mr.. Charles Francis Adams and his asso-
ciates to furnish him with any evidence in their
possession showing the commission or the
crimes described in this letter by ofhcers or
men Of the United States Army, and II IN any
case the charges made shall appear 10 be well
founded. to take proceedings 10 bring the OF
fender to justice. II in any case the charges
appear to he well founded against person who
mas become separated Grota the service, suCh
case is 10 ne reported to the Secretary Of War
for reference 10 the Department OF Justice
on receipt Of this order General Davis prompt
ly wrote 10 Mr.. Adams requesting that he fur
nish 20 the department any evidence in his
possession showing the commission of crimes
by officers or enlisted men OF the army in the
Philippines. or which would tend TO establish
the existence Of the irregularities or unlawful
practices which are made the subject of ref
erence in vour letter to the President" About
that time Messrs- Adams and Schurz and the
other signers of the original letter to the Presi-
dent apparently sought and employed legal
counsel for all communications after that time
are signed by a firm of Boston attorneys. who
begin their reply to General Davis with the
statement.
Mr. Charles Francis Adams has referred to
us your letter of September 20 and we furnish
YOU herewith with such evidence as is in our
power Of the facts relative 10 the death OF the
Roman Catholic priest referred to in the COM
mittee's letter 10 the President of September D.
The letter incIoses six afT1davits relative to
the case of former enlisted men OF the volun-
teer service, but now not connected with the
army None OF the other crimes previously al
legged to have been committed are supported by
any statement in this letter. Annexed to the
letter and affidavits. however is printed copy
or the puDlcauoh atlachlIlB secretary ROOT ;
Peoria speech then just published by the anti
imperialists and their attorneys containing the
same general allegations as the Lake George
letter. SO far as can now be ascertained, the
evidence submitted 10 the Attorney General.
which may or may not enable him to prosecute.
consists of declarations of men who saw they
witnessed the torture of the friar. 1t was Ger
tain that no evidence was forthcoming which
would permit a trial before a military tribunal
at this late day. and the Attorney General NAV
find. If the evidence warrants criminal
proceedings. that the offence having been com
mitted in the Phlilpplnes' must be tried in those
islands.
Aside from this single instance in which some
efforts substantiation have been made there
remain nearly one hundred charges against
Secretary h7ot. the War Department and the
regular army which the anti-imperialists make
no pretence of establishing and the War De
partment can now only contemptuousIv ignore
them