The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-15
CAPT. GILLETTE ON THE STAND
DESCRIBES A MATTRESS HE IN
SPECIFIED LAST JULY.


Questions as 10 the Cost of the
Mattress OverruIed by the Court.
some ..BundIes of Brush" Brought
Into Court-Capt. GiIIette'S Testi-
mony to BE Continued To-day.
Cant. Cassius E. Gillette was the only
witness who appeared before the Cartec
court martial yesterday. There was an
other mute and silent witness in the shape
of several bundles of brush, about which
some interesting things may be heard be-
fore the trial is concluded, but the brush
did little talkings
Capt. Gillette was on hand just before
the court assembled at 1889 o'clock ard
took seat in the witness chair, near the
Judge advocate. and near the president of
the court He was in fun uniform of
captain of engineers and wore his sword,
which became useful during the proceed
ings as pointer.
The crowd was fully as large as that
of the day before, and interest seemed
undated Ladies were present. as be
fore. Before the days proceedings were
concluded the space in the rear of the
court room, between the iron railing and
the wall, was crowded and Capt. Gill
lette's testimony with regard to the mat
tresses was listened to closely.
The most interesting feature of the day
was the argument On the question as 10
whether testimony given by Capt Gillette
as to the cost of mattresses in question
to the contractors should be allowed TO
go in. 1t was argued at length on both
sides, the court in the end refusing to
sustain the objection made by Capt. Car
ter's counsel
When the court met Col. Barr offered
in evidence a certificate of the incorporA-
tion of the Atlantic Contracting Company
under the laws of the state of West Vir-
ginia, to which no objection was entered
by Capt. Carter's counsel. It showed the
incorporators to be John F. Gaynor 1893
shares; Benjamin D. Green 1892 shares
William T. Gaynor, ) shares; r. II. Green,
s shares, and James H. Andrews, 5 shares
The par value of each share, according
to the certificate OF incorporation, was S.
Col. Barr next offered in evidence one
OF the original contracts and articles OF
agreement between the Atlantic Contract
Ing Company and the accused for i'm
proving the harbor at Cumberland sound
approved Oct. 90 1896 Col Barr read
the specifications for the improvements
at Cumberland sound, and the descrip-
lions OF the three classes Of mattresses 70
be used as well as of the stone. The
nrst class Of mattresses was of trees
stripped and bound together; the second
class was of smaller trees or saplings
while the third class of mattresses was
10 be built of brush fascines with grillage
xtTa.e ase I,4
er number of which were used on the
river and harbor work.
Separate bids on the different classes
CT mattresses were not desired, according
to the contract, but one bid was asked
TO cover all This, it appears, is a mate
RAJ point IN the case, since il is charged
contractors could not get information
with regard to just what mattresses were
to be used
The first class of mattress costs about
three times as much as the third. and the
second about twice as much as the third
Much stress is laid on the fact therefore.
that 1t was not stated in the contract that
the majority or nearly all of the mattresses
USED were to be of the third class. because
OF the alleged opportunity or intention of
deceiving the bidder.
The contract as to stone was also read
a description of the four classes being Civ
en-. The contract requires that the fa-
Dp-
cine gravity of not less than "a and that
u shall be as hard as hard burned brick
II is the quality of the fourth class stone
tnat enters the case along with the quail
ity of the mattresses. The contract also
gave estimates as to the amount of mat
tresses and stone needed to do the work
Col. Barr also introduced in evidence the
articles of agreement btween Capt. Car
ter and the Atlantic Contracting Compa-
ny, approved Oct. q, 1895, for works of i'm
provement at the mouth of the Savannah
river. This contract, he said was SINH
lar IN terms TO the one he had lust read
and would be before the court constantly
Tor reference. He said, therefore, he would
not read il. With each of the contracts
he said, there were various papers which
We're identified the day before, and which
It might be desirable to introduce in evil
dence.
Capt. c. e. Gillette was then sworn as
witness. He had been occupying the wit
ness chair since the court convened and
his testimony was being awaited with
much expectancy. Capt. Gillette stated
that he was a captain of engineers, station
ed at Savannah since July 90 1897. He re-
lieved Capt. o. NJ. Carter, the accused
capt. Gillette gave a description of the
works under his supervision. stating he
! had been relieved from supervision over
Cumberland sound. Dec. A. 1897, but had
charge of that work and all other work
IN the Savannah district prior to that time
A map, showing the river and harbor
works in the Savannah district. was then
shown the court by Capt. Gillette and was
hung on the northern wall of the court
room. Cant. Gillette stood upon the Jury
platform, and drawing his sword used it
as pointer With his sword. ne pointed
out on the map the works OF Improvement
that were soing on when he came here.
Including those at the mouth of the Savan-
nah river inside route TO Fernandina.
Cumberland sound and dredging on the in
side route to Beaufort
The improvement at Savannah consisted.
ne said, in building detached portion of
a training wall TO be used as breakwater
in Tybee Roads, for the protection of ship
ping, and for throwing a greater amount
of water over the bar He stated how this
Jetty work was done, saying il was SINH
lar in Cumberland sound.
Work entirely ceased on both Of these
works about Oct s last. The Atlantic
Contracting Company had both contracts.
Capt. Gillette then stated the usual
method of beginning and inaugurating a
project for an important work Of improve
ment. When the officer in charge of a
post is notified of an appropriation for a
work in his district, the chief Of engineers
usually calls upon him for a project for
ba RI