The evening times., 1899-09-02
ACCUSES GENERAL OTIS.
Affidavit Of Frank r. Blair Concern
ing Captain Carterfs Case.

ms CuPtAIm SarteE'b Sasce
NEW YORK. Sept. 2.-The Journal
this morning, prints the following:
The announcement published yesterda
IN the Journal that the vote of the mill
tary jury which convicted Capt. Oberli
NJ. Carter stood seven for conviction an
six for acquittal created unbounded sur
Prise. The statement previously made tina
he verdict had been unanimous had bee
accepted without question. Captain Car
Ler's advocates assert that Colonel Bar
vas the instrument through which the pic
was carried out.
In support of this declaration they poin
20 an affidavit of Frank p. Blair, of eOun
sci for Captain Carter. The journal
has obtained copy of this document, an
IN pursuance of its policy of giving bot
sides of this remarkable case chance t
De heard before the court OF public opin
ion, which wants all the facts, prints
herewith, though 1t may be embarrsssin
TO both the. Administration and to Cap
ain Carter. Here it is:
State of Illinois, County of Cook. SIS:
That on a Saturday evening in the
latter part of January or early part of
February of said year, affiant returned
with said Captain Carter from the OIL
ces of Charlton, Mackall & Anderson,
in said city. about 10 o'clock p M, to
the De Soto Hotel, in said city of Sa-
vannah, where affiant was then lodg-
ing. r.
That on the arrival of said Carter
with affiant at said hotel, affiant was
informed that Brig. Gen. Ewell S.
Otis, president of the said coult-mar-
tin1s nl I'D nd-
vocate thereof; Capt. Charles 5. Nc
Cfure, assistant judge advocate, and
Col. George S. Gillespie, Corps OF En-
gineers, had been in close consultation
in the lobby of said hotel, and had
been, just prior to the arrival OF affi-
ant and Captain Carter, as aforesaid,
acting in a manner SO as to attract to
them the attention of various guests
in the hotel.
That Immediately thereafter the four
persons above mentioned separated.
Colonel Barr and Captain Mcclure
leaving together, and General Otis and
Colonel Gillespie following shortly
thereafter; that the action OF said four
officers, as detailed TO afiiant, aroused
his suspicious to such an extent that
he concluded the said four officers had
made a rendezvous at the temporary
offices of Colonel Barr, the judge ad-
vocate of said court martial. and that
acting upon said suspicion affiant and
Captain Carter at once proceeded to
said temporary Office of the said Colo
mel Barr, located between a third and
a half mile of the said De Soto Hotel.
Afflant further states that the tenn
porary Office of the said judge advO
cate was located on the fifth floor OF
the Citizens Bank Building in said
city of Savannah and was one of the
suite of Offices occupied by Capt Cas-
sius E. Gillette, engineer in charge OF
the Savannah district; that at that hour
and for some considerable time prior
thereto no elevator had been running
in said building, and that in order TO
reach said temporary Office Of the judge
advocate ii was necessary to mount
four high flights OF steps.
Affiant further states that Captain
Carter and he at once proceeded TO the
engineers Office entered the building
thereof and mounted the stairs, intend
ing to enter the said temporary office
of the judge advocate and ascertain
the situation of affairs; that when said
Captain Carter and aftiant reached the
fourth floor. having paused for breath.
affiant distinctly heard voices on the
floor above, the night being warm and
the doors and windows being open.
lights also being displayed on the fifth
floor, occupied by said judge advocate
and the engineer in charge.
Affiant further states that as he
paused on the fourth floor he recog-
nized the voice of the said Colonel
Barr, in a monotonous voice, as If read
ing; that at that moment he recognized
the voice of the said Colonel Gillespie
breaking in upon the said Colonel Barr
and saying: He says he got it all
from Westcott," at which there was
general laugh. Immediately thereafter
affiant recognized the voice of the said
Colonel Barr continuing his reading,
perhaps for the space of ten seconds.
The nature OF said reading the affiant
was not able TO distinguish.
That thereupon the tone of said Barr
changed TO conversational tone, and
the affiant distinctly heard him say: L
will read that 10 counsel and see how
they like it,
Whereupon affiant heard the voice Of
the said General Otis, in a loud and
what seemed TO be defiant and aX-
ultant tone, remark: That will be
good!'
That thereupon affiant, who was
mounting the last flight Of stairs with
the said Captain Carter when said last
remark was made. entered the tempor
airy office of said Colonel Barr, and
found there assembled Gen. Elwell S.
Otis, Col Thomas F. Barr, Col. George
L. Gillespie, Capt. Charles S. Mcclure,
and Capt. Cassius E. Gillette.
Affiant further states that as he en-
,ntn oil foil
by the said Captain Carter. silence
fell upon the parties there assembled.
That no one greeted affiant. although
he was well known personally TO all
persons there present; that the said
Colonel Gillespie. who was sitting in the
far corner of the room. elevated pa
per in front of his face, as if to con-
ceal his identity.
That no one arose to greet the afnant,
but that there was an awkward pause,
prolonged for ten seconds or more;
that thereupon afiiant addressed him
self to the judge advocate, Colonel
Barr. and asked him for certain book,
known by afiant 10 be in the engineers
office, to which Colonel Barr made re-
ply.
Affiant further states that theraupon
the said General Otis arose from his seat
and stated that he was there only for
moment and must be going. That
afiant and the said Captain Carter at
once left, and that said General OTIS dld
not Immediately follow, but remained In
said Office.
That the said Otis replied in sub
stance that the said Gillespie. prior to
leaving the hotel as above detailed
herein. stated to him, Otis, that Cap
tain Gillette probably had some of his.
Gillespie's mail, and thereupon that he.
Otis, offered to show him, Gillespie,
the way to said Gillette's Office. That
in pursuance they together went to said
office. but he, the said Otis, disclaimed
and denied having discussed or having
heard discussed upon that occasion the
case against said Captain Carter Affi-
ant further states that upon the CONVEX
sation with the said Otis in the pres
anco of tho said Rose as aforesaid the