The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-08
DEFENSE SOON TO CONCLUDE.
MIR. BLAIR SAYS MONDAY OR TUES
DAY WILL WIND 1T Up.

Some Interesting Witnesses Way
Yet BE Heard-Capt. Greene and
Col. GnynOF Reached the City Yes
terdaY-Chpf. Carter's Brother on
the Stand-Saw Mr.. WestcOtt Give
Capt. Carter S7.5OO-MaJ. Handbury
Good Witness.
1t seems now that the testimony for
the defense in the Carter court martial
will be concluded with the adjournment
of the court on Monday or Tuesday. Such
was the announcement made yesterday by
Mr. Frank p. Blair, representing Capt.
Garter.
The length of time yet to be taken viii
depend somewhat, no doubt, on the length
of the cross examination, which may be
somewhat longer than usual, in view OF
the fact that some of the most interest
ing witnesses are yet to come.
Capt. b. d. Greene. Col. John F. Gay
nor and Mr., w. T. Gaynor arrived in the
city yesterday and are stopping at the
De Soto Whether either one or all of
them will appear as witnesses has not yet
been announced, but it is possible that
they may go on the stand.
Mr. l. Stanton Carter. brother of Capt.
Carter, was the first witness before the
court He was at one time an inspector
on the work here, and gave some testi-
mony in that connection.
Mr.. Carter stated that he was at one
time in New York city with Capt Garter
and MIR. r. f. Westcott. Mr.. Westcott
then took Capt. Carter to a bank, and
from a safety deposit box gave Capt Car
ter $500. Capt. Carter took a $500 bin
from the amount and gave it to the wit.
| ness. He knew Mr. Westcott had given
his brother money on other occasions.
Maj. Thomas II. Handbury, corps of
engineers, stationed at ST. Louis, was OH
the stand under examination about an
hour Maj. Hamburg has been quite sue
cessful in his engineering operations and
is regarded as a high authority. The i'm
provement of the mouth of the Columbia
river, very difficult work, was accom-,
plished by him.
Maj. Hamburg gave considerable testi-
mony on the line of that given by the other
officers of the engineer corps, in support
of Capt. Carter's engineering methods, os
wei a. VI OllCt GuSNOIlS. Inc TACT Inak
Capt. Carriers estimates of materials to be
used were frequently exceeded was dweit
upon.
mo man can estimate how much brush
or how much stone is going to be used
under certain circumstances, F." Maj. Hand
bury said. THE estimate are very fire.
quently exceeded by engineer officers. |
have known this to happen time and again.
1t is impossible to tell just what works
of this character are going TO cost"
| Maj. Handbury spoke of the work at the
mouth Of the Columbia river as a very
unique one The estimated cost, he said,
was SS,716,0O0; but he completed the jetty
| construction, about four and one-half miles
| in length, at little more than one-half the
estimate.
When asked whether the engineer in
| charge should not notify the chief of en-
| gineers of change in the amount or con-
| struction of the mattresses, as in the case
of the Cumberland sound work said. that
does not necessarily require a report TO the
chief Of engineers, Maj. Handbury said.
The regular reports show the amounts and
! character of the materials used. Risks
| often have 10 be taken in the construc-
ton of extensive works. and a great deaf
must of necessity be left to the engineers
officer in charge. Maj. Hamburg, like
Gen. Craighill declined several times to
answer hypothetical questions. He made
an excellent witness for the defense, con-
sdering the work as explained properly
done by Capt. Carter.
Mr.. T.. K. Demmond collector for the
lePlant System, testified to having rendered
large bills for freight 10 the Atlantic Con-
tracing Company. They were presuma-
bly, for the freight on Florida rock, upon
which it had been minated the freight
was paid by other parties I'm Florida
81 To-.
was Gen. Q. A. Gillmores chief clerk
at the time Capt. Carter was put in charge
of this district was the next
witness. Gen. Gilmore, he said
frequently advertised for bids for less than
thirty days. Very often only one copy CT
the specifications was sent to an applt-
cant.
Col. Gilmore knew Capt. Greene ana
Col Gaynor. The Gaynors, he said had
several contracts under Gen Gilmore. 1t
was customary to recognize the signature
Of one of them in place of the other with
out any question. Gen. Gilmore, he sale,
considered the Gaynors very good con-
tractors Col. Gilmore did not remember
much about slush funds under Gen. Gill
more He did. however, recall the exist
ence of small one at Charleston.
Col. Gilmore testified that d. V. Howell
was a failing contractor. He remembered
down in this district Col. Barr cross
examined the witness to some extent en-
this point. If Gen. Gilmore reported that
Howell completed his contract, he could
not then be called falling contractor; but
if 1t was simply stated that the Howell
contract had been completed. that would
not necessarily mean that Howell was a
successful contractor.
Capt NJ. p. Usina, who has been a pilot
here for thirty-nine years, testified that
the steamship Hindustan went out of the
harbor a few days ago on one tide draw
ing twenty-three and half feet of water
lie spoke of the largely increased depth
of the channel under Capt Carter. He
also testified as 10 the necessity for the
guide pking to mark the training walls
and prevent collisions with them in foggv
weather, since the walls were under water
at high tide. He greatly preferred the
curved channel as proposed at the quar-
antine station TO the angular one now ia
existence. Neither he nor Capt. John
Fitzgerald, who followed him. were cues
toned by the Judge Advocate cant
Fitzgerald testified to pretty much the
same facts.
Thomas Lynch testified that ne was an
employee of the government IN this engt.
naarfr1D district He with Tr.roa.1..