New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-09
GEN. WILSON A WITNESS.
WOOD INVESTIGATION.
BelLairs's Work an HaUana Promo
ton Criticised.

Washington Dec. S.-When the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs met to-day to con-
tinue its investigation of charges against Cen
era Wood. NJ. c. Fosnes, a postofice inspector,
was called to the stand. He identified copy
Of a letter which he had written to Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General Bristow under date
of October s, 1901, recounting the incidents con-
nected with visit he had received from Judge
Ortiz president of the court which tried the
Cuban postal cases The visit was for the pur-
pose of obtaining translations of the Bristow
report on the Cuban postal frauds for use in the
trials. In this letter Mr. Fosnes said it was the
opinion of Judge Ortiz that the TRANSACTIONS
should be made in the United States. Mr.. Fos-
was asked whether he had learned that the
request made by Judge Ortiz was at the sug-
gestion of General Wood, and answered that
such his understanding. 1t was shown
that the translations made at cost of
$780, which paid out of the Cuban insular
funds The Spanish version of the report was
filed as documentary evidence and used by the
Cuban judges in the trials The witness was
asked if he considered the report ex-parte evil
dence He replied that it was the official re-
port. He was asked to state his office in Cuba,
and replied that he succeeded Major Rathbone
as Director General of Posts.
Major Edgar s. Dudley, Z. S. A, the
Cuba as judge advocate under the administra-
ton of General Wood as Governor General
When General Wood received the application of
the Jai Alai Company for a concession to erect
'fronton," or amphtheatre, for playing the
Cuban game of pelota, the application had been
referred TO him for investigation. After making
a thorough inquiry into the character of the
game the witness said he had informed General
Wood that he should refuse to indorse the APP
plication the grounds that it was gambling
institution, and therefore should not be permit
ted in the American occupation. He said the
application had been changed to represent the
mere building of amusement amphitheatre,
and in that form it had received the approval Of
the War Department. The ten-year concession
to the Jai Alai Company was afterWard granted
by General Wood.
General James H. Wilson, L. S. A, retired,
followed Major Dudley, and on the stand
more than an hour He told the committee OF
meeting Captain E. C. Bellairs at Havana say
ing that he became convinced that BeIalrs came
to Havana with the purpose of wilfully falslty-
ing conditions in the island that Bellairs called
on him at his headquarters in the province OF
Matanzas. and that he then accused Bellalrs oil
writing dispatches which gave wrong color 10
affairs in the island and injured the work OF
General Brooke and others. The witness SAID
that Bellairs sighed and admitted that ne was
standing by his friends declaring that his posi-
ton was a necessary one. General wilson salu
the remark could have only one meaning, and
that was that he was backing General Wood.
and that this evident from the nature OF
Rellairs's dispatches. The witness asserted II
TO he his belief that Bellairs went to Havana
for the purpose of promoting the advancement
of General Wood.
when asked concerning the rapid strides made
bv General Wood in jumping over himself tGen-
eral WILSON, and Generals Ludlow and Lee the
witness showed a feeling of bitterness asalhsC
General Wood. The effect of the response was
that he considered the promotion was brought
about by preferment rather than warranted by
merit,