The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-27
CALLED on CAPT. CARTER.
a savannah Friends visit TO the
ex-Oaicer ON Goxernor's Island.

eN-Ofieer on Governors Island.
Capt o. NJ Carter is evidently not suf-
fering any undue hardship as the result
Of his confinement on Governors Island in
New York harbor A sayannahian who
has recently returned from New YORK
saw Capt Carter IN his prison. Being
personal friend Of Capt. Carter Of long
standing, he discussed hts situation and
the events which have lead up to his in
generation freely
Capt. Carter is not living on prison
fare. nor wearing prison clothes" said
the savannahian. He has not been re-
CURED to shave his mustache, nor cut mis-
hair, nor have any lndigni;ies been forced
upon him. He has a large, comfortable
room, and Is, besides, allowed opportun-
ity for exercise within the grounds"
I The Savannahian said that the officers
at the fort took particular care to ascer-
tain whether ne was a newspaper man be-
fore admitting him. They had no objec-
tons to his visiting Capt. Carter as
personal friend 4 found Garter In good
spirits ne said and bearing up well Ia
spite Of the turn which events have seem
ingly taken against him recently. He is
confident that he will come out all right
In the end, and has faith that justice will
ultimately be done him His attorneys
feet"
Capt. Carter admitted" said the Sa-
MAMMALIAN THAT he was surprised at the
PRESIDENTS approval OF the sentence of the
courtmartial. He had assurances from the
President through his attorneys, that he
need have no fear but that his plea would
he given careful cousldera ton and that
run justice would be done him. This as
surance had been given not long before
the approval of the sentence, hence the
surprise Of Capt. Carter and his attorneys.
Friends of Carter with whom 1 convers-
ed in New York, say that the evidence is
unmistakable that the Presidents action
was due to the state OF Ohio politics and
that the step was dictated by the poll
ticians there because of the manner in
which the delay was being used against
the Republicans. 1t is very significant
that the President should have approved
the sentence while the Attorney General
was at work upon his review OF the case
and still more significant that II should
have taken the Attorney General two days
after this action on the part of the Presi-
dent In which to write an opinion sustain
ing the Presidents approval of the SEN
tence. This opinion Of the Attorney Cen
eral is considered a very weak document
by the way
Abiding to the mention by Attorney
General Griggs, in his review of the case,
of the improbabllty OF Capt. Carriers
father-in-law, MIR Westcott. having
placed such implicit confidence in his SON
in4aw in financial matters and the
strangeness of his conduct in failing to
appear in his son-in-law's behalf, the gen
tleman said: Il happen TO know that Mr..
Westcotts power Of attorney to Capt.
Carter was one Of the most complete and
extensive documents of the kind ever writ
ten. Such complete powers were probably
never before conferred by a power of at
torney. 1t was by this means that Capt.
Cater was able to handle such large sums
of money In his father-in-law's name and
which 1t Is charged we're really his own.
The Attorney General arrives at the con-
clusion that Capt Carter must have had
$4,000 to his credit in bank at one time
by simply taking the coupons cashed in
Mr.. Westcott's name and calculating the
amount of bonds which they represe
1t is true that Mr.. Westcott declined to
appear in his son-in-law's behalf and
that this was probably the most dana ging
circumstance against Capt. Carter This
conduct on Mr.. Westcotts part has never
been explained 1t was due to an
esirangement between Mr.. West
colt and his son-in-aw on ac-
count of the latter's conduct in another
matter, having no relation whatever to
his alleged misconduct in handling gov
eminent funds. Mr. Westcott is still es-
tranged from his son-in-law and does not
visit him in prison. This estrangement does
not extend TO the other members of the
family and Mr. Westcott Jr., and his
wife are frequent visitors to Capt. Car
ter. There is hardly a day that some
member of the family does not visit him.
II Mr.. WestcOtt, Sr., believes his son-in-
| law to be guilty Of wrongdoing in his deal
ings with the government 1t is hardly like
! ly that the other members of the family
would continue to manifest such friend
ship towards him.
Judge Lacombe's decision in refusing
the habeas corpus was a surprise to Capt.
Carriers attorneys, for the reason that
the attorneys for the government had
practically admitted that their opponents
had the law of the case on their side and
Judge Lacombe showed very plainly at the
hearing that this was his view of the
| matter also. The decision will be taken to
the Court of Claims, and from thence, in
oil likelihood. to the Supreme Court of the
| United States. The only stumbling block
! in the way of Capt. Carriers attorneys
| before the latter tribunal is the fact thet
no instance has ever occurred where the
Supreme Court has oyerruled a decision of
courtmartial"
Being a firm friend of Capt Carter. the
Savannah man is fully confident that the
tide viii yet turn in the ex-officer's favor
and that he will at least escape the further
penalties imposed upon him, if he is not
vindicated altogether.
Welded BEFORE \ SMALL HOUSE.