The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-19
COURT FINDS A CONTRAST.
DRAMATIC SCENE AT THE EXANII-
NATION OF MARION TWIGGS.

Several Questions Asked by the |
Court-There Was No Cross Exnmi-
nation.
Augusta, Ga, Jan. 1S.-The most dram |
attic and pathetic scene which has yet APP
peared in the Carter investigation, was the
| examination here to-day of Engineer Ma
rion Twiggs in a reclining chair, in the
| parlor of his brothers home, where he As
| an invalid.
To see the officers of the court, in fun
uniform, grouped about the double parlors
of Capt Twiggs' home, listening to the
labored utterances of the young man, who,
in the strength and freshness of youth,
has been stricken with an insidious dis
ease, made all the more pathetic the con-
trast between the robust soldiers and the
invalid witness.
There was a melancholy recognition and
admission of his condition when one of
the stenographers kindly offered him a loz-
enger to clear his throat, and he sadly de-
cIlned it, significantly tapping his lungs
and remar11ing, 81 am past that
The excitement and exertion of the ex>
animation showed plainly, and the wit
ness handkerchief soon became as wet
as a rag from wiping the heavy perspira'
ton that beaded his face.
After an hour or so the officers saw
how sorely Mr.. Twiggs' strength was tax
ca. and took recess until 2 o'clock to al
low him to rest before completing his
testimony.
The testimony of Marion Twiggs, assist
ant engineer at Cumberland sound, dealt
.1,v r,~sRh tl,aV al
lies, and the construction of the mat
tresses and fascines I he mat
tresses used in the work under the super
vision of Capt. Carter, he said, were not
according to the specifications of the con-
tract When asked if the fourth-class
rock complied with the specifications, he
declared that it did not, saying he had
tested it and made a report. Judge Ad-
Socate Barr asked If there were any in
spectors at the mattress camps prior 10
Capt Gillettes arrival. Mr. Twiggs re-
| piled there were not, and said Capt. car
ter saw several of the mattresses him
self
"What conversation, if any, have you had
with the accused?" was asked.
zone i'm which he came to the hospital
| In Savannah and said the mattresses he
| had seen were such mattresses as he want
ed built; they suited him. This was Just
prior to the arrival of the officers consti-
| tuting the board of inquiry"
Did YOU have conversation on any 9TH
er topic bearing on his administration
was asked.
Nothing that I think bears on the sub
. ject," was the reply.
The judge advocate replied that the court
would decide as to it's relevancy.
. Capt. Carter asked me-" continued Mr..
Twiggs 'if l believed the mattresses were
up to specifications. / replied that | did
not He also asked me if l did not feel
free to come into his Office and talk freely
+ on the subject of the work ! replied that
! | l did not because | believed that he capt.
Carter, was very friendly to Capt. Green
Mr. Twiggs also recalled that Capt. car
ter asked him about the different inspec-
tors who would probably testify. Among
| them he mentioned the inspector over his
! work. Capt. Carter remarked that that
made no difference, that he was weak.
Mattresses that the witness examined were
not designed according to specifications,
he said. He di dnot reject them, he SAID.
because they were better than those he had
seen used in Savannah river
. what kind of timber was used?" was
asked.
ANY that happened to be on the
. ground" was the reply
do you know how the force was paid?'
e | was the next question.
.'By the bundle think" was the reply.
They were not on the regular pay roll
I of the contractor"
y do you know of any kind of wood that
was not used?" was asked.
"All kinds were used,' was the reply.
A map was exhibited, drawn by the wit
ness, showing the survey and soundngs
}. indicating the shrinkages of mattresses
o after they were sunk. The contractors
did not ask him for specifications. He had
. no specifications and did not have the
2 contract price of stone or mattresses.
II Mr.. Twiggs estimated the cost of the
. mattresses to the contractors at 10 cents
I'D fxf. aasN1wf aud ell
Fascines for the mattresses were built
e very loose he said. Limestone or Florida
e rock was mostly used to sink them, witt
II some granite. The contract prescribed
2 that the fascines should be carefully and
J. thoroughly made. They were not SC
: made Very often the rope would slip
II be loose, or be broken. The fascines were
T, not uniform.
what proportion of brush was there
in the fascines compared with what tneJ
should have contalned?" was asked.
"About one-third," was the reply "Bun
= BILE brush was used in filling the mat
tresses."
Ibid you make any report to Capt Car
g ter OF these defects between the inception
n of the contracts and the time Capt. Car
= ter was relieved?" was the next question
l. capt. Carter saw the work himself *
l. there was no necessity for me to repor
rt to him." was Mr. Twiggs reply.
g The following facts were elected in an
swer to various questions by differen
members of the court This is the frs
10 time members Of the court have ques
s. toned any of the witnesses.
IN BY Capt. Taylor-"What were your spe
10 cific duties?"
or "There was an inspector over me- ant
my work was that of assistant engineer
O. Mr. Twiggs said II received instruc
is tions to receive eight-course mattresse
"a and to place sufficient stone on them {,
10 hold them secure in a storm, but to u.s.
as little stone as would accomplish this
II The mattresses constructed by Capt. Gil
70 lette were sunk in the same way as thos
ss made under Capt Carter. The mattresse
generally held together very well whei
sunk / was calling attention to defect
all the time which contractor general,
failed to correct. did not order the worl
W stopped because the mattresses were a
e. good as those / had seen used in Savan
0, nah In the mattresses inspected by Capt
10 Carter, there we're only about four-nlnth
OF the brush called for in the contract"
one of the members Of the court asket
IL there was any change in the construc
o. ton OF the mattresses between the last in