The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-22

lhItfhl. ActDiulHE W WI. i'hiAt iH'
Judge Advocate General Of the court. a
total Of 81, 120. 600 was literally stolen
from the Government on brush mat
tresses alone during three contracts
The dredging firm Of which Carter YVES
member secured all the contracts
through Oarter's manipulation and the
introduction of dummy bidders. The
rock that was used came from Oarter's
quarrles and was worthless, although it
cost as much as granite The most ex
trayagant prices were paid for work
done. The Government was robbed on
q most gigantic scale.
And on little scale, also For four
teen years Garter made a false affidavit
each month as to the number Of horses
he used and the forage they required,
pocketing, in all. over g. 900 on these
fraudulent vouchers 1t was only $40 a
month and hardly worth stealing, one
would think, but Capt Garter took 1t.
He also had furniture made for his pri-
vate use and charged to the govern
ment he had women upon the rolls as
recorders and inspectors he gave yatch-
ing parties on yacht which cost the
government S25, 900, and all the sup
plies for which were supplied from the
Federal Treasury Many efforts were
made to secure some sort Of a statement
from the absent father law, who
was said TO have furnished Carter with
funds. but it was never obtainable. On
the other hand, the evidence showed
that the dredging company was given
government material for nominal fig
ure whenever it made a request A
auantity Of new rope, worth 81, 100 .
was sold to it for $500 1t had lot OF
old scows, worth $500 each when new,
which it sold to Carter for the govern.
ment at $500 each.
PROTECTED IN A MYSTERIOUS Way
Months and months have passe since
these disclosures, since this verdict and
sentence In the mean time, Capt.
Carter protected in some mysterious
fashion. is as much in the army as ever,
drawing his pay. wearing the uniform,
free to 90 when and where he pleases'
His case is so completely bound up in
red tape that he seems destined to es-
cape punishment forever
Scores Of other officers have been
contaminated and have suffered since
Carters thievery was first discovered.
Around him is the sacred mantle OF
official protection The papers in hii
case we're never even sent to headquar'
ters of the army, but went from the
Judge Advocate General to the Adju'
tAnt General. and then to the Secretary,
and finally to the White House. From
the latter they were turned over to the
Attorney General. Ex-senator Ed
munds did some of the reviewing OF
the evidence and sent In bill for 50 900
ex. Attorney General MaoVeagh also did
some reviewing, but he seat his bill to
either the dredging company or to Capt.
Garter.
1t is said that this is the first court
martial case in the history Of the gov
ernment which has gone to the At
torney Generals Office, but the whole
proceeding is in line with the efforts
which have been so persistently and so
successfully made to prevent any final
action.
Ii is not worth while to print now
the numerous rumors which connect
the names of certain Senators with the
delay in the case, and who are said to
have been largely instrumental in pre-
venting punishment from being meted
out. 1t is, however, worth while to say
that there is a widespread interest in
his case and a very general curiosity to
know why the sentence of the court
martial is not carried out.