The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-27
GILLETTE FIGHTS HARD
Socially, Professionally and Off,
Giaily Responsible
LIT. REEFS SALTY TESTIMONY.

Would Hit His Best trlend II he
ODnoSed Him-Enginecr Ohicer
Realizes Ii Is a Fight Between
Himself and Capt. Carter-Rees
Forage AccOunt-Testifed to Capt.
Carriers "ImmacuIatcness" Ac-
cOrding to Col. Barr-DeBinI by MIR.
BIair-Lieut. Rces First Considered
MIR. SterIy a Sycophant-Wa Then
His Guest-Says Now II Know He
Has Lied in This Case"
81 realize that am held socially, pro-
fessiouany and officially responsible for
the charges which have been made against
Capt. Carter. l realize that it has come
TO be a fight between him and me, and
when I am lighting l fight hard, and any
body who stands in my way is liable to
get hit; it would make no difference if it
was my best friend. would hit him and
hurt him if I could"
Such is the statement which Lieut..
Thomas II. Rees testified on The stand
yesterday before the Carter court martial
was made to him by Capt. Cassids f. Gil
lette about two months ago. When ask
ed what he understood from Capt Gil
lettes statement, Lieut.. Rees said: Il
took it as bid, in part. to stand with
him, or a threat that, if I Old not, would
set hurt"
There were two other interesting Incl
dents in the very interesting days oro-
ceedings, one being the testimony of Lieut..
Rees. in answer to Col. Barr, with regard
10 his forage accounts. in the midst of
which Gen. Otis told the witness he need
not answer certain questions which might
tend to crlminate himself. Lieut.. Rees
said that he was willing TO answer the
questions, and the examination proceeded.
The other was Lieut.. Rees estimate of
Mr.. Sterly
The attendance was the largest that
has appeared in the banquet hall of the
De Soto on any day of the proceedings
held there. All of the available seats were
taken, and men and women both stood TO
listen to the interesting examination that
was in progress. Thirty or forty ladies'
were in the audience, closely watching me
proceedings and listening carefully TO one
of the most interesting witnesses VINO
has yet appeared on the stand Inc ladles
will miss the court when II is transferred
TO the United States Court room on Mon
day, as it will be. Few of them attend lhe
sessions there. as they do not hnd II so
convenient or pleasant as at the hotel.
Col. Barr began hunting diligently
again yesterday for that alleged mattress
hearting" in the Cumberland SOUND Jet
ties. Lieut.. Rees thought Capt Garter
reference TO it in his report was sur
vival of an old form, that material nav
ing been used in the first portion OF the
Cumberland sound work This is the
matter in which it is alleged that capt.
Carter departed from the project of the
board of engineers in 1895 which board
provided for a hearting OF small stone,
covered by a load of heavier stone In
Capt. Carter's report upon the work ne
referred to a mattress hearting instead
of a hearting of small store, the mattress
hearing having been used in the nrst
construction az Cumberland sound. There
has been considerable talk about this
mattress hearting, and some c.tticulty' 1t
seems in locating its meaning.
Col Barr has been endeavoring TO show
that Capt Carter did wrong in allowing
more mattress work to 80 into the Cum
berland sound jetties in the first eight
months of the work than was contempia-
ted altogether by the project of the board
Lieut.. Rees was again asked about the
inspection and condemnation of old rope
end other articles on June %, 1890. The
number OF items was called TO his atten-
ton.
did not Capt. Carter and Mr.. Connolly
go TO Boston about that timer" Col. Barr
asked.
Eyes, believe Capt. Carter went away
that summer. l remember going to New
York myself" was the reply
Lieut.. Rees remembered the day of the
,,1
ally inspected each article, and remem-
bered 1t was a hard days work. He did
not think Capt Carter ever made the
statement to him in Mr.. Sterlys presence
that the signing of inspection reports was
mere matter of form. He was salts
fled that no such statement had been
made. though he could not swear to 1t.
In September 1890, he was in Houghton,
Mich, his home. He had no leave of alb
sence, and did not think he reported his
absence from his station.
Quite a tilt arose between Col. Barr
and Mr.. Blair when the Judge Avocate
asked Lieut.. Rees if he knew whether
Capt. Carter had two horses in 1890, and
where he kept them.
Lieut. Rees said he knew that one OF
Capt. Carter's horses was kept at liv-
cry stable near the Office.
MIR. Blair objected TO this line of exam
ination on the ground that IL referred &c
no charge or specification, and had not
been brought up in any way in the direct
examination.
1.-The Witness" Col Barr said, has tes-
tilted that Capt. Carter was immaculate
and l only want TO show such was not
the case, and that there was some decid-
ed Irregularities in his office"
THE witness has not testified to any
such thing" Mr.. Blair exclaimed with
some little show of temper. THE witness
said nothing about Capt Carter's i'm.
maculateness."
The court stopped Mr.. Blair until Col
Barr had concluded.
II submit" said Mr. Blair, that such
an assertion on the part of the Judge
Advocate is not justified by any possible
construction of the evidence. The witnes.
did not say that Capt. Carter was i'm
maculate. What he did say was thai
from what he knew of Capt. Carter hs
knew that Capt. Carter would not enter
into any wicked or evil conspiracy such
as charged. We object decidedly, may &
please the court. 20 the admission Of any
such evidence"
Mr.. Blair's impatierce was apparent q.
he finished replying to the Judge Advo
Gates remarks and the court retired tc