The evening times., 1898-07-23
CAPTAIN CARRIERS SENTENCE.
He May Have His sword Broken In
the Presence Of His Men.

Proceedings will shortly be taken by
the War Department that will terminate
the active career In the army Of Capt.
Carter. Corps of Engineers. He Is now
said to have been responsible for the dis
appearance Of a much larger sum than
was at first supposed. according to the,
testimony and deductions Of the court
before which he was tried at Savannah
last winter. At the time 1t was said the
amount would not exceed 8. .0e0.06o, but it
is asserted now that the sum Is nearer
100000 The findings and sentence are
with Secretary. Aiger for action.
For weeks the court sat at Savannah
hearing witnesses for both sides. and in
taking testimony of contractors with
with whom Carer was connected in river
and harbor work for that district. The
court was composed of some of the high
est ranking fficers. and the trial was the
most exhaustive held by the War De-
partment since the civil war. When the
record was finally received by the depart
ment, it was so voluminous that several
large boxes were required - transport
it. Two months were devoted by Gen.
Leiber, the judge advocate general. in
going over the case and this having been
completed, the whole subject has been
sent to Secretary Alger for his recon-
mendations to the President. Ordinarily
1t should have first been forwarded
through Gen. Miles. but for some reason
not given it was handed direct TO the Sec
retary. who has placed it in q big safe
guarded from the observation Of any
other official of the department.
IL the President approves the sentence
and other findings of the court, Capt.
Carter will suffer severely. 1t is learned
that Carter is sentenced not only to dis
missal from the army. but to imprison-
ment for a period of from ten to twenty
years, and that he must return, il this
Is practicable. to the Government the
amount of money said to have been mis-
appropriated. 1t Is also understood that
Carter Is recommended to be dismissed in
ignominy,' which means that. according
to army regulation, he may be treated in
much the same fashion as was Can't
Dreyfus, when he was drummed out Of
the French army and sentenced for life
to remote penal colony. When an Of
ficer Is dismissed under these terms the
ceremonies are such as never to be for
gotten by him. He is made felon in
the eyes of his troops, his buttons are cut
from his coat in their presence, and his
sword broken before them. Then, march,
ed before them in disgrace, he is led
away to imprisonment.
This practice has seldom been found
necessary in this country, IL ever, and
Capt. Carter may escape this degrade
tion, but 1t is yet possible, 1t Is under
stosod, that he may have to face what
Dreyfus underwent.
The court which tried Carter had fun
au. .hority. 1t is claimed. to sentence him
to dismissal. as well as to convict him
Of charges upon which he can be impris-
oned for any period. without civil pro-
cess being instituted. 1t is also claimed
to have been vested with authority to
decide the methods to be followed in COL
lecting what money may be secured
from Carter or his bondsmen Falling to
do this. It Is alleged, the civil author.-
ties will be called upon to take the nec-
essary steps
II Capt. Carter is sent to prison he
may be confined in the army penitentiary
at Fort Leavenworth, or any prison the
War Department may select.
Carter was one Of the brightest men
ever graduated from West Point. stand
ing No. ] in his class. and regarded by
engineers as one of the ablest of their
corps. He was in charge Of river and
harbor works in the Savannah district
for years. and during that time his
troubles began. At the time he was ac-
cused he was military attache to the
American embassy at London, and was
at once recalled. When the case gets to
the President powerful influences will
not question that the findings Of the
probably be exerted, but the officials do
court-martial and sentence will take their
course without Executive clemency.