The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-04
THE HANDWRITING COMPARED.
MR.sTERLY TEsTIFIEs ON DIFFER
ENT STYLES OF 1T.


Appeared to Contain the Same
EHandwritings-Negr Witnesses
Give the Prosecution Somewhat of
Surprise, and Several of Them
Were Not CaIIed-MOre Records
Produced.
The Judge Advocate furnished the court
martial some slight variations in the way
of testimony yesterday. The court still
found itself sitting in the cold. however,
and efforts were made to warm up the
court room a bit. About twenty gas jets
were lighted in the effort TO add some
thing TO the warmth, and while some
thing was added to the comfort of the
room, chilliness still prevailed.
Chief Clerk ]. w. o. Sterly testified on
a somewhat different line from the mat
tiers heretofore brought out through him.
He said Capt. Carter approved the ac-
counts of the Atlantic Contracting Com
pany before the monthly statements were
made out and approved, and that the
checks were drawn with blank dates,
Capt. Carter carrying them with him TO
New York. These were in payment for
the work done on Cumberland sound and
Savannah harbor under the contracts for
1896
Another thing shown by the Judge Ad-
vocate was that the monthly statements
of the Atlantic Contracting Company
were made out by Mr. VI. A. Connolly,
and, according to Mr. Sterly, the sigma
ture of Edward H. Gaynor at the bot
tom of these statements appeared to be
in Mr.. Connoly's handwriting. 1t is said
10 be a custom to make out bills for con-
tract work in the engineer office, such
bills not requiring the contractors sigma
ture.
Four negro witnesses, men who had
worked in the brush camps under the
Atlantic Contracting Company, proved in
teresting to the court, but it appeared,
not quite so interesting to the Judge Ad-
vocate as he had expected They had all
been employed in making brush fascines,
or bundles of brush, as the expression
goes, and said that the contractors had
condemned a number of bundles made by
them, and cut down their pay according
iy. All of these witnesses testified that
the condemned bundles had gone into the
works but insisted that they were just
as good as the other bundles, and made
lust as We'll They also stated the fas-
cines We're all tightly choked to a diane
ter of twelve inches. this being larger
than required by the specifications
The session closed in the midst of some
testimony being given by Mr. j. B. Nc
Carthy with reference to records from
the office of the chief of engineers in
Washington, which had been called for by
the court.
Col j. w. Clous, who was first appoint
ed Judge Advocate, spent a portion of the
day in court and left the city in the af-
ternoon with Mrs Clous to return to his
station at Governors Island. New York.
He has been to Florida, where he has been
much improved in health.
Mr.. George W. Brown, formerly an as
slstant engineer connected with the engi-
neer office under Capt. Carter, reached
the city during the day, and was seen in
the court room. Mr.. Brown was given n
position with the Nicaragua Canal COM
mission, and has been with the commits
sion in that country since it has been
down there. He has returned as a wit
ness in the case, and will probably an
pear in behalf of the defense
Fred r. Howard. stenographer and type
writer for Capt. c. E. Gillette. testified
that the monthly statements for work on
Savannah harbor and Cumberland sound
put in by Edward II. Gaynor, treasurer of
the Atlantic Contracting Company. were
written on the typewriter he is now using.
belonging to the engineer office. He recog-
nlzed the work by the peculiar forma ton
of the capital letters ''Tv' and ''E" The
paper on which the accounts were made
out was the same as is now used In the
office, and Mr.. Howard identified it by the
water marks. This was put in to show
that the Atlantic Contracting Company's
statements of accounts were made out in
the engineer Office
lnrsir
again to testify as to the Cumberland
sound account on which $4,000 was paid.
The account was dated July 6,1S97 but the
receipts had been signed by Edward H.
sGaynor on June 80, the witness said The
amount was filed out, but the date July 6.
had not been put in.
when did Capt. Carter sign that youch-
err" was asked by Col Barr.
Capt. Carter signed the approval right
after Mr. Gaynor signed 1t on June 3d."
was the reply.
a"Where was Capt Carter on July 6?'
was asked.
Either in Sandy Hook or New York, l
think in New York" was the reply HE
went on with the Secretary of War
who filled in that date?" was asked
II did," Mr. Sterly said, ION July or
II. received instructions by wire, / think.
to put the dates in the receipts and check
stubs. My Instructions were from Capt
Carter in New York"
you had possession of the check
book?' was asked.
Yes, sir" he replied.
what became of the check?" was the
next question.
II made it out and Capt. Carter took il
with him to New York" was the reply. 81
put in the check everything except the
date"
when were these statements made
out?"
1T was after that time when all the re-
ports were in showing the amount of work
done on Cumberland sound was the re-
ply.
p''When did Capt. Carter leave Savan.
nah?'' was asked.
''He left at noon on June 3d.
THE statements were dated July /. Capt
Carter was not in Savannah when the re-
ports were received showing the work
done, this being after July l."
when did Capt. Carter sign and ap.
prove these statements?"
ION his return to Savannah, l believe
on July g."
The Savannah harbor account was tax.
en- up in the same way. Mr.. Sterly said
the account was signed by e. H. Gaynol
and approved by Capt. Carter on June 30
1897 The dates were left blank, as was