The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-28
Tells of the Dinner at Which 1t Is Al
legged an Attack on General
Brooke Was Planned.
HIS TESTIMONY DAMAGING
DUPLICATES WOOD IN SENsA-
TIONAL MAGAZINE ARTICLE.
Runcie Formerly Was the Generals
Confidential Adviser, but Broke
on Relations with Him.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27.-The Senate
committee on military affairs to-day heard
Maj. James e. Runcie, of Havana. probably
the most important witness that will be
offered by the opponents of Gen. Leonard
Wood in their attempt to prevent his con-
firma ton to be ma jor general. Major Run
Gle was on the stand several times during
the day, telling the committee of dinner
at Santiago. Cuba, attended by himself.
General Wood and Ray Stannard Baker,
newspaper man. at which. it is alleged. was
planned the magazine article attacking
Major General Brooke that has figured con-
spicuously in the Wood case. Major Run
Gle was stopped more than once during the
course of his testimony and told to give
nothing but facts of which he had personal
knowledge. This did not exclude his story
of the dinner incident. which resulted in the
issue of subpoenas for three other witnesses,
among whom is General Brooke.
In his testimony Major Runcie explained
that he had acted as the confidential ad-
wiser of General Wood for nearly two years
and that they lived together at Santiago.
1t was while they were living in the same
house that Mr.. Baker went to Santiago in
search of material tor magazine article.
meeting was arranged between the men
and dinner followed, testified Major Run
Gle, at which they discussed the plan to
have published an article which would ex-
plot the success of General Wood in deal
ing with affairs at Santiago and draw a
comparison with the situation at Havana
unfavorable to the administration of Gen.
Brooke.
Major Runcie declared that General Wood
hn orft q nd
he had done The article was given to
Baker in February, 1900, over the name
of Major Runcie. He asserted that General
Wood knew what the article contained
and that they had correspondence about 1t
as the result of the furore created by it's
publication. He offered to produce copies
of letters which he had written to General
Wood concerning his own defense. 1t was
not until after General Wood succeeded
General Brooke that the article was pub
lished. The effect was a severance of the
relations between the witness and General
Wood. Major Runcie then began the prac-
tice Of law at Havana, and, according to
MS MS testimony. has been there ever since
of war went to Cuba following the dis
closures to the War Department the sug-
gestion was made, either by the secretary
or General Wood, that he be cOurt-mar-
tailed for writing the article and that he
had, in effect, invited the court-martial.
The committee informed Major Runcie
that he would be called again some time
next week. He left Washington tonight
for Cleveland, o. He is expected to return
within three days and hold himself subject
to the call of the committee. His connec-
tons in Havana make 1t necessary for him
to appear before the committee to testify
concerning matters other than the writing
of the magazine article 1t is said he has
knowledge of General Woods order for the
arrest of Major Rathbone, and as the agent
at Havana for a Maryland bonding COM
pany can give information in regard to
Major Rathbone's charge that General
| Wood used his influence with the courts
| in having his (Rathbone's) bond fixed at a
| figure he declares, to have been unreal
sonable.