The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-15
WOOD WAS THICK
~,,,rH BELLAIRS, THE Ex-CONVICT
CORRESPONDENT.
so THE EVIDENCE INDICATED
,rroRE THE SENATE'S MILITARY
COMMITTEE.

bleeding beIla1rs'
washington, Dec. 14.-When the Sen
ste Committee on Military Affairs to-
dav resumed it's investigation of
charges against Leonard Wood, four
witnesses were waiting to be heard.
rrbase were Dr. c. E. Fisher of Chi
caeo and ]. o. Lafontisee, city editor
,f the Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union,
managing editor and city editor, re-
spectively, of the Havana Post pub
tisbed during American occupation; L.
NJ Morrison of New York and Gen.
John r. Brooke, retired.
DR.. Fisher told the story of Gen.
Woods intimacy with Bellairs, and at
tempted to show that Gen. Wood knew
Of Bellairs' bad record. DR.. Fisher
said that in September, 1900, he ac-
companied Gen. Wood on trip to the
isle of Pines, and there told him of
on article which he had ordered print
ed in the Havana Post, exposing Bel
LARS The witness said Gen. Wood
told him he did not want this story
printed. and that it had not been used
on account of that request.
DR.. Fisher said he took charge of the
Havana paper at the request of Gen.
Wood, and that he also acted as the
correspondent for the Associated Press
for a short period. DR.. Fisher testi-
ned that he told Gen. Wood all he
had learned of the character of Bel
lairs. and that he had offered to Gen.
Wood to produce witnesses who would
prove Bellairs' indecent immortality.
He said that Gen. Wood told him he
did not care to know anything about
the stories; that all he asked was that
they be not printed in Havana.
Editor Brenthed More Freely.
Mr., Lafontisee corroborated the tes-
fimony given by DR.. Fisher. He said
that before Gen. Wood and DR.. Fish
er started on their trip to the Isle of
Pines the latter instructed him Ga
fontisee) to write the article concern
ing Bellairs. Mr.. Lafontisee said ne
took the question under consideration
and decided that as the matter would
be highly sensational and in case of
libel suit it would be necessary to sum-
mon witnesses from the United states
to prove the charges, he would not
print the article.
He said that when DR.. Fisher return
ed he was greatly agitated and asked,
you did not print that article, hope"
When DR.. Fisher learned that the ar
tcle was not printed he was greatly
relieved and said Gen. Wood did not
want it used.
In addition to his confederation of
DR.. Fishers testimony, Mr.. Lafon-
tisee told of the manner in which he
had learned of Bellairs' character, and
swore also that Gen. Wood knew all
persons, who went to Havana from
Florida, that Bellairs had served five
years in Florida convict camps-three
years in one and two in another. The
crime of which he had been convicted
was forgery on a branch of the Bank
of England.
Mr.. Lafontisee said that in May
1900, a convict from Florida, named
Johnson, came TO him and said that
he had seen Bellairs and Gen. Wood
together at the races at Havana, and
that he recognized and spoke to Bel
lairs, who motioned him to keep silent.
According to Johnsons story, as told
by Mr.. Lafontisee, Bellairs excused
himself, and met Johnson, asking him
to remain quiet concerning his criminal
record.
Told Him About BeIIairs.
After this incident, testified Mr.. La
asked what he knew of Bellairs' rec
ord. Mr.. Lafontisee said he told
Gen. Wood of his talk with Johnson
and also what he had learned from
other persons from Florida. That was
IN June, 1900, and, according to Mr. La
fontisee, Gen. Wood then asked him
to see Johnson and ascertain whether
he would leave Cuba and remain away
passage were paid to New York and
money given him. Johnson answered,
Why do 1 want to leave? l have too
good a thing here bleeding Bellairs."
Mr. LafOntiSee returned to Gen.
Wood and gave him Johnson's an
swer. Mr.. Lafontisee said that later
Bellairs and Gen. Wood went to New
York.
When Gen. Brooke was before the
committee two weeks ago he referred
10 two orders, one issued by the War
Department and the other by himself,
10 carry the first into effect, which he
was unable at that time to furnish. He
went on the stand to-day to present
the order and undergo an examination
concerning them. The order issued
by the War Department directed that
all funds collected in the provinces of
Cuba should be sent to the military
auditor at Havana.
How Wood spent Money.
The charge was made that the order
had been issued by direction of Gen.
Brooke for the purpose of getting hold
Of the funds collected at Santiago, and
TO deprive that province of its own
revenues. The newspapers at San
tago were particularly bitter. Gen.
Brooke told the Military Affairs Com
mttee to-day that the order was issued
at time when he was sick in bed, and
That he had had no previous knowledge
concerning it.
The other order filed with the COM
mittee to-day was one the witness Is
sued after his recovery. II directed
Gen. Wood IN command of the prov
lnce OF Santiago not to make expendi-
lures for public purposes IN excess OF
$4,000 a month without first submit
ing the question to the military gov
tIhOr. Gen. Brooke said to-day that
Zen. Wood ignored that order and had
gone on spending public money with
out authority from the military gov
Gen. Brooke was asked whether nc
hao Withdrawn the revenues from San
Dago for expenses elsewhere. He an
Dffed that BaBnagO had received al
~ own revenues and more than $780,
20 adeitiOnal.
says wood Took $4,000.