The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-06
CAPTAIN CARRIERS ClSt.
ATTORNEY GENERAL GRso6S ~
VIEW o. TnE TEsYsneNy.
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WARRINGTON, Oct s--Ths opinion OF
Attorney 0eperal 0eiggs, in the case Of
Capt Obsriin ~. Carter. Of the army. up
on which the president approved the finding
Of the court-marttal, WAS made public to-
day.
Summing up many of the specifications.
including Capt. Carriers intimacy with
Green and the Gaynors, the method Of
advsrtising for thu. work and Of letting the
contractS: the charter Of the Atlantic Con-
tracing Company: the large profits made
ca the contracts, ETC.. the attorney gen.
efaI says that they might justly b con-
sidered - failing TO m upon the accused
knowledge and psupose 70 defraud the gov
eminent u II were shown that ne had no
corrupt personal motive: that hs had not
prohted BY these loose methods and irrsgu-
lar and questionable PROCEEDINGS. He then
shows that In 1874 the captains salary was
only - per month. and from that time
forward his personal expenses Increased
very rapidly, being eso47 In 1891 and S2a,sll
In 1soe. The fact In also pointed ous that in
1sS2 Capt. Carter began 10 make notably
large deposits In the Union Trust Com
pany, Of New York. and also TO buy securi-
ties. his investments increasing until is95,
when his holdings had increased to q mar
ket value Of SsS3,00.
Mr.. Griggs does not accept Capt. Car
t0T , expihUatSOu tuht ne W48 utdlIHR IN
the securities with the funds Of his
father-in-Iaw. Mr.. Westcott. and was the
recipient Of large presents from him.
"On the face OF H." he says. at u an
improbable story
Speaking further On the point the at
torney general says:
III Mr.. Westcott, the alleged donor,
had come upon the witness stand and cor
roborated the story. II would probably
4. -. = xasA
Continuing. the attorney general empha-
sizes tho fact that all efforts TO secure
the testimony OF Mr. Westcott were un-
availing.
Mr.. Griggs also mentions other circum-
stances which he pronounces suspicious.
including the fact that many OF the
checks paid to the contractors were col
lected In cash over the counter at the
subtreasury, and the circumstances that
Carter was present In New York on July
8. 1881. when the large checks were deiiv-
cred to Gaynor on that date, and that he
was on many other occasions. from 1872
to 1897. present In New York when pay
ments were made to the contractors. He
presents a statement showing the depos-
Its OF currency made by Capt. Carter
simultaneously with the cashina Of checks
given 10 the contractors In New York.
In this connection the attorney general
says:
.'The conclusion Is forced upon the mind
from 1892 TO 1897. enriched himself to q
large degree In some manner not account
ed for by his own testimony, ard the ire
sistibie conclusion. therefore, II that the
true explanation Of this rapid accession Of
wealth is one that ne could hot safely
make, and that IL In TO be accounted for
only by accepting the theory that he par
ticipafed In the fraudulent proceeds OF the
contracts under his charge"
The statement concludes as follows:
II am, therefore. led 10 the conclusion
that the court-martiai was justified In its
findings OF guilty upon the charges ana
specifications relating 70 these contracts OF
September. 1895, and that tho finding and
sentencing Of the court with respect there
10 should be approved"