The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-23
WORKING Up THE EVIDENCE
Employees Have Been En-
gagged on the Carter
Case.
NOT GIFTED AS A DETECTIVE,

Between MIR. Tyviggs and MIR. Coop
err Put Down by the Former as
Cooper and Capt. Carter-MOre Es-
Inmates on the Small Cost of Mat
tresses-Mr. GieseIeF Does Not Be
Iieve in Capt. GiIIette's Military
Fascines-EROrts of the Attorneys
on the Two Sides-Messrs. TwigSs
md Hale said the Material Was
Poor and Capt. Carter Saw 1t.
The government made more rapid prog
ress with its case before the court mar
tial yesterday, three Witnesses for the
prosecution having been disposed Of
Engineer Cooper was on the stand again
for about an hour, and was followed by
Inspector Paul e. Twiggs, who gave some
more testimony about the mats and stone.
Inspector S. NJ Hale gave some testimony
along the same line, and then Engineer
L. A. GieseIer presented some estimates
on the cost of mattresses, after which\ne
came out with the fat statement that he
did not believes in Capt. Gilette's mill
Jary fascines for work here, and that he
had never heard the terms bundles of
brush" and military fascines" until Capt
Gillette came here.
The testimony of Messrs. Twiggs and
Gieseler was listened to with the greatest
interest. Outside of the regular routine
questions and answers about mattresses,
Mr. Twiggs answered a few pointed ques-
lions on other subjects, while Mr.. Giese-
Ter seemed in the main to make a better
witness for the defense than for the gov,
eminent.
Another interesting fact brought out
was that in great measure the office force
of the engineers Office has been employed
recently in getting up evidence to be used
in the Carter case More than one of the
witnesses testified yesterday that he had
been employed in that way, and Inspector
Hale stated that he had devoted good
deal of his time to it under instructions.
Col Barr appears to direct his ques tons
more particularly to the subject of the
quality, and the cost to the contractors of
the mattresses used in the river and har-
Dor work, with the object no doubt of
showing that the materials put in the work
cost the government more than they
should have cost. and again with view to
establishing the alleged conspiracy be-
tween the accused and the contractors.
Mr. Charlton, who is just now doing the
cross examining endeavors to bring out
the knowledge or lack of knowledge as the
case may be, of the witnesses upon these
points. besides questioning them upon 9TH
er points which will no doubt have a bear
ing on the case. The cross-examination has
been quite interesting, and has been the
subject of a good deal of comment. The
questions asked by the court have so far,
In the main, related more particularly to
engineering features.
Witness A. S. Cooper was asked a num-
Der of question by Gen. Otis, on the open
ing of the court, relative to his work in
connection with the department, much of
which was a repetition of his testimony
of two days ago. In reply TO questions
he stated that when Capt Carter first
took charge of the work here he was I'M
der Capt Baylay and Gen. Gilmore and
was afterwards given charge of the Sa-
vannah district. Gen. Gilmore was To-
Gated in New York, and visited Savannah
twice while the witness was here. Gen.
Gilmore came down the river on small
steamer, but Mr.. Cooper did not think he
was directly on the works.
Some bundles of brush had been used,
he said, prior to 1888, and they were like
those used under Capt. Carter. Green and
Gaynor were the contractors then. Gen.
Gilmore was quite infirm, and not capa-
~. NOR pgfa
was stated he never saw the bundles of
brush used. The specifications for the
work then were practically the same as
those of the contract of 1896. Maj. Stan
ton asked the witness a few more ques-
tions relating to engineering points.
Mr. Cooper was then handed a copy OF
the contract of Sept. p, 1886. and asked C
identify t as the contract of Nov. %, 1886
A mistake had been made in some way OF
other and the wrong paper had been giver
the witness. He did not note the error
and identified it as the contract of Nov. %
1886 Col Barr then began to read from
the specifications OF that con
tract relating 10 the jetty
work when Capt. Gillette called thu
attention to the error. The Novembe
contract of 1886 was then substituted anC
identified, and the specifications read from
it. Since the other contract had beer
brought before the court. Mr.. Charlton in
sisted that a certain portion of it be read
which was done, and in It was a reference
TO the famous brush fascines," abou
which there has been so much talk.
Inspector Twiggs testified that he hat
been engaged on the work in the Savan
nah harbor for the last six or sever
years. He had served under Maj. Bixb.
and Maj. Stanton at Georgetown, he sand
and under Capt. Garter here. He said r.
had received instruction from Capt Car
ter that the fascines were not to be mill
tary fascines, and that he did not wan
the contractors pressed. He spoke of tn
work under the contract of 1892 and sal
that Capt Carter visited the works FIRE
ouently, saw what was going on and tn
character of the material being used. Al
Ter describing the mats which each wit
) ness has to go through with and the fas
cines. which, he said. were very poorl
constructed. he said Capt. Carter had see
the material and pronounced II all righ
No change was made in the character G
the work during the six months he re
manned on II. He mentioned an instanc
In which he said he had refused TO allo,
certain mats to go In the work becaus
they had no grillage poles. The forema
went 10 Savannah and came back with
note from Capt. Carter permitting the US
OF fascines as grillage poles until the pole
he