The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-08-29
As a resu,, Of the visit OF Secretary

As a result Of the visit OF Secretary
Root, who was taken into the cabinet
because OF his great legal attainments,
to President Mckinley at Lake Cham
plain. the past week, 1t is now announced
that Capt. Carter, the government
swindler, will not receive the full sen
tence provided in his court martial, but
that it will be condoned by President
Mckinley to simple dismissal from the
army and a probable fine OF $4,000. At
torney General Griggs and Senator
Platt Of New York are said to be the
pull behind the president which is
working out OF Carter's release. This
case was tried, the verdict OF guilty rem
dered and the penalty fixed fifteen
months ago aud sent to the president
for his approval and here it has been
held up %purposeiy with a view to finding
some legal technicslity If possible to let
the scoundrel escape his just sentence.
And Mr.. Mckinley is the nan who is
lending himself a tool for this despica-
bic purpose, 1t is looked upon by SELF
respecting army officers, public men and
private citizens alike as the most fla
grant miscarriage OF justice ever record
ed IN the history of the country. On
April 20, ls9s, Oberlin NJ. Carter, cap
tain OF engineers, L. s.. A., was convicted
by a our martial of stealing 100000
FROM the federal government while ia
charge OF the improvement OF Savannah
harbor; gross neglect of duty and Of
conduct unbecomlng an officer and a
gentleman. The verdict OF the court
martial was that Carter sis guilty as
charged OF conspiring with Green and
Gaynor q other contractors to defraud
the government OF an amount which the
evidence adduced showed to be not less
than one and a half million dollars.
The sentence was dismissal from the
service OF the United States, a tine of
$4,000, a term of five years in the peni-
Tertiary and that he be advertised i. his
native towL by public prints as q thief
and scoundrel. The implication OF this
latter penalty ls hat no officer OF the
army speak to him on pain OF being
court martialed and dismissed from the
army.
After passing through the secretary of
wars office and the case revie wed and
findings confirmed az without a flaw,
the papers were sent to President Mo-
klnley for approval, by Secretary Alger,
July 10, 1893, and from that date to
this it has been suspended in the air,
either 10 the white house or in the de-
partment Of justice. Five thousand dol.
.ars OF the peoples money was paid ex-
Senator Edmunds, the greatest consti-
tutional lawyer in the United States, to
review the proceedings with q view to
getting some loop.hole to let Carter out,
but all to no purpose. he could not
lind 9 flaw in the proceedings. Even
Mr.. Root has reviewed the case since be
won't into Office and told two western
congressman who went to urge the car.
rying out of the Carter sentence az it's
delay was working great havoc in the
ranks Of the republican party in the
west, that he believed Carter guilty.
The Carter case is without a parallel in
the history OF crime, considering it's
enormity, iI this country and the
amount OF money embezzled. When
First Lieut.. John NJ. Neall OF the
Fourth United States cavalry was found
guilty of embezzlement of q little post
funds, bis sentence, dismissal from the
service, although bis friends made good
the loss, was approved by President
Mckinley in less than three monthe.
When Capt. Leonard A. Lowering was
sentenced to q reprimand for cruelty to
IN obstreperous private, President Mo-