The times., 1898-01-16
CARTER COURT MARTIAL
Captain Accused of Stealing
More Than $3, 600, 600.
PROFOUND ARMY SENSATION
War Depa rtment Makes Public the
Dptails-Is Charged With Pecu-
lation on An Elaborate Scaie-A
Contracting Company Involved
Trial Now in Progress.

The charges against Capt. Oberlin NJ.
Carter. of the regular army. now being
investigated by court-martial at Sa-
vannah, are of the most startling kind.
They were made public by the War. De-
partment yesterday. and they recount
the most astounding allegations of ras-
caIity that have been brought against
an army officer in the history of the
Government.
The total alleged defalcation amounts
to over SO 0O0,O 600.
Capt. Carter was once military at
tache of the American Legation in
London. and was later a member of the
Nicaragua Canal Commission.
The captains opportunities for doing
crooked work have been almost unlim-
tied
The first charge of the War Depart
ment is that the accused, intending to
defraud the United States. and TO aid
the Atlantic Contracting Company. a
corporation, and John f. Gaynor, Will
lam T. GaynCr Edward H. Gaynor. An
son M. Bangs and other persons. all of
whom were likewise with him, did, on
Or about August !. 1892, and thereafter
to June 6. 1896 with the corporation
and persons named, unlawfully COM
bine and conspire 10 defraud the United
States of large sums of money by aid
ing the corporation and persons to OBJ
tain the allowance of certain fraudu-
lent claims TO the total amount OF
S2.S55. .956.S7: and being the officer of the
United States in local charge of the
river and harbor district usually called
the savannah district. and of the inn
provement by the United States of riv-
ers and harbors in said district. did.
with the knowledge and consent of the
said other parties named so advertise
for proposals for contracts for certain
works of Improvement In Cumberland
Sound. Savannah Harbor. Ca. Jelyl
Creek. Ga, Aitamaha River Ga. Da-
rien Harbor. Ca. and Inside Water
Route between Savannah. Ca and
Fernandina. Fla. and so ma mage and
rpnduCt such advertising and the mat
ter Of giving out information In regard
a. the contract To be let. and the mat
Ter ~ receiving proposals and award
Ing the contract. as 10 enable the said
parties To secure the contracts for the
work. And in pursuance Of this con-
sIiracy the said parties put into said
work certain mattresses, stone and 9TH
sr material which were different in
kind and character from those con-
tracted Tor. and very much less costly
10 the said parties as well as OF less
NaAhF ~ AAlF A.AAAtu g1AdAHes " hBlNn APT.
Carter received and accepted for the
United States and caused 10 be paid
FOR out of the public money.
Specification II contains identical
charges. involving conspiracy with the
same parties in contracting for wofk
done in the harbor of Savannah. Ga,
and Cumberland Sound, the dates of
advertising for proposals, performance
OF contract and payments being from
June D, 1896. to August i 1897
Causing false and fraudulent claims
to be made against the United States,
in violation of the siXtieth article of
war.
In that Capt. Carter did cause to be
made certain false and fraudulent
claims against the United States and in
favor of Edward H. Gaynor. (Ten
vouchers, covering a total sum of s162-
245-SS). The fraud charged consisted in
accepting mattresses, stone and other
materials of inferior quality. 'tand by
receiving and accepting and paying for
the same as of the kinds and qualities
contracted for, and by falsely certify
ing to the correctness of the said
vouchers, well knowing that the mat
tresses, stone and other material
charged for in said vouchers as having
been furnished had not in fact been
furnished"
Specification II contains Identical
tiIdISeS VI Conspiracy Win the AIldnIlc /
Contracting Company, with thirty-four |
vouchers accompanying; total amount |
Sl.e24.0S221: locality. Cumberland |
Sound: dates. 1S92-1S95.
Specifications TO {. inclusive. contain |
similar charges. passing smaller sums |
Other specifications simply point out |
where the captain was, if the charges |
are true, guilty of dishonest practices.
The developments have caused a tre- |
mendous sensation in army circles /
where the captain is well known and /
where he has been popular.
capt Carter is one Of the most Drill /
liant and accomplished officers of the
army. He has been in public life for
seventeen years, and few years passed |
without some advance in his station
and honors. He is extremely popular.
is society man, but his reputation has
always been that business was to have /
the precedence of pleasure
He was born at Patriot. Saliia coun-
ty Ohio, in 1856. He was appointed on
recommendation of Secretary Sherman
TO West Point in 1876. He graduated
IN 1880 with the highest general aver