Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1901 — SM CASE HEIR WE [ARTICLE]

SM CASE HEIR WE

Admiral Will Take the Stand Late in the Week. WILL TELL STORY THURSDAY. Captain Clarke of the Oregon Will be a star Witness —Importance of Chief Machinist Hunley's Testimony—Belief in Vindication of Schley.

Washington telegram: Admiral Schley will conclude his defense during the present week. He expects to take the stand hlmsslf not later than Thursday. His fiag lieutenant, B. W. Wells, Jr., will reume his testimony tomorrow morning. Inasmuch as Lieutenant Wells’ story covers the entire scope of the operation of the flying squadron, he will, doubtless be on the stand all day. Captain Clarke of the Oregon will follow Lieutenant Wells. His story of the battle of Santiago is expected to be one of the star recitals of the inquiry. It will be full and complete, covering every incident of that great engagement from the time the first gun was flred until the Oregon and Brooklyn forced the Cristobol Colon to run for the beach. The navy department had hoped to secure Captain Clarke as their witness, believing that he was willing to add to the slanders which the department invoked against the admiral. They found, however, that Captain Clarke’s story was wholly in favor of Admiral Schley and refused to put him on the stand.

Captain Cook’s appearance on the stand, although called by the department, was the real beginning of Admiral Schley’s defense. Every fairminded man who heard the captain testify said that the last vestige pf doubt as to Admiral Schley’s conduct during the war had been removed. Other witnesses from the Brooklyn and Oregon have not only completely corroborated Captain Cook, but have furnished other evidence in favor of Admiral Schley. Ens gn Marble flatly contradicted Captain Sigsbee regarding the latter’s • communication to Schley off Santiago just before the retrograde movement was ordered. Ensign McCauley, who was the signal officer of the Brooklyn, made it clear by reading the signals exchanged after the close of the battle with Sampson that the conspiracy to destroy Schley was hatched on board the N w York on the afternoon of July 3, 1898. The most sensational disclosure, involving as it does the belief that perjury and subordination of perjury were committed, was; brought about through the appearance of Chief Machinist Hunley as a witness. Nobody in Washington who has followed the proceedings of the court from day to day has the slightest doubt of what the verdict will be or that Admiral Sch’ey wi.l be fully vindicated by his brothers in arms.