The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-08
CHECK BOOKS OF CARTER.
HIS COUNSEL STILL FIGHTING TO
KEEP THEM OUT AS EVIDENCE.

The Judge Advocate Wants to show
That Capt. Carter Was Making De-
pOsits at the Same Time That the
Contractors Were Getting Money
From the GOVernment-The Claim
Made That This Pointed to "A Con-
brought Out.
New York. March 7-At the opening of
to-day's session of the court martial hear
ing charges against Capt o. NJ. Carter Of
the engineers corps, Judge Advocate Barr
said that he had received a letter from
Joseph T. Brown second vice president of
the Knlckerbocker Trust Company, re-
questing that he and other officials OF
the company be given until Wednesday
to answer the question put by the court.
The request was granted
David N. Carvalho, the expert in hand
writing, was the first witness called to-
day. The Judge Advocate offered In evi-
dence a bill and voucher for $4,000 for
work done in Cumberland harbor In June,
1895. The bill was approved by Capt. Car
ter and the receipt was signed Anson M.
Bangs Mr.. Carvalho said that the sig
natures on both the bill and voucher were
in the handwriting OF Michael A. Con-
molly.
a check for $4,000, signed by Capt. Car
ter, dated April 8, 1895, was shown to Mr..
Carvalho and he said that the indorse-
ment of the signature of Anson M. Bangs
on the back was in the handwriting OF
B. ID. Green.
Maj. Henry N. Adams of the engineer
corps was then called He said he was a
member of the board which investigated
the work done by Capt. Carter in savan-
nah harbor. He identified a number Of
receipts from the Union Trust Company
of this city, showing that Capt. Carter had
deposited certain amounts with that COM
pany.
Counsel for Capt Carter objected to the
introduction of the papers. The objection
was sustained.
Judge Advocate Barr then introduced a
number of other papers to show that Capt,
Carter had an account with the Union
Trust Company. Another objection was
raised by Capt. Carters counsel who said
that the bank statements were the private
property of Capt Carter, and that they
had been seized by the United States gov
ernment, and, therefore. were inadmissi-
BILE as evidence. He also said the state
ments showed that the deposits had all
been made prior TO October, 1896, they
merely represented Capt Carriers salary
as an army officer.
The Judge Advocate said that the bank
statements show that the accused officer
had been making deposits al the same time
that the contractors were getting money
from the government, and that lul.s indi
Gated a conspiracy 90 rob the government.
He said that members of the army werc
different from civilians, and had no pri-
Vate rights. The government could seize
private papers at any time and soIuleT
had no redress.
Walter G.. Charlton of Savannah, one 1f
Capt. Cartcr's counsel, denied this Ia an
impassioned speech, in which he said that
the contention of the Judge Advocate was
absurd Mr.. Charlton claimed that the gov
ernment was illegally in possession Oh
these papers and IL would be wrong 10
admit them in evidence.
The court decided not to sustain the OBJ
lection of the defense to the admission OF
papers relating to Capt. Carriers account
with the Union Trust Company.
The papers presented show deposits
made with the Union Trust Company by
Capt. Carter from 1891 10 1887. They
ranged in amount from $500 to $1,000 and
5000. From January TO September 1897
the total deposits were nearly $4,000.
Maj Adams identified a check book on
the Union Trust Company belonging TO
Capt. Carter as attorney for r. r. West
colt. The defense objected TO the admis-
sion of the check book in evidence on the
ground that IL belonged 10 MIR. Westcott.
Pending decision on The question court
adjourned until tomorrow.