The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-18

Washington, December H.-When
the Senate committee on military at
fairs today resumed It's investigation
of charges against General Leonard
Wood, four witnesses were waiting to
be heard. These were DR.. c. Z. Fish
err. of Chicago. and j. O. LaFontiZe.
city editor of the Jacksonville, Fla.
Ti~mes-Union, managing editor ana
city editor respectively of the Havana
Post. published during American oc-
cupation; l.. H. Morrison. OF New
York. and General John r. Brooke. re-
tired.
MI. Fisher told the story of General
Woods intimacy with Bellairs and at
tempted to show that General Wood
knew of Bellair's bad record. DR..
Fisher said that in September 1900 he
accompanied General Wood on a trip
to the Isle Of Pines. and there told
him of an article which he had or
dered printed in the Havana Post, eX-
posing Bellairs. The witness said tina
General Wood told him he did not
want the story printed, and that it had
not been used on account of that re-
quest. DR.. Fisher said he took charge
Of the Havana paper at the request OF
General Wood and that he also had
acted as the correspondent of h As
soclated Press for a short period. DR..
| Fisher testified that he told General
| Wood all he had learned of the char
| acter Of Bellairs and that he had Of
| fered to General Wood to produce wit
| neSSeS who could prove Bellalrs indie
| cent immortality. He said that General
Wood told him he did not care to know
anything about the stories; that all se
asked was that they mo- be printed in
Hvana.
Mr.. LaFontlze co~rroberated the tHs-
| timony given by DR.. Fisher. He sad
that before General Wood and DR..
| Fisher started on their trip to the Isle
Of Pines, the latter instructed MN
| GaFontize) to write the article con-
/ corning Bellalrs. Mr.. LaFontize said
he took the question under consldera-
ton and decided that as the matter
would b. highly sensational and in
| case Of libel suit it would be necessary
to summon witnesses from the United
| States to prove the charges, he would
not PRINT the article. He said that
when DR.. Fisher returned he was
greatly agitated and asked: You did
not print tha article, l hOpe?" When
DR.. Fisher learned that the article was
not printed he was greatly relieved and
said General Wood did not want it
used.
In addition to his confederation Of
DR.. Fishers testimony. Mr.. LaFont'Ze
told of the name in which he had
learned Of Bellairs character and
swore also that General Wood knew
all about it. He SAID he learned from
persons who went to Havan from
Florida that Bellairs had served five
years in Florida convict camps-thre'
years IN one and two years in another.
The crime of which h had been con-
victed was forgery on a branch Of the
Bank OF England.
Mr.. LaFontize said that in May 1900.
a convict from Florida named Johnson.
came to him and Said he had seen
Bellairs and Genera Wood together at
the races in Havana and that he reccg-
nlzed and spoke to BellairS. who mo-
toned to him to keep silent. Accord
ing to JohnsOn's story. as told by Mr..
LaFontize. Bellairs excused himself
and met Johnson, asking him to re-
main quiet concerning his criminal
record. After this incident, testified
Mr. LaFont1ze. General Wood sent for
him and asked what he knew OF Bel
| lairs' record. MI. LaFontize said he
told General Wood of his talk with
Johnson and also what ne had learned
from other persons from Florida. That
was in June 1860. and according to
Mr.. LaFOntize. General Wood then
asked him 10 see Johnson and ascer-
tain whether he would leave Cuba
and remain away If his passage were
paid TO New York. and money given
him. Johnson answered: Why do I
want TO leave? / have too good a
thing here bleeding Bellalrs." Mr..
LaF'ontize returned to General Wood
and give him Johnson's answer.
Mr.. LaFontize said that later Bal
lars and General Woo dwtnt to New
York.
When General Brooke was, before the