Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-28
MAJ. RUNC|[ ON Stand
Gives Details of Alleged Plot to
Hurt Gen. Brooke Thru
the Press
a MAGAZINE ARTICLE PRINTED
Was Alleged to Have Been Prepared
With the Express Purpose of Show
ing Wood in Favorable Light as Com
pared With Brooke - Interesting
Testimony.

committee on military affairs yesterday
heard Major James E. Runcie. of Ha-
vana, possibly the most important witt
ness that will be offered by the oppo-
attempt to prevent his confirmation to
be major general. Major Runcie was
on the stand several times during the
day, telling the committee of a dinner
at Santiago de Cuba, attended by him
self. General Wood. and Ray Stannard
Baker, a newspaper man, at which, it
is alleged, was planned the magazine
article attacking Major General
Brooke, that has figured conspieuously
in the Wood case. Major Runcie was
stopped more than once during the
course of his testimony and told tc
give nothing but facts of which he had
personal knowledge. This did not ex-
clude his story of the dinner incident
which resulted in the issue of sub
poenas for three other witnesses,
among whom is General Brooke.
In his testimony Major Runcie ex-
planned that he had acted as the con-
fldential adviser OF General Wood fof
nearly two years and that they lived
together in Santiago. 1t was while
they were living in the same house
that Mr.. Baker went TO Santiago IL
search of material for a magazine ar
ticle. A meeting was arranged between
the men and dinner followed, testt-
fled Major Runcie, at which was dis
cussed the plan to have published all
article which would exploit the success
OF General Wood in dealing with af
fairs at Santiago and draw compari-
son with the situation at Havana UNI
favorable to the administration of Cen
eral Brooke.
Major RuncIe declared that General
Wood asked him to write the article.
and that he had done so. The article |
was given to Baker and published In
February, 1900. over the name of Ma
jor Runcie. He asserted that General
Wood knew what the article contained
and that they had corresponded about
it as the result of the Juror created by
It's publication. He offered to produce
letters which he had written to General
Wood concerning his own defense. II
was not until after General Wood sue
Gee ied General Brooke that the article |
was published. Major Runcie then be-
gan the practice of law at Havana. AMI
according to his testimony, has been
there ever since.
The witness said that when the sec
rotary of war went to Cuba, following
the disclosures to the war department
the suggestion was made either by the
secretary or General Wood that he be
court martialed for writing the article,
and that he had, in effect, invited the
court martial.
The committee informed Major Rum
Gle that he would be called again some
time next week. 1t Is said that he has
knowledge OF General Woods order fol-
the arrest Of Major Rathbone, and. as
the agent of Hanava, for a Maryland
bonding company, can give information
in regard to Major Rathbone's charg,
that General Wood used his influence
With the courts in having his (Rath-
bone's) bond fixed at figure he de-
,lares to have been unreasonable.
Other witnesses called by the COM
nittee to testify yesterday were Ma
Tor ]. Z. Ladd, U. S. A., who audited
General Woods Santiago accounts;
Wallis Chairman, a former employe OF
i New York jewelry house. who made
he sale to the Jai Alai company of the
silver set. which was given to General
Wood; and an employee of the bureau
II insular affairs, who explained the
character of the game and the manner
n which speculation is INDUCED in bNi
he spectors. Baskets. recquets, and
,thcr paraphernalia were used in illus
rating the manner of play.