The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-22
Carter SIN Free-A National Scandal.

"Oyer two years ago Capt o VI
Garter, AN officer Of the Engineer Corps.
L. 5 A.. was convicted of stealing
over - 900. 900 from the government
and was sentenced 10 a fine Of -, 900,
three years imprisonment. and dis.
missal from the army Punishment
has never been meted out 10 him, but
from the time Of the trial he has been
strangely protected
cover thirty officers Of the govern
ment. military and legal, have review
ed the case and have agreed that the
sentence was a proper one Capt
Carter however. wears his uniform and
draws the pay. as he has been do.
ing ever since sentence was pronounced
upon him From the court.martial mp
70 the highest authority in the land the
papers have gone The Secretary Of
War-after some delay-gave. his ap-
proval to the verdict, and final action
remained with the President Long
since the papers were sent to the At
torney General for review A brief was
asked Of Carriers counsel When this
had been furnished, a reply was re-
quested from the Judge Advocate Gen
erals Office Now that this has been
given, there are to be hearings "
In other words, the case OF Capt.
Carter. with its mysterious influences
behind it, seems as far from being set.
tied as ever. Perhaps the belief that if
it remains undisposed Of for a month
or two longer the statute Of limitations
will be pleaded may have something to
do with this unatcountable and suspi-
cious delay.
Capt. Carter was for fourteen years
in charge Of the improvement Of the
Savannah River and adjacent waters in
Georgia and Florida. During that
time he expended nearly $1,000, 600, Of
which g, 800 900 w-s on the Savannah
River alone.
In Savannah he lived like q Prince
He spent more money than any other
man in the city He wore four or five
suits of clothes each day, fashionable
and costly, and owned carriages and
horses and yacht People wondered
how a Captain in the army could afford
to be so eXtravagant. but he met the
whispered inquiries by saying that be
was supplied with money by his father
in-law. BY and by he tired Of Sayan-
nah. and had influence enough to be
appointed a member Of the Nicaragua
Canal Commission. One Of his letters
read during his trial, showed that he
expected about 1000 600 worth Of
dredging to be done there and he want
ed to get his share " Z hen from the
canal commission he was appointed
military attache to the American Am
bassy at London-for his pull" seems
to have been unlimited.
HOW THE DISCLOSURES CAME ABOUT.
But the foreign mission was the
cause Of his undoing, Capt. Gillette
was ordered to succeed him at Savan.
nah. Carter met Gillette in New York,
and was overland. Among other
things. he offered Gillette his furnish.
ed house in Savannah, rent free. for an
indefinite length Of time Gillette, cold
blooded and experienced, wondered at
this remarkable liberality, and de-
clined
Gillette went to work in Savannah
One day he went down the river to ex'
anime retaining wall, which. accord
ing to the map, had been completed
and been paid for by the government
The wall was not there Shortly after
ward he inspected some work which
called for the use Of log and brush mat
tresses, for who thousands OF dollars
had been paid There was no mat
tresses there Their acceptance and
approval, which had been vOuched for
by Capt. Carter was fraudulent and
false in every particular.
Evidences Of dishonesty multiplied.
Gillette was &C mpelled to ask the author
tiles to order a survey of the work sup
posed to have been done in order that
ne might not share the responsibility
/ Of wide-reaching fraud A board OF
engineer officers-from Capt. Garter s
own corps composed Of Dol. Gillespie,
Maj Adams, and Capt Black, unani'
mously agreed that a court'martial
must be held. Among the records OF
the office was box marked Personal
and Private " 1t was opened 1t con-
tained no personal papers, except half
a dozen letters from Carter's sister.
These were not read, but with them
were found strictly official papers,
which should have been in the files
also bank books-some showing deposits
as high as $50, ,OOO at time copies OF
letters received and sent by Garter and
showing his connection with the At
lantic Contracting Company, and his
certificate Of stock in that corporation
which. it is hardly necessary to add
was given the contract for all the
dredging.
PLEADED STATUTE OF LIMITATION.
The court.martial met. It was pre-
sided over by Gen. E. S. Otis, now in
command in the Philippines. There
were fifteen officers Of the court, select
ed from all branches of the service,
every one of whom was personally &C.
auainted with Capt. Garter, and, If
anything. prejudiced in his favor. The
accused officer had six lawyers defend
ing him. Among other things, he
pleaded the statute Of limitations. AL.