The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-11
wOULDN'TGIyE TESTIMONY
COURT MARITAL OF CAPT CARTER
IN SAVANNAH STRIK ES 4 SNAG.

Presidept or = Towbont Company Refuses to
Answer the JudHe Advocnte's oueetiens,
and 10 suataincd BIZ the Confederation
That Carter Has stock In His Company.
SAVANNAH. Ga, Feb. l0.-Tho proceedings In
the trial Of Capt. o. NJ. Carter before the court
martial were more lively to-day than they have
been for several days. Capt. Jacob Pnulson
caused q sensation by n refusal to answer GER
tain questions put to him by tho prosecution.
Tho investigation of specifications 8, 0 and 10
OF charge number two wns gone into quite
fully. Tho second charge accuses Capt. Carter
of making false and fraudulent claims against
the Government. Specifications 8 and o have
reference to repairing tho garden bank training
wall at this port In December, 1896.
1t is alleged that under authority to have this
wall repaired Capt. Carter paid for sinking
piles that should have been driven at the OK
pense Of tho Atlantic Contracting COMPANY.
The ninth specification charges conduct unbe-
coming an officer and deals with the CORES.
pondence relative to:the proposed acquisition by
tho United States of lands on Hutchinson
Island, across tho river from Savannah. In q
letter to L. Paulding 1t is asserted that Capt.
Carter made false statements to deceive Brig
Gen. w. p. Craighill, Chief Of Engineers of the
United States Army. In this letter he said the
work was abandoned because excessive rentals
were demanded by property owners, many OF
whom had bought property required for specu-
lative purposes.
Capt. Jacob Paulson. President of the Pro-
peller Towboat Company and of the Savannah
DREDGING Company, two big Savannah corpora
tions, became very indignant at certain ques-
tions asked by the Judge Advocate and called
upon the court to protect him. He said he was
not on trial and would not answer anv questions
unless he cared to do so. This declaration came
frnp, ht,, xr,Ian ln y-oa ooknI ~ tharp xyng nm
understanding among the dredging companies
hero relative to bidding on Government work.
The Propeller Towboat Company bid against
tho Atlantic Contracting Company in 1892 and
lost a contract. Mr.. Blair. attorney for Capt.
Carter, asked the court to tell Capt; Paulson
that n witness need not reply to a question in a
court-marlial unless he desired to do SO.
ing" said President Otis. The jndge.Advocate
became very much excited over the interruption
Of Mr.. Blair. He said it was not law that q
witness need not answer n question:, even II ~
was the Attorney. Generals opinion. He would
never cease to raise his voice against such a de-
refusal to answer. but II was because there was
thought to be no necessity for It,"
ton. He is the first witness who has declined
to answer. tho queries Of the Judge-Advocate.
Capt. Paulsen said that Capt, Garter is q stock,
stock, the par value Of which Is 800 per share.
The President, did not, know who sold him the
btOCk. III ldu II ~ u ohb tihhS
isn't B; D. Green a stakeholder in your COM
pany alsof'
mo, sir."
rs John F. anynorr'
It was after answering these questions that
Capt. Paulsen refused to renly to the question of
the Judge-Advocate relative to the understand,
Ing between the dredging companies about
up the matter of the Propeller Towtoat Com
pany's bid on the work in the savannah harbor.
Capt. Paulsen knew little about the contract.
Ha did not know how certain figures had been
arrived at. He will go on the stand again in
the morning. 1t required some coaxing on tho
part of tho Judge-Advocate to get Capt. Paul
sen to admit that Capt. Carter was a stock
holder in his company.
DO you see any stockholders Of the Propeller
Towboat Company in the roomf' he asked tho
President.
Look around carefully now and seer
Eyes, there is Mr.. Minis; he is a stockholder.'
"Look close, Capt. Paulsen, isn't there some
one elsca"
call as q stockholder."
Doesn't Capt. Carter own stock in the com.
'0h. yes; I believe he does"