The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-28
MVEAGH URGES
70 OBJECTIONS
To Approval of Carter Court
Martial Verdict.
FAIR TRIAL IMPOSSIBLE
INCAPABLE COURT, JUMBLE OF
INCONGRUOUS CHARGES.
NO LYING PERMITTED IN BUSINESS HOURS
The Above are Some Of Mr.. MacVeagh's Ut
terances. lie Insinuates that There
has been Lying in the
War 0onartnoe M
War Departme MT.

Washington, Sept. o7.-Attorney Cen
eral Griggs today gave hearing to the
Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, counsel in the
court martial case of Captain y. NJ.
Carter, of the army. Mr.. MacWeagh
asked for a judicial hearing in tie case,
saying that if the President affirmcI
the proceedings he would be guilty If
of an act of great cruelty and wrtng
The record was, he continued, SO satura-
ted with errors Of law that it Is impossi-
bic in a country governed by law 10
affirm the finding.
Before proceeding with his Argument
proper, he corrected what he designated
as erroneous reports concerning the
case. The first of these to which, he
gave his attention was statement that
Secretary Alger had allowed the aitor-
neys for Carter to take away and keep
possession of the record in the case.
This, he said, was absolutely untrue.
The counsel for the accused had never
seen the original record and had re-
ceived no fayors. 1t was also false that
the representatives of Captain Carter
had importuned the President in the
Captains behalf. On the contrary the
only pressure brought to bear upon the
President was from the other side for
the affirmation of the finding. He re-
cited eleven instances of what he termed
positive inventions retailed to the cor
respondents of the newspapers during
the past eighteen months. Sooner or
later he expected to reveal the authors
of these reports and expose their motives
and then to hold somebody responsible
for proving their truth. He had thought
of asking the new Secretary of War
to signalize his entrance upon his duties
by posting this notice over the doors
of two of the divisions of the Depart
ment: mo falsehoods shall be dis
seminated from this office during office
hours
Mr.. MacVeagh also denied that the
finding of the court had been unanimous,
notwithstanding he said the War De-
partment had so stated
In asking that the court martial YER
dict be set aside Mr.. MacVeagh urged
the unfitness of such court composed
of men unframed in the law, to deal
with questions such as those involved
in this case. The findings of such
court have no validity and carry no
Nc1isut. lie nHulilSS were DdSeu OH Il
tumble of homogeneous and discordant
charges, ranging from embezzlement and
deceit on the smallest matters to
charges of conspiracy of immense mag
nitude.
In reply to a question from the Attor-
ney General Mr.. MacVeagh admitted
no objection to the misjoinder OF
charges had been made In the court
martial Mr. Griggs Suggested that
the objection should be made at that
time, adding that he was expressing no
opinion upon the merits OF the points
at issue.
Continuing. Mr.. MacVeagh said that
only fair trial was asked, and fair
trial could not be had upon such coll
lection of charges as had been made
in this case.
Mr.. MacVeagh also dwelt upon the
point that the charges were brought,
notwithstanding the statute of limita-
tions. He contended that "the fragrant
violation of this act of Congress was
sufficient to yitiate the proceedings"