The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-28
Gives Important Testimony in
 the Wood Case
TALK OF EVENTFUL DINNER
Describes Meeting Arranged to Make Plans for Writing the Magazine Article Deroeatory to Gen.
 Brooke's Regime.

tWashington, November 27.-The committed on military affairs today Major James E. Runcie of Havana, ably the most important witness tha be offered by the opponents of General Leonard Wood. in their attempt to pre- vent his confirmation to be major general. Major General Runcie was on the stand several times during the day, telling the committee of a dinner at Santiago. Cuba, attended by himself. General Wood and Ray Stannard Baker, newspaper man, al which, it is alleged. was planned the magazine article attacking Major General Brooke that has figured conspicuously In 1 tho Wood case.
 Major Runcie was stopped more than once during the course of his testimony and told to give nothing but facts of which he had personal knowledge. This did not exclude his story of the dinner incident which resulted in the issue of subpoenas for three other witnesses, among whom Is General Brooke.
 Was Confidential Adviser.
 In hls testimony Major Runcie explain ed that he had acted the confidential adviser of General Wood for nearly two years, and that they lived together at Santiago. It was while they were living in the same house that Mir. Baker went to Santiago in search of material for a magazine article A meeting was ar- ranged between the men and dinner fol- lowed, testified Major Runcie, at which they discussed the plan to have publish- ed an article which would exploit the success of General Wood in dealing with affairs at Santiago and draw compari- son with the situation at Havana unfa- ta4rN Brooke
 Major Runcie declared that General Wood asked hIm to write the article and that he had done so. The article was given to Baker and published in Feb ruary. l9cO over the name of Majcr Runcie He asserted that General Wood Rnew what tue article contained, I'd tf1t they lad correspondence about iS as fsc result of the furore created by it's pub lication. He offered to produce copies of letters which he had written to Gen. Wood concerning his own defense. It was not until after General Wood suc- ceeded General Brooke that the article was published.
 Relations Severed.
 The effect was a severance of the rela- tlons between the witness and General Wood Major Runcie then began the practice of law at Havana. and, accord ing to his testimony, has been there ever since.
 The witness said that when the secre- tary of war went to Cuba, following ths disclosures to the war department, the suggestion was made either by the sec- retary or General Wood, that he be court martialed for writing the article and that he had in effect invited the courtmartial.
 The committee informed Major Runcie that he would be called again some time next week His connections in Havana make it necessary for him to appear be- fore the committee to testify concerning matters other than the writing of the magazine article.
 l It is said he has knowledge of General | Woods order for the arrest of Major | Rathbone, and as the agent at Havana for a Maryland bonding company. can 1 give Information in regard to Major Rathbones charge that General Wood used his influence with the courts in hav- ing his Rathbone's) bond fixed at a figure he declares to have been unrea- sonabe.