The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26
NOT A SUSPICIOUS ACTION.


Continued on Eighth Page.)
/ were friendly, Capt. Garter spoke to me
several times of little plans with regard
10 matters outside the service which they
had under consideration"
WAS there anything which could lead
you to infer that they were entering into
conspiracy to defraud the government"
was asked.
There was not" was the emphatic re-
ply.
when YOU frst came here what was
Capt. Carriers style of living" Mr.. Blair
asked
About on the same scale, but perhaps
little more lavish than my own" Lieut..
Rees said
about such. as the difference in salary
would warrant"
Yes, sir, no more than that"
And did YOU notice any change in that
style before leaving savannah
Yes, sir, did notice a change after
his marriage and understood the circum-
stances, knowing he had a wealthy faith
er-in-law," was the reply.
From your experience here, your
knowledge kof Capt. Carriers relations
with the contractors, and having access
to all the records of the Office was there
anything whatever to give you any idea
or any suspicion that Capt. Carter had
entered into a conspiracy of any kind 10
defraud the government of the United
States or any one else?" Mr.. Blair asked.
From my knowledge of the office and
of Capt Carter's character / never had
any idea or suspicion, nor could 1 have.
mat there was any such conspiracy on
capt. Carriers part was Lieut.. Rees'
reply.
After the recess Col. Barr began the
cross examination Of Lieut.. Rees.
Capt. Carter he said Caught Mr.
sterly in an irregularity while I was here
Mr.. Sterly. in making up the Cumberland
sound vouchers failed to deduct the 10
per cent. as required by law. Capt Car
ter discovered this and made Mr. S.Srly
correct il. This is the only irregularity
recall while 1 was here"
Lieut.. Rees said articles of office furni-
lure We're purchased while he was here
but he did not know how they were paid
for. They were purchased for his office
when he came here. He carried a file
case away when he went, with Capt. Car
ter's permission.
Il have never known of any instances
where any false pay rolls were used here
Ii there were such it never came to my
knowledge" Lieut.. Rees said.
A letter written by Lieut.. Rees to Mr..
Marion Twiggs. in December. 1892. was
identified by him. After a little eolloauy
| between Mr.. Blair and Col Barr, the lat
| ter stated:
9! introduce this letter for the purpose
Of discrediting this witness"
| Mr.. Blair moved that the letter he
eXpunged from the record, in that 1t did
not contain anything not in accord with
| the regulations and that il could in no
wise discredit the testimony of the wit
ness. Col. Barr made no remarks after
reading the letter, which gave instructions
! as to the payment of bills on a certain
| survey The court refused to sustain the
/ objection.
Get signatures on rolls of all the men
! you have employed and for your board
! and lodging and for use of office room a,
| the hotel" was what the letter said. Col
Barr insisted that this was an irregularity,
| Board and lodging referred to the party on
| the survey, Lieut. Rees said. The office
rent was paid for, he thought, by voucher
and not on the pay roll Lieut. Rees said
he never intended to pay for anything on
the pay rolls that did not belong there He
! did think he had done so.
| -Four reports of inspection by Lieut..
! Rees approved by Capt. Carter were iden-
tilted by him. The material condemned as
useless and unstable was several thous.
and pounds of rope. Lieut.. Rees said he
never knew what became of that rope, and
did not know whether 1t was sold or not
If it was sold for $3.50 he would consider
1t had that salable value.
Lieut.. Rees said such a faseine as that
in the court room would cost about 10
cents. AT the barge they might cost from
| 20 to 80 cents.
You stated, Mr.. Sterly-' began the
| Judge Advocate.
I I'VE most emphatically object" said Mr..
Blair, and smile and a laugh went
round the court room, as Col. Barr cor
rected himself and returned to "Mr.
| Rees."
! Lieut.. Rees was asked many questions
! by Col. Barr with reference to the con-
! struction of the specifications, with regard
to the construction of mattresses and other
! points relating to the work. He consid-
cred that the specifications gave the en-
| gineer officer in charge some discretion in
certain matters relating to the work, and
he did not consider that Capt Carter had
! gone beyond that discretion.
The court adjourned at 2:30 to meet at
| 1880 o'clock this morning.
/