The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-09-29
MACVEAGA GIVEN A
HEARING BY GRIGGS
Counsel For Captain Carter
Makes His Plea. r
WANTVERDICT ANNULLED

Declares That II the President a II "rns
the Courtmartial Proceedings lie
Will lie Guilty CT an Act of Great
Cruelty and Wrong.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 81 - Attorney
General Griggs today gave hearing 70
Hon. Wayne MacVcngh. counsel in the
courtmartial case of Captain o. NJ. Car
ter Of the army. Mr. MacVeash asked
for judicial hearing in the case, saying
that if tho president affirmed tho pro-
ceedings he would be guilty of an act of
great cruelty and wrong. The record
was. he continued, so saturated with err
rors Of law that it is impossible III u
country governed by law to affirm the
finding.
Before proceeding with his argument
proper he corrected what ho designated
as ERRONEOUS reports concerning the
case" The first of these to which he
gave his attention was q statement that
Secretary Alger had allowed the attor.
ney for Cap. ain Carter to take away and
keep poss SESSION of the record iii tho case.
This was, he said, absolutely untrue.
The counsel for the accused had never
seen the original record aad had re.
ceived no favors.
IL was also false that tho representa-.
tives of Captain Carter had importuned
the president inS the captains behalf.
On the contrary the only pressure
brought to bear upon tho president was
from the other side for the affirmation
of the finding. He recited IL instances
of what he termed positive inventions
retailed to the correspondents of the
newspapers during the past l8 mon tbs.
Sooner or later he expected to reveal
the authors Of these reports and expose
thcir motives and then TO hold some.
body respon sible for proving their truth.
IIe had Thought CT asking the new sec
rotary of war to signa!izo his entrance
upon his duties by posting this notice
over the doors of two Of the divisions of
the department:
mo falsehoods shall he disseminated
from this Office during Office hours"
Mr.. MacVeagh also denied that the
finding of the court had been unani.
nous, Notwithstanding, he said, the
war department had so stated.
In asking that the courtmartial yer.
dict lie set aside, Mr.. MacVeagh urged
the unfitness of such court, composed
OF men unframed i'll the law, to deal
with questions such as those involved ia
this case. The findings OF such q court
have no validity and carry no weight
The findings woro based on q tumble OF
incongruous and discordant charges
ranging from en- beZzloment and deceit
in the smallest matters to charges "
conspiracy OF immense magnitude.
In reply to q question from tho attor.
ney general Mr.. MacVeagh admitted
that no opposition to the misJoinder of
charges had been made in the court.
martial.
MIR. GriCgs suggested that tho objec.
ton should have been made at that
tina. addinE- that la aIas .nH,esf5.~i.- -
Continuing. Mr.. MacVeagh said that
only fair trial was asked, and a fair
trial could not be had upon such col.
lection of charges as had been made in
this case
Mr.. MacVcagh dwelt upon the point
that the charges were brought notwith.
standing the statute of limitations He
contended that the fragrant violation of
this act OF congress was sufficien. 20 vi
tlate the proceedings. He had no doubt
that Captain Carter was convicted from
The time he pleaded this statute before
the court. but this was done under ad.
vice and was at least legitimate.
With reference to the checks issued
by Captain Garter, Mr.. MacVeagh con.
tended that he could not under the law
have avoided their issuance. The same
was true Of every act performed by him
ia this conneo;ion-not one act was on
tionnl.
Speaking Of the high prices paid for
services by Captain Carer, Mr.. Mac.
Veagh said they were pail on lettings
after advertising, hence the profits of
the contractors We're not legitimate eyi.
dence against the officer in charge
Moreover In many Instances the prices
paid were no higher than those paid for
similar service by other officers in like
cases.
INCOME TAX LAW a EARHE