New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-28
RUNCIE ACCUSES WOOD.
THE. ATTACK ON BROOKE.
.Szceors Wood asked Him to Write
the ArticIe-Brooke Summoned.

Washington, Nov. Zl.-Ihe senate COIilHllItce
on Military Affairs to-day heard Major James
E. Runcie. of Havana. probably the most i'm
portant witness that will be offered by the op-
ponents of General Leonard Wood in their at
tempt to prevent his confirmation to be major
general Major Runcie the stand sew
eraI times, telling the committee Of a dinner at
Santiago. Cuba, attended by himself. General
Wood and Ray Stannard Baker, a newspaper
man, at which, it is alleged. the magazine article
attacking Major General Brooke. which has fig
ured conspicuousIy in the Wood case, was
planned. Major Runcie was stopped more than
once in his testimony and told to give nothing
but facts of which he had personal knowledge
This did not exclude his story Of the dinner Incl
dent which resulted in the issue Of subpcenas
for three other witnesses, among whom is Gen
eral Brooke.
PLANNED AT A DINNER
Major Runcie explained that he had acted
the confidential adviser of General Wood for
nearly two years. and that they lived together
at Santiago 1t while they were living in
the same house that Mr. Baker went to San
tiago in search of material for a magazine
article. meeting was arranged between the
three men. and dinner followed. Major Runcie
testified, at which the plan to have published
article which would exploit the success Of
General Wood in dealing with affairs at San
at Havana unfavorable to the administration
of General Brooke was formed.
Major Runcie declared that General Wood
asked him to write the article. and that he
did So The article was given TO Baker and pub
lished in February. 1900. over the name Of
Major Runcie. He asserted that General Wood
knew what the article contained. and that
they had correspondence about it as the result
of the sensation created by its publication He
Ia
had written to General Wood concerning his
own defence. It was not until after General
Wood succeeded General Brooke that the article
was published. The effect was a severance Of
the relations between the witness and General
Wood. Major Runcie then began the practice
of law at Havana. and. according to his testi-
mony. has been there ever since
RUNCIE INVITED COURT MARTIAL.
The witness said that when the Secretary Of
War went to Cuba. following the disclosures to
the War Department, the suggestion was made.
either by the Secretary General Wood that
he be court nartialled for writing the article.
and that he had, in effect, invited the court mar
tial.
+ The committee informed Major Runcie that
he would be called again some time next week
He left Washington tonight for Cleveland.
He is expected to return within three days and
hold himself subject to the call OF the commit
/ tee His connections in Havana make it neces-
/ sary for him to appear before the committee to
testify concerning matters other than the writ
/ ing of the magazine article. 1t is said ne has
/ knowledge Of General Woods order for the ar
rest of Major Rathbone and. as the agent at
/ Havana for a Maryland bonding company. can
/ give information in regard TO Majors Rathbone' 5
charge that General Wood used his influence
| with the courts in Havana to have Rathbone's
/ bond fixed at a figure he declares to have been
| unreasonable.
BROOKE TO BE HEARD ON MONDAY.
/ A subpoena was issued to-day for Major Cen
eral Brooke, former Governor General Of Cuba.
/ who was succeeded by General Wood. The
summons issued following the testimony
/ given by Major Runcie. General Brooke is ex-
! pected to appear Monday.
Other witnesses called by the committee to
/ testify to-day were Major E Ladd. q. 5. a.
/ who audited General Woods Santiago accounts.
/ Wallis Chairman. a former employe Of a New
| York jewelry house who made the sale to the
/ Jai Alai Company OF the silver set which was
/ given to General Wood. and an employee OF the
| Bureau Of Insular Affairs. who explained the
character of the jai alai game and the manner
/ Of the speculation Baskets, racquets and other
! paraphernalia were used in illustrating the
manner OF play. Mr.. Chairman was twice on the
stand. The first time he told the committee that
after the purchase of the silver set he took il to
Havana and delivered it TO Zarasqueda and
/ received the purchase price S5.1o9. He was not
asked whether duty paid the set. The
second time he was asked concerning the charge
that after negotiations were made between the
purchaser and the jewelry company a telegram
was received by the purchaser telling him not
to close the deal until notice of the granting OF
the concession TO the Jai Alai Company had
been published in The Official Gazette at Ha-
vana Mr.. Chairman said he had never heard OF
such telegram.
IL brought out through the testimony OF
another witness and by inspection of the articles
OF the Jai Alai Company that Zarasqueda was a
| member of the board of directors.
The committee adjourned until II O'Clock to-
morrow, when it is expected that Horacio
| Rubens will testify. II not he will be heard on
Monday Rubens was connected with the Cuban
Junta in this country before the Spanish war.
and a part of the time in the military occupa-
ton he employed by the War Department
l in Cuba.
From the character OF the witnesses called 10
I appears that the committees fnvestiga ton is to
be complete in every particular. and that none
of the charges are to be overlooked as unworthy
Of consideration.
TELEGRAPHIc NOTES.