Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 105, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1901 — SCHLEY TRIAL IS ON. [ARTICLE]

SCHLEY TRIAL IS ON.

BOARD OF INQUIRY CONVENES IN WASHINGTON. 9 Work Starts on Notable Case—Accused Officer Challenges Howison as Member of the Court-Martial—Many Witnesses—Great Cost of Trial. After more than three years of accusation and counter accusation, and the widest range of discussion in and out ot the navy over the conduct of Ttear Admiral W. S. Schley in the Yfost Indian naval campaign, that officer Thursday entered upon the ordeal of judicial investigation which will result in his vindication or condemnation. The Schley court of inquiry opened its sessions in Washington at 1 o’clock! The members of the board, Admirals Dewey, Benham and Howison, were on hand early, reaching the navy yard at 12:30 o’clock. All were in civilian clothes and no salute was given them as they entered the gate. When the court was called to order every one of the 400 seats reserved for the public was taken. Admiral Schley and counsel arrived at 12:45. After the court convened the members retired at the instance of Judge Advocate Lemly to decide whether the court should sit with open or closed doors. Admiral Dewey announcing that this order would be followed instead of clearing the court room. At 1:30 p. m. Admiral, Schley arose and said that with extreme regret he was obliged to challenge Admiral Howison as a member of the court. Where the Court Meets. The court met in the new brick building at the navy yard known as the gunners’ workshop. The upper hall has been fitted up for a court room, giving floor space of about 60 by 200 feet, this having been partitioned'off, so that an ample court room of about GO by 80 feet has been secured, with other commodious rooms at each end of the building. The court itself has a space within a railing sufficiently large to aeeommodate members of the court, Admiral Schley and counsel, a stenographer and two or three others whose presence will be necessary. Immediately back of the court room are two lurge private rooms, ' one for the court, provided with a fireproof safe and necessary furniture for holding sessions in secret, and the other for Admiral Schley and his counsel. Over 190 witnesses have been summoned already. These will be brought to Washington as they are needed, hut Judge Advocate Lemly does not think that the names already handed in complete the list. The Schley witnesses already designated come mainly from the officers of the Brooklyn and the antiSchley forces are convinced that the accused rear admiral will spring at least one sensation in court when he asks the names of persons not yet mentioned as witnesses. ) Cost of Inquiry $50,000. The demand of Schley that his record be cleared will cost the government at least $50,000. While part of this sum will have been expended in th? fitting up of the court of inquiry the major portion will go to the printers and the witnesses. A stenographic report of every word uttered by the court of inquiry will be kept. A large staff of stenographers has been secured and as soon as the testimony has been transcribed it will be rushed over ■ to the government printing office and put into type by the same men who set up the Congressional Record when Congress is in session. The experts in the printing office estimate that it will cost about S7OO a night to get the testimony out on time. As it is expected that the court will he in session a least a month, it will be seen what an important item in the expense account will be the printing bill. The. witnesses summoned come from all parts of the world. Lieutenant Commander Seaton Schroeder, for instance, was governor of Guam when summoned to appear before the court of inquiry. He as well as all other witnesses will be allowed a mileage of's cents a mile, besides the $1.50 per day witness fee. It is estimated that witnesses’ expense account will amount to nearly SI,OOO a day.