The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-21
AN ENORMOUS COURT RECORD.
ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY 1000 900
WORDS HAVE GONE IN.


WORDS HAVE GONE IN.
The Prosecution Has Put More Than
800 Exhibits in Evidence Before
the Court MartinI-CuriOsity of the
Spectators, Many of Whom Under
stand Little of the Case-Thc
Courts Trip to New YOrI-Belief
That the Trial VIII Last Another
Month.
The Carter court martial, which will go
down in history as the cause celebre of the
century, at least so far as the army is
concerned. is reaching a most interesting
stage. The evidence so far adduced has
been eagerly scanned, and there is grow
ing desire to know what the prosecution
Is going to do next.
It is presumed that the prosecution is
getting somewhere near the end of its case,
though the presumption may be violent
one 1t has about reached the stage
where the court must be transferred to
New York city to get the further testimony
which the prosecution wishes to present.
1t is probable that with to-day's adjourn
ment the business of the court will have
ended until it meets again, probably next
Monday, in the army building in New
York
The nature of the testimony the Judge
Advocate expects to secure in New York
city can only be surmised. By some it is
thought the object is TO get the testimony
of Capt. B. D. Green and Col. John F.
Gaynor members of the Atlantic Contract
ing Company, while others think he has
different witnesses. or perhaps others IN
addition TO these, in view. court martial
cannot compel the attendance Of civilian
witness from point outside the state IN
which ii is sitting, and this may be one OF
the reasons for the New York trip. 1t Is
believed the court will be in session in
New York week or less.
In spite of the fact that the case is a
deeply involved one, and to those who
have not kept some track of il, the major
ity of the testimony is somewhat unintell-
gible the crowd which fills the court room
from day to day is of all classes ana
kinds. 1t is probable that many who are
present from day to day never comprehend
just what the attorneys are driving at
and they have heard a good deal of talk
about 1t, so they just drop in to see what
is going on. There is a curiosity 10 be
satisfied even with those who do not I'M
derstand. The appearance of the court
too in full uniform is doubtless a most
attractive feature to many. 1t is an inn
pressive spectacle especially to the many
who have never before seen such court
assembled. However, that may be, the
fsiIri ic rif q q
well attended
The record of the court Is one of its
most remarkable features. Especially is
that true in this case where thousands of
words go upon it from day to day, and ex-
hibt after exhibit. is added to 1t. tt is
estimated that there are now nearly 1000,-
900 on the record, including, of course, the
more than 800 exhibits. which have been
put In evidence by the prosecution.
The record consists now of about 1900
or more typewriter pages, upon
each of which there are about
$50 words, and the exhibits will
come pretty near, If not quite, max
ing up the other 400, 900 words of the million.
As the record has to be written out prac-
tically from day to day, it can be seen that
Col. George T. Cam, the official stenogra-
pher, and his assistants, have no easy
thing. The size of the record may be bet
ter understood when it is known that il is
equal to about twenty-five average novels
Where this enormous record will end can
not be foretold. 1t goes on increasing from
day TO day as long as the court is in ses-
sion, and will include even the arguments
made by the attorneys in sum,
ming up the case 1t may
be imagined what the arguments
will be, when the numerous matters pre-,
sented to the court are taken into consid-
Grafton. Everything said in the court room
by those engaged in the case is taken
down. Four copies of the record are be-
ing made. and when it is concluded after
the final arguments have been presented.
the court takes a copy of it with the ex-
hibits and goes into secret session TO dis
cuss the case and make up its finding and
report
After the decision of the court has been
forwarded TO Washington 1t is placed in
the hands of a reviewing officer who goes
over it carefully and makes a report upon
1t TO the President. The President then
takes the papers and approves or disap-
proves the courts finding. There is no ap-
peal. from the decision of the court. and
the Presidents decision upon il is the
final step.
The court will return to Savannah ard
resume its sittings here as soon as its
work in New York is completed 1t will
review the record and make up its finding
here. 1t is believed now that the trial viii
not have been concluded until the latter
part of March or April l.
TO INSPECT THE RUINS.
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