The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-04
1HE CARTER CASF

Gives Rise 20 Sensational Statements
Counsel for Carter Denies no Made
Charges Against General OTIS.
CHICAGO. Sept. S.-The crUnscis TO-
morrow will say:
Publication OF the proceedings OF the
Captain oberiln n. Carter court mar
tiol, whose verdict Is in the hands Of
the President for approval or rejec-
tIon, has been the cause Of q number
Of sensational statements during the
past week, the widest Of which is that
Frank p. Blair. counsel for Carter. has
charged General Elwell 8. Otis, now
commanding the army in the Philip
pines, with perjury and subornation
Of perjury. In connection with the
statement Mr.. Blair has been quoted as
emphasizing the accuRauon.
"I have made no such charges
against General Otis" said Mr.. Blair
last night. "a reading OF the afidayit
does not by the farthest stretch OF the
Imagination support such a statement
as has appeared as coming from me-
The affidavit was filed with the Presl-
dent along with others last fall, when
the review Of the proceedings was re-
ferred to Senator Edmunds
"The afidavit was flied as an essen
tlal part Of the demand for a setting
aside Of the verdict, and simply states
that one night at the De Soto hotel: sa-
yannah, Ga, during tho sitting Of the
court martial, overheard Judge Ad-
yocate Colonel Thomas F, Barr read
some document to General Otis and
Colonel Gillespie, OF the court martial,
and conclude by saying he would read
It to counsel, and General Otis remark
cd, That will be good The Rfiidavit
was a proof that the two members OF
the court martial had exceeded their
province in discussing the case With the
prosecuting attorney. In any legal pro-
ceedlnR such an act IL Sufficient to
throw out the verdict Of Jury and the
court martial is only a Jury"
In connection with the assertion OF
against the president Of the court mar
tial, the counsel Is quoted as having
had an interview with President Nc
Kiniey on the matter, and that the
President had said the charges would
necessltate the recall OF General Otis
from the Philippines. Mr.. Blair also re-
pudlates having made any such stnte-
ment.
II never talked with the President
about the aifldavit," he said. ''I do not
even know II he read 1t, The story is
absurd. The affidavit was filed to show
the prejudice Of the president OF the
court martial My accusation against
General Otis goes that far and no far
ther. I believe that he was Influenced
In his judgment on the matter by
something or somebody outside OF the
evidence. That is evident to any read
er Of the evidence.
"I believe that Captain Carter Is the
victim OF q conspiracy to degrade him.
It is an American parallel to the Drey-
fus case. The same general features
are In both cases. The accusers and
prosecutors Of Carter are Of the general
stan OF the army. as are those OF Drey-
fus, Jealousy and a deliberate at
tempt to carry out the wishes Of su-
periors. to pander to political influence,
has actuated the majority Of the men
on the Carter court martial Secret
conferences, such rs that set out In my
nffidavit, were the Illegal methods to
secure the conviction Of Captain Car
ter"
Mr.. Blair intlmates that Carter was
singled out as n victim Of the wrath Of
the men who have been promoting the
Nicaragua canal scheme.
Garter was named member OF the
canal commission to investigate the eX-
act conditions Of the scheme, added
Mr.. Blair. "He was selected because
OF his keen engineering ability. At the
army and navy club. at Washington.
he said he proposed to get at the bot
tom Of the scheme and show It up. He
was then sent to England as military
attache OF the American embassy. On
his return he was placed under arrest
charged with defraudIng the govern
ment.
"I believe II he had never announced
his Intentions to prick the plans OF the
promoters he would not have been ac-
cused."