The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-06
GRIGGS' OPINION
Is MADE PUBLIC
Continued From First Page.)

had not profited by these loose methods and
Irregular and questionable proceedings.
He then proceeds to the investigation of
these motives. He shows that in 1891 the
captains salary was only s252 per month,
and that from that time forward his per-
sonal expenditures increased very rapidly,
being Sc ,O47 in 1891 and $29,611 in 1896 the
fact is also pointed out that in 1892 Captain
Carter began to make notably large de-
posits in the Union Trust company of New
York and also to buy investment securi-
ties, these increasing until 1885, when his
holdings had increased to a market value
of s463 300.
Mr.. Griggs does not accept Captain Car
ter's explanation that he was dealing IN
the securities with the funds OF his father-
in-law, Mr. Westcott, and was the reclp-
lent of large presents from him.
'.On the face of it, it isl he says, IAN
improbable story and it was incumbent
upon him for his own protection to sustain
it by all attainable testimony"
Speaking further on this point, the attor-
ney general says: "If Mr.. Westcott, the
stand and corroborated tthe story, 1t would
probably have been sufficient, but he did
not come 1t is contended on behalf of
Captain Carter that Westcott was at the
time of the trial In Europe with sick
daughter, and was in a nervous state, SO
that he naturally shrunk from the annoy
ance and trouble to which he would be
subjected by coming home to testify in his
son-in-law's behalf. The evidence as to
the Ill health of his daughter and his own
condition of nervousness, is very sparse
and cannot be deemed satisfactory. The
letter which Mr. Westcott sent to Captain
Carter, wherein he declined to appear be-
fore the board of inquiry in the fall of
1895, does not put his refusal upon either
of these grounds, but rather upon the
ground that his testimony was unimportant
and could be supplied in other ways.
'If it be true, as commended, that Mr.
Wescott had such an extravagant affection
and regard for his son-in-law as to induce
him to confide to him SO great a trust and
to make him the donor of such large sums
of money, then the natural suggestion
would be that he would be interested in
tensely in the result Of the trial in which
the donor as well as the liberty of his SON.
in-law was involved. One would naturally
think that a father-in-law so regardful of
his .son-in-law's interests would be quick to
rush to his defense by mis- oath to add con-
firmation to the story, which, If true
would 9exculpate him from the serious
charges.
The Encouragement then shows by an
analysis of Captain Carriers testimony that
in his dealings with his father-in-law he
rendered strict account to that gentleman
and that Carter's funds in the Union Trust
company were in excess of those of Mr..
Wescott during the entire time that he had
control of the latter's affairs.
''The testimony" he adds, '''does not
strike me as that of a man possessed of
clear idea of the truth and determined to
tell it, but as a clever evasion of one 4ho
is endeavoring artfuIly to account for che
possession of moneys derived from other
sources"
Mr.. Griggs also mentions other circum-
stances which he pronounoes suspicious. IN
Guiding the fact that many of the checks
paid to the contractors were collected in
cash art the sub-treasury and the circum-
stances that Garter was present In New
York ON July 6, 1887, when the large checks
were delivered to iGaynor on that date and
that he was on many other occasions from
1892 to 1897 present in New York when pay
ments were made to the contractors. He
presents a statement showing the deposits
of currency made by CAPTAIN .Cantar sinault