Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-08-24
Selling Justice for smaa,


While President Mckinley during hi
Administration has shown very friendly
feeling toward bank embezzlers by granting
plrdons that let them out of the peniten
tiary, no case has occurred which attracted
such general attention as that of Captain
Oberlin M. Carter, of the United States
Engineers, found guilty by court marital
nearly two years ago of assisting IN tbs
theft of 81 100000 from the Government
and sentenced to be dismissed from the
army, to pay fine of IS 600. to be i'm
prisoned for Eve years and to have the fact
of his conviction and sentence published
in the home paper of his residence in
Pennsylvania. The frauds in the Govern.
ment work at Savannah of which he had
charge were much greater in amount than
the enormous sum named in the verdicl
which found him guilty, but two-thirds Of
the money involved had been stolen more
than six years before and was covered by
the statute OF limitations The papers in
the case have been driven from pillar 10
post. There has been one subterfuge after
another, and evasion and delay have fol-
lowed each other. There is no doubt OF
the regularity and fairness of the court OF
of the convicted officers guilt and no reason
why the sentence should not BE- confirmed
and carried into execution except the exer.
ton of political and personal influence,
ignoring the public good and demands Of
Justice. The papers in the case are now in
the hands OF Attorney General Griggs fol
review, but he has promised to hear an
argument on the sui ject from Wayne Nc
Veagh, who has been retained as another O.
Captain Carriers Numerous attorneys but
is in Europe on prolonged tour, with
much uncertainty as TO the time of BIZ
return. The Attorney General will wait
Of course, as any excuse is good enough fol
President Mckinley which delays the dut,
of deciding the Gaze. IF no decision il
reached before December LIST of this veal
the statute of limitations will run agains
the remaining 81 100000 involved in th,
verdict against Captain Carter, as it hat
already run against two or three millior.
of similar frauds. 1t will then be too lat,
to prosecute the millionaire contraction
who were Captain Carter's accessOrs. Nov
these millionaire contractors are politician
of much weight and influence in the Stat,
of New York. They are also devoted
friends of Senator Platt One OF then
happens to be leading Democrat, and i
is alleged that be sold out his party at tn
last election, possibly comprising the sue
cess Of the Plat ticket and Governor
Roosevelt. 1t was on condition of della,
in the Carter case. so that the statute O
limitations should apply and save tb
leading Democrat his share of the 81 500,
900 Plunder. A Washington despatch say
that complaints among army officers on th
subject are becoming as emphatic as tn
rules of the military service will permit
Tney would say more but for the fear o.
giving offence to the high authorize
interested in shielding Captain Carter anC
mutter in secret what they would like t,
say very loudly in public. Since the clos
of Captain Carter's trial and the promulga
ton Of his sentence many derelict army
officers have been tried and convicted b,
court martial, the Judgments in the variou
cases have been approved. and the degraded
officers are serving out their sentences
Captain Carter, with a sentence agains
him Of far more serious character thar
that pronounced against any other officer
still wears his uniform, draws his pay anC
allowances and enjoys all the dignities o
his rank. 1t is on par with the way in
which General Eagan was kicked int
honor and emoluments after court hse
decided that be should be dismissed from
the army The proceedings in the Eagar
and Carter cases, it must be admitted, ar.
eminsntIy characteristic Of William Me
Kinley. A mortgaged man in the Presi
dency is decided misdt.
Paterson Guardian.