The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-22
CHARGES TO BE ANSWERED.
WHAT CAPT. CARTER EXPECTS TO
PROVE BEFORE THE COURT.

with capt Greene hNbiAi"SN'
would Have Cost the Government
a Million More. Mr. Wisner says, If
Capt GiIette'S Mattresses Had
Been UScd-A Lesson I'm Specific
Gravity by Chemist Finney-In-
kpector HaIe's 10000 square Yards
of BruEh Reduced to ESQ.
The defense in the Carter court martial
had practically it's first inning yesterday
and the outline and plan of the entire de-
tense was presented TO the court by Mr.
A. j. Rose, one Of Capt Carriers attor-
neys.
The De Soto banquet room had larger
audience than it has had at any time
during the proceedings. Every available
chair was taken for a time during the first
part of the day, and some
occupied standing room. There were many
ladies present interested as usual in what
transpired; one of them brought her GRO
chet work into the court room, and quietly
worked and listened for two or three
hours
Mr.. Rose at the outset asked permission
of the court to make brief statement as
10 what the defense would be. There was
no objection from Col. Barr. the judge
advocate, and he proceeded to state in
brief just what he expects 10 show with
reference to each charge.
so iong a time has elapsed since the
trial OF this case began" Mr.. Rose said
"that on behalf Of the accused, in order
that the evidence that he proposes to in
troduoe might be the better un-
derstood by the court. we ask that
short opening be permitted, so as to ex-
plain that evidence and It's applicability to
the charges.
-Four OF the charges are substantially
alike as to the facts. The charges in re-
lauon to the conspiracy in charge 1, speci-
hcation >, states the same facts as appear
In charge ., specification g. under the head
of presentation of false claims, and the
same facts under the charge of conduct
unbecoming an officer in charge 3, specf-
cation ?, and the same facts in relation
10 The charge of ENLIGHTENMENT in charge
A. specification l. The facts alleged in
reference 70 those four charges, are all
the same, and all relate to the two con-
tracts, one on Savannah harbor and the
other i'm Cumberland sound, Oct s. 1895.
They all relate TO work done under those
contracts and TO payments made in pur-
suance TO those contracts The evidence
as put in and that to be given, all relate
to one series of facts, which are stated
in four different ways in the charges, and,
Therefore, may be considered together. The
same thing appears in reference to some
of the other charges.
The charge as to the false
claims, in charge ?. specification 7,
and charge 8, specification 4, relate to the
alleged payment of the $3.50 The charges
under the false claims charges s. and
10, and under conduct unbecoming an Of
ficer, 5. 6 and Z, relate to the payment for
the so-called guide piling. The other
charges, except specifications p and %, in
charge 8, relate 10 certain false reports
on different dates and are separate and
alone by themselves
In the conspiracy charge, there are two
divisions, one relating to the Savannah
harbor contract, in which certain facts
are alleged and in another paragraph on
another charge, the same class of facts
are alleged in reference to the Cumberland
sound contracts, so it will only be neces-
sary in order to discuss the four charges
in relation to those two contracts, 20 take
up the Savannah harbor contract.
1.-THE proof that has been introduced and
the theory seems to be in reference to the
charges of conspiracy, that the advertise
ments for bids were for less than thirty
days. That is admitted, but that ii was
contrary to law is denied and the proof
that we will introduce will be TO show that
the accused followed the methods of the
office when he took charge. The statute,
S7O9, has been construed that thirty days
was not required on the South Atlantic
coast to advertise for bids.
1.-The next matter alleged under the con-
spiracy is the one of giving out informa-
ton 1t will be shown that the office
methods in force under an able officer,
that had been in force for long time,
were continued by Capt. Carter. 1t will
be shown that more information was given
out by Capt Carter than is usually done
by other engineering officers When one
specification was asked for by prospec-
tive bidder he got one and when three
were asked for, three were sent.
1.-THE next matter that is alleged in the
conspiracy account is the matter of re-
ceving proposals. II will be shown just
how proposals were received; what was
done on the opening of bids and il will
be shown that in every instance except one
that the lowest bidder received the con-
tract and that exception being that of
a failing contractor; and II will be shown
that he was known in the engineers Of
fee TO be a failing contractor, and that
the present officer in charge knew or ought
10 have known it when he said the rec
ords did not show it.
THE next suggestion in the conspiracy
charge is that the contractor furnished
and put in the work, and that the ac-
cused" allowed them TO put in the WORK
mattresses, stone and other material diff
ferent from that contracted for and less
valuable to the United States. There is
an utter failure of proof to show that IL
was of less value to the United States and
ii will be further shown that the charge
Is untrue. IL will be shown that the mat
tresses ptt in the work were the ones
contracted for and that they were suita-
BILE for the work. II viii also be shown
that the so-called specification mat, which
was made under the present management
is not suitable for the work and that IL
IS absolutely prohibited by the contract
IL will be shown that the fascines pro.
duced before the court were not of the
character that was put in the work, but
were rejected fascines.
LAS to the charge that the stone was
not up TO the specifications as to spe-
clhcs gravity, II will be shown that the
piece Of stone that the witness for the
prosecution said was the poorest that went
inlo the work ig away bpvOud the epecfd