Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-08
Attorney Generals Return Revives
Discussion.
THE BELIEF IN ARMY CIRCLES
Mitigation Of the Sentence May Be
Recommended.
ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS

Attorney General Griggs returned to his
office today and was present at the cabinet
meeting, but he stated positively that the
case of Captain Carter Of the engineer
corps was not referred to in any way. The
general expectation is that nothing will be
done in this case until Wayne MacVeagh
has argued it before the Attorney General.
The return of Attorney General Griggs to
the city revives the hope Of early de-
csion in the Carter case. Sentiment is
strong throughout army circles that the
Attorney General will sustain the verdict
of the court-martial and prohounce Captain
Carter guilty. although it is believed that
he may recommend to the President a mti-
cation of the sentence, emitting the fine
and imprisonment which the court-martial
ordered. This is the feeling among army
officials who are following the case.
Speculation continues to the motive for
delay in acting finally upon this case. One
opinion is that Captain Carters friends sue
ceeded in convincing the President that
there was a possibility of the captain hav-
ing been made victim of the contractors,
and that they thus induced the President to
give the accused man every possible
chance. Recent occurrences lend color to
the belief that this plea will be strongly
urged for a mitigation of the sentence, at
least to the extent of relieving Captain
Carter Of criminal odium In connection with
the work. t,
Employment of Outside Counsel.
The unusual procedure of employing out
side counsel to review the work of a mill
tary court-martial, and off subsequently
submitting the case to the Attorney Cen
eral, also thereafteI calling again upon the
military branch for an answer to counseps
allegations, is accounted for in some quar-
ters by the influence broughtsto bear upon
the President by his PERSONAL friends, who
were also concerned in Capt. Earter's well
fare. Il
1t has been claimed. In the gossip about
this case, that one of the Presidents
friends, now deceased. obtained promise
from Mr.. Mckinley that he would not
denim Carter until he was himself posi-
lively convinced of his guilt. 1t is said
that In compliance with this promise the
President has used unusiial efforts to get
at the facts.
One of the Contractors 4COncerned.
1t is said that one of the men who was
concerned in the river and ifarbor contract
at Savannah under Capt Carter is again
doing business with the government A
contract for the improven ent of the mouth
OF the St Johns river. Florida, involving
about $125.000, has been authorised to be
made with Edward H. Gaynor OF Boston,
VINO, 1t is claimed in some quarters, Was
VIC VI VIC IdyHoTS VINO utQ tie savannah
work There were three Gaynor brothers
In that deal. Edward H., John F. and W.
L. Gaynor, and this Edward H. Gaynor is
said to be identical with the man of the
same name in the old firm
The contract was authorized upon the
recommendation of Captain McKfnstry, in
charEe of the work the st. Johns, and
was lone after due competition, in which
Gaynor was the lowest responsible bidder.
The chief of engineers of the army, when
asked about this case today said that his
department had no knowledge that this
was the same Gaynor. This biddNr was the
lowest of several and the officer in charge
or the work, who was undoubtedly familiar
with the contractors ability to fulfill his
contract, had recommended the award and
the department had authorized the con-
tract to be entered into. The contract has
not yet been signed. The bidder will be re-
quired to give bond in the sum of $50, 600
for the faithful performance of the work.
The bond on his bid was made by Balti-
more bonding firm
Delay In the Case.
Mr.. George F. Ormsby says regarding
the Carter case in a letter to The Star:
III that supremest court of the United
States called the public knew some of the
fects on records that stare the Attorney