New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-02
DISMAL DAY FOR CARTER.
APPARENTLY no HOPE FOR THE PRIs-
ONER IN CASTLE WILLIAMS
SPENDS MOST OF THE TINE IN
SORROW-HTs DEPARTURE

In Cell No. Of Castle Williams, the military
prison on Governors Island Oberlin ". Carter,
no longer a captain in the United states Army,
but prisoner convicted Of nisapproprlatins
Government funds while in charge Of river and
lhrbor work at Savannah, passed disconsoiate
day yesterday He feels the degradation that
has come upon him keenly. and most of his time
yesterday, his guards said. he spent with his
head buried IN his hands. The only visitors he
consented TO yesterday were his brother-in-
law. Mr. Westcott and Mr. Wcstcott's WIFE
Captain Rees. who was also employed on the
Savannah Harbor works, and Ahram j. Rose
one Of his counsel Mr.. Rose was in consultation
with the prisoner for considerable time and
upon leaving the fort refused TO say anything
regarding his client or to whether any action
would he taken to fight the sentence Of the court
martial
PRESIDENTS ACTION USUALLY FINAL.
Last night he said that nothing further could
be done There no appeal he said Hom
the verdict and sentence of a court martial APP
proved by the President. except 20 the President
himself who could exercise his clemency as he
had jurisdiction in such case. The decision
and sentence were. therefore, final. so far as
judicial action goes and only the Executive
power could act, either by pardon or cominu-
tation of sentence AS the Executive had IN the
case confirmed the findings Of the court and ap-
proved the sentence. an appeal In that quarter
seemed impracticable. Mr. Rose added that the
case was one Of a number happening iately IN
| the world In which courts martial had eXerclseu
their arbitrary powers TO convict and sentence
officers upon evidence that would De loIelsil ~
civil jurisprudence. Mr.. Rose IS al 'he ''"-
haitian Hotel
Carter received no more consideration yes
terdsy than did any Of the other pIls-
oners confined in Castle Ni.4aIH5, T ny
privilege which he asked for and which was
granted was that he might be supplied win me
morning newspapers. He renamed ID MS cen
the whole Of the day. and at meal ul!lea va
served with the usual fare. This consists nam
/ " Of food such the private soldiers receive
with the difference that II Is not served 20
well as It is in the soldiers messrooh' LHe
cell which the prisoner occupies is ABOUT l"elNe
fect nv fifteen. Its stone walls are WhNeWasheu'
while the only furniture in the place is an iron
cot. stool and a common board Ianie. y
small lamp lights the cell at night The slohe
cell with its one barred window and uncomtolt-
able surroundings. is in marked contrast win
the quarters Carter lived in at the NeW-1o
Athletic Club.
TREATED LIKE OTHER PRISONERS.
we have treated and will continue 70 treat
Carter tust as We do other prisoners. captain
p K. Roberts the commandant of Governor
Island. said yesterday 70 Tribune reporter
..IIa IS no longer 2 captain In the Army. but
convicted
same footing as all the other prisoners ana ne
Will be served exactly as they are
Captaln Roberts said that he expected 20 send
Garter to the Loavenworth prison CD Iuesaay
| or Wednesday, He viii be sent i'm me CUSTODY "t
q on-commisgioned officer and two privates In
view az the fact that he Will be transferred SO
soon the captain said he would NOT put CdIu
in prison clothes while he was ON Governor l'i-
General Merritt and Captain Roberts both re-
fused permission 10 neWspapei I'seI.ld ~ -,
to see the prisoner. Carriers visitors yesterdaY
were allowed to talk 10 him only I'D 'le Pl'S,-rD1
Of either Captain Roberts or Lieutenant hll-
bourn. the officer I'm charge Of Castle Wlihams,
The Captain a member, not alone or the
New-York Athletic Club which IS large or
ganization. embracing members Of many soclai
degrees but he belonged as we'll 10 two of New
York's most exclusive and best managed c!uos
the Union and the University
CARTER STILL A CLUB MEMBER.
There was a report in active circulation yes
terday afternoon that Carter since his arrest
and Incarceration on Governors Island, had for
warded letters Of resignation 70 all Of these
clubs in none Of them have charges been
brought against the ex-captain at any time. the
members theory. though It has aroused hearty
critciem being that there was no basis for
charges until the crime vas finally fixed upon
him. In the present circumstances. however,
the clubs concerned must now act, either by
ceptng a resignation, II one is rendered, or
polling or dropping him from the rolls. Thus It
Is a question Of much interest whether Carter
has forestalled the latter by sending in his
designations, and n he has done SO what the
clubs action will be.
In the ordinary course Of affairs ouch letters
would be directed 10 the secretary Of each club
and the Membership Committee Of each would
act upon them. The opinion is almost universal
among club men that ex-Captain Carter will
Immediately send In his designations r. indeed,
he has not already done so, and the committees
Will at once accept them as the best way Of dis
posing OF what might otherwise bring them into
unpleasant nOtOriety
RESIGNATION The SAME As Confession
Few men are willing TO talk for publication
about the case A we'll known member If both
the Union and the New-York Athletic clubs IS
authority for the statement that Garter could
not have resigned before, because It would have
been practical admission Of his own guilt lie
must almost certainly send IN his resignation
now, II for no other reason than 70 get the club
out Of an embarrassing position.
Again" the man went on 70 say any action
Of expelling or dropping him would have been
premature in the extreme Any club would
embarrass itself extremely il it did not wait
under circumstances like these. There was
really nothing else TO DO"
Ex-Captain Carter was hardly ever seen IN
the houses Of the Union and the University
clubs and but a small proportion Of the MEM
bc:s had ever heard Of him. In the New-York
Athletic. despite the fact that he had lived
there for some months and had been menhe-
since 1892 few members knew him even by
sight lie generally took breakfast at the
club. and then would vanish for the rest u the
dey There was not a more quiet unassuming
man.
LED SIMPLE LIFE N TOWN
The room he actually occupied was one ot
u L. LII IL