The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-29
As TO THE CARTER SCANDAL.
cpY G. A. BDwARDs)

ANYTHING else. 1t is beginning 10 oo'ne'
mckinley right now and It will keep Oh
the more the facts are aired
resume of the Carter case VIII propa-
blv prove interesting 30 the readers Oh
Tho POST, as It is about the only 'nihs
~. 10 creating any live talk here during
these dull dog days.
The Carter case is without preceueh''
vbether REGARDED from the character anu
extent Of the offense charged, the status VI
,,o occused as an officer of the corps OF en-
s,roors of the United States army, the
pecunIsry loss sustained by the govern
ment the mysterious but poweriui 'hiu'
ences that have been obtruded to deleaV 'ne
anal action on the findings OF the court
mor,ia, or the remarkable course OF the
nresident in yielding to those Influences
and In listening to arguments OF paid a'loi
news of the accused officer. and upon Vheii
solicitation taking such steps-unusuai anu
without precedent in the practice Oh courts
marital In this or any other country
tn DELAY the performance of plain duly'
namely, to approve or disapprove the hhu-
ings of the court martial.
To start at the beginning OF TINS matter
so the whole case and the side lights can
he understood. 1t is necessary to explain
that for period of twelve or fourteen
wears CAPTAIN Oberlin NJ. Garter was IN
immediate charge of the river ana haruor
improvements in the harbor OF savannah
Ga. and certain other improvements OF
like character in the vicinity.
Some time In 1896 Carter was renewed
by Captain Cassius Il. Gillette, the former
having been detailed as member OF the
Nicaragua canal commission, and suose-
quently sent to London as military at
tache. Soon after assuming charge Gil
lette discovered Irregularities. There was
a failure OF materials to meet the require
ments of specifications and many detects
in the work performed. He sent Inspector
Daniels to look over the work and report
on the character of the mattresses fur-
nished by the contractors. Iney were
rotten. He then wrote TO Mr.. Cooper, an
assistant engineer, who had been employed
on the work for many years, and received
from him such a remarkable reply that
he at once suspected fraud. cooper au-
monished Gillette no to pursue the IN
auiry any further. as it would lead TO an
Investigation which. while it would be
damaging to the engineer corps, would also
result in disaster to Gillette. Gillette
not scare worth a cent. He reported MS
discoveries to General John NJ. WILSON,
the chief of engineers, who ordered MIN 10
come to Washington. He was then ordered
TO reduce his discoveries of the irregu-
larties and evidences of fraud to writing
AS soon as this was done Carter was re-
called from London. He was here con-
fronted with the evidences of his apparent
Irregularities and he denied strenuousiy
that anything like crime had been COM
mitted, and did it IN dramatic style. He
claimed that the charges were based upon
misapprehension and lack of proper infor-
nation He insisted that his innocence
would be established beyond the peradven-
ture of n doubt by the inspection of the
work by experienced engineer officers, and
asked General Wilson to designate three
officers of the corps to examine and re-
port upon his work.
General Wilson appointed three officers
of high rank and large experience in en-
cheering work to go 10 Savannah and ex-
anime the work done under the supervision
of Carter. The officers selected were Colo
mel George L. Gillespie, Lieutenant Colo
ne! Charles w Raymond and Major Hen
ry NJ. Adams. This was not board of in
| quiry, in the technical sense, but simply
| a board of expert officers to obtain infor-
nation for the use of the chief of en-
| gineers. Captain Carter was perfectly sat-
isfied with the selection of these officers
and it was understood that he would ae-
company them and furnish every assist
ance and explanation needed to enable tn.
| board to form correct estimate of the
character and integrity of the work anc
his official conduct in connection there
with. On arrival at Savannah the boart
took charge Of all the papers and records
and found a case for filing papers Grated
for shipment These were also takei
charge of and Carter furnished the Ike!
for the drawer that was locked, and IN
which he said were his private papers
He said, however, that he had no objec-
| ton TO the board examining them. Thes,
are the private papers that figured so
I largely in the defense. The board made
~,
ter and Gillette being present the greater
part of the time. The board reported afte
thorough and careful investigation tina
the charges of Gillette were correct anC
that Carter had been guilty of the mos
palpable and gross frauds and this repor
was unanimous. This report was submitted
to the secretary of war by General Wilson
with the recommendation that charges b,
brought against Carter.
At the same time General Wilson rec
commended that as the judge advocate gen
eral was not in good health the papers b.
sent to Colonel George B. Davis professo
OF law at the West Point military acad.
envy. for examination and the preparation
OF specifications and charges.
When the papers reached General Lie
ber judge advocate general, he was sur
prised at the unusual Recommendation Il
take them out of the regular channel an,
send them to one of his subordnates III
EXPRESSED his surprise when he returne,
the papers to the secretary of war and in
dorsed them to the effect that while h,
was not very we'll, his assistant In the OF
fee, Major J. NJ. Morrison, was fully com
petent TO prepare the charges. And that 4
exactly the man that Carter and his gan,
did not want to get his hands on the ma
pers. The papers, however, were sent Il
Colonel Davis at West Point. who re.
turned them In about week with tho rec
ommendation that charges be brousb.
| against Carter for ohcapca ,.i.l...,.