The sun., 1903-12-15
He KNEW BELLAIRS'S RECORD.
WOOD SAVED HIN FROM EN-
POSTURE IN HAVANA "POST."
He Was Told That Bellairs Had Been =
Convict in Florida and That He Had
Committed Unspeakable Crimes in

were before the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs to-day in the matter OF
the charges against Gen. Leonard Wood.
They were DR.. G.. L. Fisher of Chicago,
l.. o. La Fontsse Of Jacksonville. Fla,
Ma Gen. John r. Brooke, retired, and
l.. j. Morrison of New York. The test-
mony of Messrs Fisher and La Fontisse
dealt with Gen. Woods intercourse with
the former convict Bellairs and was of a
sensational nature Gen. Brooke was re-
! called merely to submit records bearing
upon his previous testimony. Mr.. Nor
rison's testimony related to claim OF
$s,722 against the military government
which has never been paid.
In 1900 Fisher was managing editor and
La Fontisse city editor Of the Havana Post.
Bellairs was then correspondent of the
Associated Press at Havana and a valiant
champion of Gen. Wood. They were
intimate friends and had been since Belairs
| at Santiago proposed toast to -The next
| Governor of Cuba"
One Of the charges brought by Major
| Estes G.. Rathbone against Gen. Wood is
that Wood knew the criminal record of
| Bellairs, and that in spite Of this knowledge
he publicly consorted with him and used
| his influence to prevent Bellairs from be-
| ing discharged by the Associated Press.
! Bellairs In the meantime employing his
energies to advertise Gen. Wood through
the Associated Press
La Fontisse testified to-day that in May,
1909, he ran across one Johnston at Havana,
| whom he had known In Florida. Johnston
had served time in Florida for homicide,
but had been pardoned. Early in 1900 John
ston had attended race at Havana. and
glanclng up into the grandstand be saw
Bellairs sitting beside his friend Gen
Wood. Johnston recognized Bellars as
the convict Cheriton. who had served in
the same prison camp with him in Alachua
county. Fla. well. III be damned,
if there amt my old friend Cherton," ex-
claimed Johnston. Bellairs overheard the
Johnston. They met under the grand stand,
and after that time 30 long as Johnston
was in Havana he drew $40 or sl2 week
from his old friend Cheriton.
Johnston told this to La Fontisse in May,
1900, and La Fontisse began an investi-
cation on his own account into Bellairs's
record. II was intended to expose Bel
lairs in the Pos' Rumors of incredible
depravity on Bellairss part. involving
the commission of unspeakable crimes,
were in circulation at Havana, and La
Fontisse found three Cuban boys who told
how Bellairs had wronged them.
During the next month, according to
La Fontisse's testimony, Gen. Wood drew
and questioned him concerning the ruInors
] of -Bellairs's former prison record and his
| depravity In Cuba. La Fontisse told Gen.
| Wood all he knew. and mentioned john
nized Bellairs. Gen. Wood thereupon ad-
vised La Fontisse to see Johnston and offer
him, In Gen. Wood 9 behalf, free transporta-
ton to his former home in Florida by way
80 I'll, IL, h.tf
| Johnston refused to leave Cuba.
| Johnston told La Fontisse that Bellairs
had been discovered while in prison camp
| in the commission OF an infamous crime
was also conveyed to Gen. Wood. Gen.
Wood, however, paid no attention to the
revelations. and went to New York in July,
1900, with Bellars. where they saw Assist
ant General Manager Diehl OF the Asso-
ciated Press. Gen. Wood interceded for
BellGirs, according to the testimony Of
fered the other day by Col. Diehi, and
Bellairs was sent TO China to act for tho
association.
Dr. Fisher testified concerning his
knowledge in 1900 OF Bellairss criminal
record and related how he and Gen. Wood
had discussed Bellairs's record and crimi
nal practices at that time. Fisher was
anxious to print an article exposing Bel
lars, but was dssuaded from doing 30
| by Gen. Wood. Fisher told Of trip he
made with Gen. Wood in the despatch boat
Viking from Cuba to the Isle Of Pines on
| Sept. 8, 1909.
| Gen. Wood of evidence that bad been dis
| covered showing conclusively that Bel
! Iairs had served five years of a seven year
sentence III Florida and that later he had
| been charged with the commission Of in
! famous crimes both at Santi6gc and at Ha
| vana. Fisher gave Gen. v ood the names of
! three boys who were ready to testify against
Beairs. Fisher lad given o.ce's TO lis
assistant. La lonlis-e, TO gather the Ina-
| terIal for an article exposing bclla,rs and 10
| print it in the Post
| Upon Fishers return to Havana from
the trip with Gen. Wood, he hurried to the
| Office OF the Post and asked La J'ontisse:
You haven't printed that story about Bel
that tinii t he had not. We'll, for God SAKE, sake
don't do it," said Fisher .Gep. Wood
would not have that published for the
world" Accordingly there was nothing
! published in Havana regarding BellaiiS's
| record, though the facts were generally
known ard ia ked about.
l.. j. Morrison, who Is a lawyer at A
Broadway, New York, test fled that he repre-
material to the military government. and
! that balance of SS,722 IVES due. He was
| advised TO send receipt for the amount
! with vouchers to Gen. Wood, and that the
| sum would be forwarded. The receipts
We're sent, but no money. came Soon after
I ward Gen. Wood turned affairs over to the
/ Cubln Government and left the island.
! II was said that Il fund OF 800 900 had been
: reserved to pay outstanding claims, but Mr..
4 Morrison told the committee that he had
never been able to get his money, though
! he had written many times TO Gen. Wood
: and had instituted inquiries 10 discover
! what had become OF the sl00000, Appar-
! emily no account was eyer KEEP: OF that
T fund. Cuban official, had informed Mr..
/ Morrison that moi Cniy was no fund in sight
I with which TO pay for contracts outstand
! ing when Gen. Wood left Cuba, but that
! "lor very sh.lue" the Cuban Government
: had paid out $50 COO TO claimants who pre-
seu'ed bona iiGe bills
Mr.. Morrison charged Gen, Wood with
/ gross egiigence in the conduct Of bust
| ness and added that he had applied TO
! the War Department without avail to dis
cover remedy for his clients.
Senator Hanna, who is a constant al
tendant at the Wood hearings, requested
the committee to-day to summon Gen.
Wood from The Philippines TO answer the
serious charges that have been so strongly
s,bstant ated before the committee. The
committee took the request under con-
sidpration. 1t s understood that Major
james T. Runcie will he recalled to testify
further regarding his charge that Gen.
Wood inspired the article in the North
American Rc,iep attacking Gen. Brooke.
Secretary Root made public to-day
L. L. Co., ,tENV- 0v.x,. .t..r