The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-11-24
GENERAL WOOD UNDER FIRE
SENATE. COMMITTEE INVESTI-
GATE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.
Major RathbOne, a Havana Lawyer
and Newspaper Man, Tell What
They know-Military Record OF
Wood is Good.

Washington, November 21.-The
Senate military committee today con-
tinued its investigation Of the charges
made against General Leonard Wood
Major Rathbone, who filed many Of
the charges was the first witness. He
was asked if he had given out state
ments concerning the committees in
quiry and admitted that he had done
SO. He was requested in the future to
consider whatever took place inside
the committee room to be executive
and agreed to refra II from making
public any of the subsequent pro-
ceedings. The committee decided that
all eXtraneous and Irrelevant evidence
should be excluded.
If General Leonard Wood were on
| trial for his life he would not receive
| instruction from the court more IA
Vorable than the rulings which have
| been by the Senate military commit
| tee in the conduct of the present in
VeStigatiOn,' said a member of the
| committee tonight when asked con-
lcerning the methods used in dealing
with the various witnesses examined
| 1t is believed that in the event of q
decision by the committee favorable
| to General Wood, the fight will be
| transferred to the floor of the Senate
| In fact notice of this has been given
to a member OF the committee by ona
of the Senators who joined in the pro"
test against General Woods confirpn
alton to be brigadier general.
| The entire afternoon was occupied
by the committee in examining Ernest
IL. Conan, a Havana lawyer. In con-
oil flr ZOO
of presents from the Jai A1ai by
General and Mrs. Wood, Mr.. Conant
told of a telegram which was sent
from Havana to New York, while tho
granting of a concession to the estab-
lishment was pending. The story OF
J the telegram was told to Mr.. Conant
Iby G.. Lawton Childs, a shareholder
in the Jai Alai. He said that Pedro
Galbis, secretary Of the establishment,
went to New York to purchase a sill
/, lver dinner set for General Wood anu
while notice of the granting of the
; concecsion was printed in the Official
IGazette at Havana, the concession
was granted, d telegram sent GalDls.
land according to Mr.. Conant the pur-
chase made at a cost of 500. After
considerable discussion, the committee
ruled this testimony out of Order.
Galbis is dead, but it is said the tele-
gram can be produced and will. be
4 offered to the Senate.
At the morning session, Herbert J.
: Browne a newspaper man told the
/ | committee that he had obtained the
pl affidavits made by shareholders of the
y Jai Alai Company, which had beer
s filed by Major RathbOne. In the az
n fidavits, the shareholders declared
q their stock had been assessed for th'
purpose of paying the cost of present.
l which were given by the gambling
y establishment, to General and Mrs
e Wood.
el Secretary Root, in response 10 % re
S quest from the military committee
II has sent a report upon the militar.
If record of General Wood. 1t is
Iel strong commendatiOn of that officer
le Secretary Root does not make an.
s reference or reply to the charges ina
have been made against Genera
r Wood as military governor OIL Cuoa.