The sun., 1898-02-16
CARrERS LETTERS SEIZED.
THEY lRR TO mn USED Nv THE
COURT MARTIAL TRIAL,

| a B,tter strsEeie TO Prevent the 1ntrodsction
| ar These Paperu Evidencc-A military
Iann, ths ledge Advocate saSs, Bsses civil
- R,Ghts-The Court FIrailS Aduni,s the Lettcrn
SAVANNAH. Ca, Feb. 15.-Mr. r. p. Blair at
| torncy for Capt, o. M. Carter. United States
Engineer Corps. now on trial here before q
courtmartial, made strenuous effort to-day to
keep the private correspondence of his client
| from being considered as evidence before the
court and failed. Judge Advocate Barr will sue.
coed in placing before the members OF tho court
several letters that have passed between Capt
Carter and Capt. d. N. Green of New York, who
Is associated with the Atlantic Contracting
Company, tho corporation with which Capt.
Carter is alleged to have conspired to defraud
tho Government
When the Board Of Engineers came to Savan.
nah Last fall they found several packages Of
Capt. Carter's lottors and several copy books
marked private. These were casod up prepara-
tory to shipping them to Capt. Cartor in New
York. His former secretary had them in his
keeping. They were examined by the board and
cent to Washington over Capt. Carters protest.
Since thon they have been In the possession of
the Government without his consent.
When an effort was made to-day to introduce
letter from Capt. Green. Mr.. Blair called
halt. Ho said that this was an important time
and an important proceeding. Tho accused
should protest vigorously against tho admission
of any Of the papers. They were tho private
papers Of Capt Carter. the record Of his life
since boyhood Title to them was his nbso.
lutely. and no man had n right to deprive him
Of them. 1t was upon this high ground that tho
objection to the seizure wns based. He said
that Capt. Carter and Capt. Green were former
officers together, and the letters dealt with In.
apTMiss as ~ to p, psrsonal matters
papers around in such manner as these have
been. went to the United states Engineers
the marital felicities OF the % siscriniaW OF S the
accused broken by the Judge Advocate. When
tho United States still fioated over me or il /
were in Russia"
The Judge Advocate replied, to Mr.. Blair at
some length. He declared that the papers
vate papers TSey were @ pubic documents H and p
records and not in private copy books. The
Judge Advocate made very mpassioned ad-
civil rights, When the army service was en-.
etT r weES pnt s The C9n SG
man in the service Of the army. A court mar.
tial, he said. is n court Of honor. and when .
man mar, comes before court Of honor he should be
The papers in question were not seized. They
when they came before a board Of engineers
there was no evidence that they wero seized.
book letters that should be copied In the oficial
books their entire private nature is destroyed.
half an hour decided to admit the letter The
first letter shown was signed "B. d. G." 1t was
written at tho Hoffman House in New York in
Engineers, y. s. A. who was on the stand,
said the initials were those OF b. D. Green. The
letter referred to big contract which was
coming up from Chilli which the writer said
they were sure to get
Tho Chilli contract 10 the chance of our
lives" said the letter. Tho Chill business 10
business"
The letter was filled with personal references
and the Judge Advocate seemed to think 1t was
important evidence. An effort was made to
read Capt, Carters reply to this, but his attor-
ney still objected, the court retired for another
conference. and when they returned 1t was time
for adjournment The last objection was not
sustained and other letters will be read to-
morrow.