The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-09-06
BLAIR EXPLAINS
Says Otis is in no Way Connect
ed with Carter Case.

Chicago. Ill Sept, 5.-Publication Of
the proceedings Of the Captain ober-
lin NJ. Carter court marital whose YER
dict is in the hands Of President Nc
Kin ey for approval or rejection, has
been the cause of number Of sensation
al statements during ,he past week, the
widest Of which is that Frank r. Blair,
counsel for Captain Carter has charged
General Elwen s Otis. now commanding
the army in the Philippines, with perjury
and subordation OF perjury In connec-
tion with the statement Mr.. Blair has
been quoted as emphas.zlrl the 5ccusa-
tions.
81 have made no such charges against
General OILS" said Mr Blair. last night
"A reading Of affidavit does not by the
farthest stretch OF the imal alton. sup
port such a statement as has appeared as
coming from me The affidavit was filed
with the president along with others
last fall when the review Of the proceed
'Af7N W. ANANAANA W DNAHdAbl AauilullQns
THE affidavit was filed as an essential
part Of the demand for a setting aside
of the verdict. and simply states that
one night at the De Soto hotel, savan-
nah. Ga, during the sitting Of the court
martha l over heard Judge Advocate
Colonel Thomas +. Barr read some docu-
ments to General Otis and Colonel Gil
espie Of the court martial and conclud-
cd by saying that he would read 1t to the
counsel, and General Otis remarked, that
will be good The affidavit was a proof
that two members Of the court martial
had exceeded their province in discussing
the case with the prosecuting attorney.
In amy legal proceeding such an act is
sufficient to throw out the verdict Of a
jury And the court martial IS only a
jury"
In connection with the assertion Of the
making OF a charge OF perjury against
the president Of the court martial, the
counsel is quoted as having had an inter-
view with Preiient Mckinley on the mat
ter, and that the president had said the
charges wou d necessitate the recall of
General Otis from the Philippines. Mr..
Hlair also repudiated having made such a
statement lneyer talked with the
president about the affidavit. he said.
SAYS STORY IS ABSURD.
II do not even know II he read II. The
story is absurd. The affidavit was filed
TO show the prejudice OF the preident OF
the court martial My accusation against
Gen Ous goes that far ana no farther
l believe that he was Influenced in his
judgment In the matter by someone or
somebody outside OF the evidence
believe that Captain Carter is the |
Vi'um or conspiracy TO degrade him. |
IL ls an American parallel TO the Dreyfus |
ease The same general features are In |
oo'h cases. The accnsers and prosecutors |
or Garter are Of the general stan OF the /
army as are those Of Dreyfus. jealousy
ii'u " deliberate attempt 20 carry out the
"lshes OF superiors, 10 pander 20 political
n''uehee mas actuotei a majority OF the
hen or the Garter court marLal. Secret
conferences such as tnat set out in any
''-lda'it were the illegat methods TO Sc
'ure conviction OF Captain Carter"
ar Blair intimates tina, Carter was sin.
''ed out as victim OF the wrath OF The
men who have Deen promoting the Me.
lragua canal scheme.
carter was named a member OF the
anal commission to investigate the exact
ohoiuon Of the scheme" added Mr. Blair
lie was selected because oa his known
ngineering ability An the army ana
'aVy club at Washington he said he pro-
oseo TO get az the bottom Of the scheme
.nd sho" II up He was then sent TO Dn-
laho as military attache OF the American
hoassy On lis return he was placed
naer arrest charged with defrauding
he government
1 believe II he had never announced
Us intentions to prick the plans OF the
fomotors he would not nave been ae-
used"