The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-08
MORE WOOD CHARGES
Alleged He Changed Cuban Laws TO
For Postal Trials.
ALSO REMOVED THREE JUDGES

ALSO REMOVED THREE JUDGES
Major Rnth5one's Attorney Declares
General Woods Orders to Judge
Made Him the Court Of Last Appeal
Unto Himself.
Washington. Dec 4-When the sen
ate committee on military AFFAIRS IN
the investigation OF the case of Major
General Wood. resumed its hearing
Ray $. Baker. the magazine wrlter'
who procured the publication OF the
Runcic article in the North American
Review. was called to the stand.
Baker denied that portion Of Major
Runcie's testimony which related TO
an alleged dinner in Cuba, at which
Wood. Runcie and Baker were present
and AT which Runcie stated General
Wood arranged for the preparation OF
the article. lie said the article had
becn given him by Runcie. but that
SO far as he knew General Wood hai
no knowledge Of il previous To its pl'-
LEGATION. lie said he had taken dinner
with General Wood and Major kuncie
sovcral times at Santiago. but that the
publication of an article attacking
General Brooke had never been the
subject of conversation.
Mr.. Baker was questioned closely
Of tho nmfnIf Zoe
and bv Senators Hanna and Teller.
who were present They quoted MAJOR
Runcie's letter 10 Baker suggesting
that The time was opportune for the
nuhlicatlon of the Runcie article III
General Woods interest. and asked
hin If the letter did not show that
there had been conferences ON the suh-
icct and perfect understanding. MT.
Baker admitted that appearances
would lead to that inference, but In
sisted that there had not been any un-
dcrstanding.
Mr.. Baker admitted that he. Wood
and Ruucic had discussed General
Brooke's administration of Cuban ar
fairs. but said the discussion had been
impcrsoual. and that Bro0ke's name
had NOT been mentioned. lie also said
that General Wood had introduced him
10 Runcie when he first went 10 Cuba
The nest witness heard was DIT.
Pablo Doslorncnic. who was secretary
of finance under the administration oi
General Brooke as Governor General
and later attorney for slajor Rata-
bone. ~Dr Drsvcrnenie's testimony re-
lated entirely to tao 'ructions given
to the court hy Gen al Wood. He
charged that General Wood had
changed laws OF Cuha IN order 10 al
NIT ex-parte evidence In the postal
cases.
According 10 the testimony Of DR.
Dcsycrnrnlc. the orders made by Cen
eral Wood were i.su,d 10 The judge OF
instruction. whom wood could remove
M pleasure The witness declared
that the order wae in violation of penal
statutes end the rights OF parties inter
estad in Tie postal cases As an Illus
tration OF tine powers OF General Wood
under the military government. the
witness said that General Wood in ono
case removed q Judge of first instance
In one of the hieh courts and also
three OF the associate judges Of ono
section of the court As cause ~
removal 1t was said the Judges had
not complied with the law as modified
by General Wood.
DR.. Desvernenie declared that m
der the law In force at the time Gen
cral Wood became governor general
ex-parte evidence was not admissible
in TRIMS. but declared that General
Wood had made the amendments
which abrogated statutes and enacted
new law. and said this opened the
door 10 ex.parte evidence.
Another charge made by Or. Des-
verncnie was that some OF the judges
who tried the postal cases were not
named by General Brooke in the order
creating the courts. but that they
owed their appointments TO General
wood. that Rathbone's counsel never
understood that eX-parte evidence was
to be admitted IN the trials and that
General Woods construction. even OF
his amended law. was in contrayention
OF existing statutes. The witness de
clarod that General Woods orders TO
the Judge of first instance had the Of
feet OF controlling judicial powers AMI
made General wood the court OF last
appeal unto himself The witness also
asserted that The bond eXacted in the
Rathhone case was excessive and I'M
warranted by law.
The committee adjourned to meet
again Monday.