The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-16
Gen. Woods Bad Record Damaging.
Testimony Before the Senate Com
mittee Throwing Much Light
on Military Rule in Cuba.

Washington, Dec. 8.-When the
Senate committee on military affairs
convened today to continue its iIves-
tigation Of charges against Gen. Wood,
M. C. Fosnes, a posto6ice inspector,
told of visit he had received from
Judge Ortiz, president OF the Audien-
t>cia, which Court tried the Cuban pos
tai cases
The visit was for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning translations of the Bristow re-
port on the Cuban postal frauds fol
use in the trials.
Mr. Fosnes was asked whether he
had learned that the request made
by Judge Ortiz was at the suggestion
Of Gea. Wood and answered that such
was his understanding.
It was shown that the translations
were made sc a cost Of $3.50, and that
the cost was paid out of the Cuban in
sular lands. The Spanish version OF
the report was fled as documentary
evidence, and used BY the Cuban
judges in thertrials.
Maior Edgar S. Dudley, 3. s. a.,
retired. was the second witness. lie
said that he had served in Cuba as
Judge Advocate under the administra-
tion OF Gen. Wood as Governor Gener-
al. He said that when Gen. Wood re:
ceived the application Of the Jai Aial
Company for concession to erect
sfronson, - or amphitheatre, for the
playing of the Cuban game OF peiosa,
the application had beer referred &c
him for Investigation. After making
thorough inquiry into the cbaracte,
of the games the witness said ne mao
Informed Gen. Wood that he should re-
fuse to endorse the application, on sne
ground that the game was gamehng
Institution. and, therefore. should moi
he permitted during American occupa.
tion. He said that the application nae
been changed to represent the mere
building Of an amusement ampn1tnea'
tire. and that in that form 1t had re-
ceiyed the approval of the war depart
men The ten-year concession to tne
Jai Alai Company was subsequently
| granted by Cen Wood.
Gen. James 81. Wilson, U. IS. a.,
told the committee of his meeting
with Capt. E. 6. Bellairs at Havana.
saving that he had become convinced
that Bellairs came to Havana with ths
purpose of wilfully falsifying condi
Sions in the island; that Bellalrs CAL
ed on him at his headquarters IN tne
province of Matanzas, and that ne
fWilson) then accused Bellalfs o.
writing dispatches which gave wronf
color to affairs in the island ana III
iured the work Of Gen. Brooke ane
J ,thers. The witness said that Bellalr'
sighed and admitted that he was
standing by his friends, declaring
that his position was.sa necessary one
Cen. Wilson said the remark coult
have but one meaning. and that Wa
that he was backing Gen. Wood, tha
this was evident from tie nature o
Reliairs's dispatches. The witness as
serted it to be his belief that Bellair
went to Havana for the purpose o
| promoting the advancement of Gen
!: Wood.
When asked concerning the rapit
| strides made by Gen. Wood in Jump
ing over himself 4Gen. Wilsonl ant
Gems. Ludlow and Lee, the witness
showed a feeling of bitterness agains
Gen. Wood. The effect of the respons
| was thst he considered the promotion
| was one brought about by prefermen
.rather tnan warranted by merit.