The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-25
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Capt. Gillette's letter is in your post
script?" Mr.. Blair asked
1T might be so considered" was the
reply, but I thought it necessary to make
that explanation"
Then you explained first and answered
the letter afterwards in the postscript
was asked.
TT might be looked on in that way,
was the reply.
what is there in Capt Gillettes letter
that showed you that he intended to go
back of the time he assumed charge of the
district for the purpose of making an Off
cial report?' Mr. Blair asked.
Because" was the reply, che wished
me to state whether the mats sunk were
in accordance with the specifications or
not. l knew they were not / knew also
that he had gone to Fernandina for the
purpose of making an inspection there"
1t was brought out further that capt
Gillette's letter referred only to the July
mats, and that none of the mats inspected
by Capt. Gillette were constructed prior
TO the departure of Capt. Carter.
Mr.. Cooper was asked if he had not had
a conversation with Capt. Gillette prior to
the writing of his letter in which he Sc
cured the Information that Capt. Gillette
intended to go back of the time he assumed
charge of the district. He replied that he
had not had any such conversation, and
that that was theesecond time he had ex-
pressed the opinion to anyone.
In answer to questions from Col Barr
Mr., Cooper said that he did not in any
sense consider his letter an answer TO the
one of Capt. Gillette. 1t was, he said,
rather an appeal than a reply.
Mr.. Paul e. Twiggs having expressed a
desire to have a correction made in his
testimony for the purpose of doing justice
to all concerned, was recalled to the stand.
Mr.. Twiggs said he wanted to correct his
answer with reference to the question as
to whether he had stated that Capt. Carter
had informed him that he should first look
after the interest of the United States, and
then if he could do anything, in legiti-
mate way, TO facilitate the work of the
contractors, he might do so.
When first asked that question on the
cross-eXamination, he had replied no, that
no such instructions had been given him,
and that he had not so stated. He want
ed to say, however that when he was
questioned by Mr. Charlton he answered
under a Misrepresentation as to the time.
''My Instructions WERE" he said, that
l was not to press the contractors, and
that military fascines were not desired
The witness was told to correct his tes-
timony only, and not go into any other
question.
az will say, them" he said that those
instructions were given to me by Capt.
Carter absolutely. He did tell me that the
interests of the United States were to be
looked after first and then if anything
could be properly done to help the contrac-
tors along, I might do it,"
'Well now in justice TO Capt. Carter, Is
there no other portion of your testimony
that you want to correct?" Mr.. Charlton
asked.
mo, there is nothing else" was the re-
ply.
do you care to correct the statement
that the average brush in the mattress
was like that?" Mr.. Charlton said, point
ing to the bundles of brush on the jury
platform.
mo. sir" was the reply, there is no
correction to be made in that statement"
In reply to other questions the witness
said he had talked with Messrs. Austin.
and Hall about the case since Saturday.
They are witnesses for the prosecution,
but have not yet been examined.
"How did you carry out your instruc-
tons from Capt, Carter?" Col. Barr
asked.
X II did not carry them out" was the re-
ply
''Why not?" asked Col. Barr.
''For two or three reasons. In the first
place, did not think Capt. Carter wanted
me to do what he was not doing himself"
was the reply.
T. j. Heating, a cement tester, was the
next witness sworn by the government.
He was in the service of the United States
as recorder in the surveying party, a
boatman, Inspector of pile driving, etc. He
had been with the engineers office since
1893 When acting as an inspector, he was
carried on the pay rolls as boatman.
He was ordered by Capt. Carter TO report
to Mr. A. S. Cooper The order to that
effect was read by the witness. He was
ordered to report TO Mr.. Cooper on the
evening of June II, 1894. He was then de-
tailed to inspect mattresses, and saw them
I'm the camps in the course of construction.
According to his instructions the mat
tresses were propely constructed. He had
no copy of the specifications, but knew
pretty well what they were. Mr.. Cooper
told him how he wanted the brush made
into bundles and bound up with ggillage
poles He gave no instructions about trim
ming except to leave out the pine straw,
as the mattresses were coming with TOO
much such straw.
The brush was very much like that on
the platform only 1t was better than that.
II was more compact and better tied. Up
on the question Of compactness there was
a difference Of opinion. He went down
into a hole I'm a mattress he tried to walk
over He remained at the mattress camp
about six weeks at that time. The num-
her OF men employed averaged about sew
enty-six men a day.
The defense objected TO his making an
estimate Of the cost OF construction OF
mattresses until II was shown he had some
qualification for so doing. He stated that