Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-06

increase over 1896. Without purchases
of the British government, this years
figures, 1T is said, will touch $4,000, at
the lowest. The entire traue is less than
ten years old.
THE CASE OF CAPT. CARTER.
Attorney General Griggs' Opinion
on the Findings Made Public.
Washington, Oct 6.-The opinion of
Attorney General Griggs in the case of
Capt. Oberlin NJ. Carter, upon which
the president approved the finding of
the court-martial, has been made pub.
lie.
After Diminishing certain minor charg-
es as unproven, the attorney general
takes up the more serious questions in
volved, first considering the objection
that the charges upon which Capt. Car
ter was found guilty were homogeneous
The attorney general says he does not
think the accused should be allowed to
avail himself of this objection nav, be-
cause he proceeded to the trial without
objection to this alleged misjoinder
The objection should have been
The objection concerning the admis-
sion of evidence barred by the statute
of limitations is disposed of by saying
that this evidence was not offered for
the purpose of proving against the ac-
cused any particular offense as to
which he had nterposed this protec-
tive plea, nor of having him declared
guilty thereof but for the purpose of
showing the relation between the ac-
cused and the other alleged conspira-
tors
For this purpose. he thinks. the evil
dence was admissible. Other objec-
tons relating to the admission of evil
dence of conversation and the acts of
alleged co-conspirators antedating the
time of the particular conspiracy
charged, he also thinks We're admissi-
BILE.
Referring to the seizure of the pri-
vate papers of Capt. Carter. Griggs
says the facts do not show that the
selling was unreasonable, and that
Carter practically consented to the use
made of the papers. The attorney
general also finds that the court did
not err in refusing to admit certain
evidence offered by Carter, including
the letter of his father-in-law, r.. F.
| Wescott.
This brings the inquiry to the inves-
| tigation of the main charges upon
| which the conviction was based
Summing up many of the specifica-
| tons, including Capt. Carriers intimacy
| with Greene and the Gaynors, the
| method of advertising for work and OF
letting contracts. etc, the attorney gem
| eral says that they might justly be con-
| sdered as failing to fix upon the ac-
cused any criminal knowledge of a pur-
| pose to defraud the government If !,
| were shown that he had no corrupt per-
sonal motive, and that he had moi
profited by these loose methods and ir-
| regular and questionable proceedings
He then proceeds to an investigation OF
these motives. He shows that in 1881
| the captains salary was only s252 pei
| month, and from that time forward his
| personal expenditures increased very
/ rapidly, being s6.047 in 1891 and s296li
! in 1896 The fact is also pointed ou
that in 1892 Capt. Carter began to make
| notably large deposits in the unior
| Trust Company of New York and alst
| to buy investment securities, these In
creasing until 1895. when his holdings
| had increased to the market value o
S4S6. 900
| Griggs does not accept Capt. Car
ter's explana ton that he was dealing II
securities and with the funds of hi
! father-in-law, Wescott, and was tn
recipient of large presents from him.
i son the face of it. it is, he says. al
improbable story. and it was incumben
upon him for his own protection to sus
tain ii by all attainable testimony"
There is no evidence that Carte
wrote Wescott or requested him in an
wise to appear before the court martha
The inference is that his testimon
would not have benefited Capt. Carte
LIZ he had appeared.
The attorney general then shows b
an analysis of Capt. Carriers testimon
That in his dealings with his father-in
law he rendered strict account to tina
gentleman, that Carriers funds in tn
Union Trust Company We're in eXces
| of those of Wescott during the entii
time that he had control of the latter
affairs. The testimony" he adds. doe
not strike me as that of man pos
sessed of clear idea of the truth an
determined to tell it, but rather as
clever evasion of one who is endeavoi
ling artiticially to account for the pos
session of moneys derived from som
: other source
Criggs also mentions other circun
e stances. which he pronounces susp
S cious. including the fact that many {
$ the checks paid to the contractors wei
= collected In cash over the counter {
g the sub treasury, and the circumstant
0 that Carter was present in New Yor
j. on many occasions, from 1892 to 1873
f when payments were made to the COZ
$ TRACTORS. He presents statemei
S showing the depositssof currency mac
t by Capt Carter simultaneously VII
r the cashing of checks given to the col
g Tractors in New York.
d ON another point the attorney gel
eral says. Carriers statement of go
{ certificates contained in Wescotts sa
} deposit bog, to the amount of oy'
r 500, 900, is such an extraordinary stoi
c and SO inconsistent with the metho'
e of a business man, such as Wescott tie
n titled to be. that it staggers credulity
e Rev. Frederick w. Keator, rector
Z, Grace Episcopal church OF Freepoi
IS ILL.,, has received unanimous call fro
: the vestry Of st. Johns parish, d.
buaue, Iowa, and will probably acce