Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09
NODECISION REACHED
The Attorney General Awaiting
Argument in the Carter Case.
MANY STATEMENTS MERE GUESSWORK
Course Followed in Dealing With
the Matter.
COLONEL BARR'S STATEMENT

Many important facts bearing upon the
case of Capt. Oberlin NJ. Carter of the En-
gineer Corps have been obtained by a rep
resentative of The Star. These facts from
administration sources, show the absurdity
of numerous statements which have been
printed in the case.
To begin with, there is no absolute knowl-
edge that Attorney General Griggs has de-
cided to sustain the verdict of the court
martial Statements that this will be his
opinion are mere guesaWork. They may
may not prove true. The friends Of the
Attorney General say that he would be open
70 severe criticism should he, as already
stated, reach an opinion in advance of the
arguments to be made by Wayne Mac
Veagh, leading counsel for Captain Carter.
In June last the Attorney General promised
Mr.. MacNeagh that nothing would be done
in the case until he had made his oral ar
gument. Mr.. MacVeagh would it is under
stood, have argued the case long before
this but for the breaking down Of his
health, which neceSSitatcd a trip to Europe
Attorney General Griggs expected that
Mr.. MacFeash would have reached Wash
iIgtOn before this time, but he has rot
heard from him. and il is supposed that he
will be here by the middle of this month or
very soon thereafter
When the Attorney Generals decision has
DteE reached lie Will transmit II to the
President who will pass upon it himself,
and the verdict will probably be made
public at the War Department
Cause of the Delay.
1t is stated from the best sources that
the verdict of the court-martial in the case
of Captain Carter was transmitted to the
President for action last summer at time
When every minute was taken UP with du-
ties in connection with the war with Spain.
The verdict of the courtmartial was nat
urally contrary to the views of the counsel
and friends Of Captain Carter. Mr.. Mac
Veagh and others representing MIN went
to President Mckinley Immediately after
the verdict had been transmitted and rep
resented in the most forcble manner that
Captain Carter had been convicted upon
evidence which should never have been ad-
mitted to the court-martial, and that he
had also been handicapped by the preju-
dice of some of its members. After put
ting the case in this manner the request
was made that the President should not
viewed the facts and could reach a sa It's
factory conclusion. The President then
had no time to do this. because of the great
mass of papers relating to the case. There
are 5000 pages of written testimony 5tEl
exhibits of different kinds, and 1000 pages
of printed briefs on both sides. Those ia
miliar with the fact that the President
has been occupied for every moment during
the last year will understand how hard it
would have been for him to have literally
complied with the request of the counsel of
Captain Carter and have reviewed in detail
| this great mass of papers
That he might be perfectly fair, however.
he through ex-Secretary Alger. requested
George F. Edmunds to review the case.
Mr. Edmunds did so, rendering his opin-
| ion to the President. 1t is now known that
the opinion was not satisfactory to the
President, and he thereupon asked the At
| torney General to take the matter in
charge. The Attorney General finds plenty
of regular work in his department, and it
was not until last winter that he had time
to begin the review of the papers in the
case and to listen to oral arguments of
representatives of both sides. By degrees
| he took up the papers. which fill a small
| sized room, and about month ago finished
| this review.
No Decision Reached.
| He has not, 1t can be positively stated,
reached any decision, and will not do so
until he has fully heard Mr.. MacVeagh.
The statute of Limitations.
Charges have been made to the effect
| that the case has been held back to allow
| the statute OF limitations to cover many of
| the supposed sins of the offenders but
! there has never been any definite idea as