The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-04

ing 1t was important to have man rep
resent ng the Assoc. ated Press at Havana
who was in the confidence of the military
governor. Mr.. Stone said the matter was
then under the charge of Colonel Diehl.
Bellairs was retained, but his previous re
cord vas not known to tie officers of the
Associated Press. When 1t became known
Belairs was discharged. Mr.. Stone was
asked as to what Knowledge Genera. Wood
had of Blairs- record, but upon this
/, ONT he could give the committee little
information 1t was decided that Colonel
Diehl slolll be subpoenaed.
Ray Stannard Baker, the man whom
Major Runcie said was at the dinner with
Genelal Wood and himself, when the pro.
posed magaz re article criticising General
Brooke was discussed, was the next wit.
ness called.
Mr.. Baker confirmed some portions of
the testimony of Major Runc.e and con
Grad cted o. qualified other portions of
it. He denied that there had been any
consultation between himse and General
" God rtl~t We to the publication of Major
Runcies AIT Gle rejecting upon the admin
istration of General Brooke He said,
Wood regarding an article which was SUB
sequently published over his own gna-
ture When asked whether he had con-
Nersed with the Pres dent relative to the
Wood case, he replied in the negative,
and al o made prac ically the same reply
to a question as to whether he had con-
ferrcd with War Department officials.
Concerning tie article which was pub
fshed over the signature of Major Rua-
Gle, Mr.. Baker said that 1t had been given
him by Runc.e, but that so far as he
knew, General Wood had had no knowl-
edge OF IL previous to its publicat on. He
said he had taken dinner with General
Wood and Major Runcie several times at
Santiago. but that the publication of an
article attack ng General Brooke had
lever been the subject of conversation.
Mr. Baker, had an engagement with
p esldent Rooseve t for luncheon at the
White House and on that account asked
the members o: the committee to hasten
the examination as much as possible.
Mr.. Baker was questioned closely by
Senator Scott. of the committee, and by
Senators Hanna and Teller, who were
present. They quoted Major Runcie's
letter TO Baker: suggesting that the time
was opportune for the publication of the
Runcie article in General Woods inter
est and asked him if the letter did not
show that there had been conferences or
the subject and a perfect understanding
Mr.. B ker admitted that appearances
would lead to that Inference. but in.
sisted there had not been any under
andirg.
Mr.. Baker admitted that he. Wood and
Runcie had discussed General Brooke's
administr; ton of Cuban affairs. but said
the discussion had been impersonal and
that Brookes name had not been men
toned.
At the afternoon session of the commit.
tee the only witness heard was Dr. Fable
Desvernenie, who was secretary OF
finance under the administration of Cen
cral Brooke as governor general nd late
attorney for Major Ratnbone. DR.. Des-
vernenie's testimony related entirely TO
the instructions given to the court ~
General Wood. He charged that General
Wood had changed laws OF Cuba IN or8er
TO admit ex-parte evidence in the posta'
cases
According to the testimony OF DR.. les
velIenie, the orders made by General
Wood were issued to the judge of in
structions, w1un Wood could remove
at pleasure. The witness dec AIRED tina
h, der was in olat.on of pena, slatut. s
and the rights Of parties interested IN thc
ostal cases.
Mr.. Desvernenie declared that under thu
aw in force at the time General Wood
became governor general, ex-parte evi.
dnce was nor admissible in trials but de-
clared that General Wood had enacted a
new law. and said this opened the door
to ex-parte evidence.
Another charge made by DR.. Desver-
nenie was that some of the judges who
tired the postal G. ses were not named
by General Brooke in the order creating
the courts. but that thew owed their az
continents to General Wood The witness
dec AIRED that General Woods orders CO
he judge of First Instance had the eff,
fect Of coptrollirt Judicial rowers end
made General Wood the court of last APP
~eal unto himself.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day.