The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-05
DOCUMENTS AID INFINITUM.
ALL THE OFFICE RECORDS LIKELY
To BE INTRODUCED.

IhAt He Ever SWOre as "a Guar
antor That He Was Worth $4,000
More Than His LiHbiIities-Chief
Clerk SterIy Occupied the Boards
for the Rest of the Day--The Pros
ecutIOn Supposed to BE Nearing
the End of the Testimony on Con-
spiracy Charges, hut the Matter Is
One of Much ncertainty-Unend-
ing Documentary Evidence.
1t Is believed that the prosecution before
the Carter court-martial is reaching the
end of the testimony to be introduced rela-
tive to the charges of conspiracy. The
evidence relative to this charge is similar
to that in support of the charges of MAX
ing false claims, and of embezzlement.
This belief is based on the fact that the
Judge Advocate appears to have gone
through about all Of the documentary evil
dence relating TO all of the contracts ever
performed under Capt Carter There
may be more. and if there is. the chances
are that it will be brought forth. The Of
ficers of the court have no escape, 1t APP
pears, from running the gamut of every
thing that Capt. Garter ever did in Sa-
vannah.
But there are other specifications under
the charge of conduct unbecoming an Of
ficer and a gentleman, such as absences
from his post without leave testimony
given in a case in the City Court, defraud-
ing the city of Savannah, etc, and wit
nesses win no doubt be sought to give
testimony relating to these matters. With
regard to the charges of defrauding the
city of Savannah, 1t is said the prosecu-
ton has been afforded poor compensation
from the testimony offered by any of the
aldermen who were serving at the time in
question. This is stated by two Savan-
nahians who were members Of the board
of aldermen at the time
From statements made heretofore, never
theless, it is presumed that the prosecu-
| ton will go on and on for some time to
come before it rests its case. The end is no
nearer in sight than it was some days ago.
| Capt. c. E. Gillette was in court yester-
day in his fatigue uniform, this being the
| first time he has appeared in uniform in
the court room since he was on the stand
as a witness. He has been in court fire.
quently to assist Col Barr in bringing out
features of the case, but since his appear
ance as a witness, he had not had on his
/ uniform.
The testimony yesterday was largely
| documentary. The first witness, Henry
! Berg who appeared as a guarantor on one
! of the Atlantic Contracting Company's
contracts came pretty near denying his
| own signature. He testified that he did not
| swear he was worth $4,000 above his liza
! biities, as appeared from his oath on the
guarantee. Chief Clerk Sterly was on the
stand the rest of the day presenting prin-
| cipaly, documentary evidence.
Henry Berg, German stroekeeper on
/ River street, was the first witness put on
the stand being called for the purpose of
| testifying to his signature on the guar
antee of E. II. Gaynor under the contract
of 1891 for the improvement of Cumberland
| sound.
did YOU sign a bond here in 1892" was
asked by Col. Barr.
II signed a bond in this building" was
the reply.
I'm which you swore you were worth
$780, 900 above all your liabilities?" was ask
| ed.
mo, sir; I did not" was the emphatic
reply.
what sort of a bond did you sign?'
was the next question.
zone of Capt. Green's barges ran into a
bark, and there was suit for damages.
He asked me TO sign bond for him, and
it was on that account, l thought, L was
signing it, was the reply.
Were you then worth $4,000 above your
labilities?" was asked.
NO sir; 1 was not" was the reply
What were you worth Them asked Col
Barr.
II was worth about $500 or 5000. My
store and stock were insured for about
$780," was the witness reply.
Then you never had such oath as
this explained to you where you say you
h n al TAl Do,
mo- sir; l did not" said the witness
The witness said he knew Capt Carter,
as he stopped at his store now and then
when he went up and down the river in
his boat. He also knew B. D. Green, who
was at his store quite frequently at that
time. Capt. Green, he said, would come
there to give orders about his boats, and
often bought supplies from him. When
he went down the river and came up
again, Capt Carter would stop in his
store.
on the cross-examination the witness
said he did not know Mr.. S. f. b. Giles
pie before whom his justification was
made. Mr.. Gillespie was then called in,
but the witness said he did not know him
by name.
did you, or did you not sign that guar
antee and oath in this gentleman's pres
ence?' Mr.. Blair asked.
II don't remember. 1t looks like my
signature, but 1 don't know" the witness
replied
"But I want to know whether that is
your signature or not?" Mr.. Blair said
showing him the paper
II don't know I don't remember
came up here with Capt Green and signed
a bond, but l don't know anything about
that" was the reply.
1t was impossible to get any answer out
of the witness except that he did not re-
member He would not say whether it
was his signature not, but he denied
positively swearing that he was worth $780,
900 more than his liabilities. He remem-
bered signing one bond in the custom
house but that was all.
. The reading of the original project by
Capt Carter for the Improvement of Cum
berland sound was then continued That
project was Endorsed by the board of en-
gineers which had the matter in hand with
! a few very slight notifications. Letters
showing what Capt. Carter was called
upon to furnish in the shape of projects
were also read Col. Barr then read the
; portion of the river and harbor act relat-
ing to these projects provided for under the
contracts of 1896, and followed with Capt
Carriers project for the expenditure of the
| | money apDrOpriated