New-York tribune., 1900-08-11
HARD BLOW FOR GAYNORS
CARRIERS MONEY DID NOT COME FROM
WESTCOTT.
CONVICTED OFFICERS FATHER-IN-LAW.
UNWILLING TO SWEAR AGAINST HIM,
WOULD NOT LIE FOR HIM.

Ii
Facts we're revealed yesterday at the hearing
Of the Gaynor conspiracy case which viii be re-
ceived with widespread interest The friends
OF former Captain Oberlin " Carter. who have
steadfastly believed that the prisoner now serv-
ing his term in LeaveEworth is really innocent
Of bribe taking Will hardly be able 20 sustain
that theory any longer Those who felt that
Carter was duly convicted by a fair and i'm
partial court martial viii have their opinion
strongly confirmed Those who have all along
contended that John H Gayuor. for years treas
Lrer OF the Democratic State COMMITTEES OF New
York. and his partners were equally cuIpabIe
with Carter win now be more confident than
ever that the guilt may speedily be brought
home 10 them. Incidentally, the revelations OF
yesterday viii make engrossiug reading for a
former Democratic Attorney General OF the
United states, Wayne McVeagh. who pursued
the somewhat unusual course of issuing a
solemn statement over his own Signature that
after a thorough personal examination OF the
case he was perfectly certain that Carter was
! innocent Of the crime OF which he had been con-
victed-
The revelation which Will have such far reach
! ing results was made by Robert F. Westcott, the
wealthy father-in-Iaw cf Carter When the court
martial was carefully weighing and sitting the
evidence which showed that Carter while in
charge for the Government Of the costly i'm
Grovemeuts being made in Savannah Harbor
had favored the contractors. GaynOr and his
partners, in many ways had accepted from them
work which was not up 10 the standard called
for in the specifications and had paid them more
| than the market price for large quantities OF
materials the inference was forced JIpou the
court tha- he did not thus betray his trust for
nothing Tie next step was 10 ascertain what
| NJ goo f-r il and who paid him. The cIearest
/ testimony we adduced 70 show that Carter was
living in n most extravagan style about thai
Tune. and was, besides investing large sums OF
NJ ney IN zones and stocks. When he was asked
how he could do this upon his slender Army sal
ary, he always declared that the money was
given TO Fi-n To- his personal expenses and also
for invesr- eut by his rich father-fn-Iaw
Tbs Bc2rc If Inquiry made repeated efforts 70
get NJ Westcatt 10 testify the truth or faIsity
of Carriers statement. but ne kept himself out OF
| the Board s. jurisdiction by sailing for Europe.
| Therefore there was genuine surprise yesterday
| when Mr.. Westcott tCck the stand az the hear
ing Of the PROCEEDINGS 10 obtain the removal OF
John F Gayncr ana his partners TO the turis-
/ diction Of the Georgia courts for trial on the
charge Of conspiracy tC deFraud the Government
Mr.. Westcott had beer called by the prosecu-
ton, and he threw a ve-itabIe bombsheH into
| the defendants camp by declaring that tho
large amounts OF money which Carter had
/ handled did not come from him at all This
kellogg.
4 Kellogg, Rose & Smith into such rage that
/ he made a personal attack upon Mr.. -Wes1cotJ,s
counsel. Henry L StImson. Secretary OF War
/ Eiihu Roots law partner and continued II 50
/ vigorously. in spite OF Commissioner Shields
/ orders to sit down and keep quiet that he had
| 10 be threatened with election from the room
/ before he would subside.
Mr. Westcott after being questioned on pre-
Iiminary points. told OF Captain Benjamin D.
| the Hoffman House and handing him package
| OF bonds asking that he take them and care
for them
Garter told me about the Board OF Inquiry and
that he expected 10 be arrested" said Mr. West
cott and asked me if 7 would receive these
bonds from Greene. 7 demurred, and said I did
not want TO do that He insisted on nv doing
So and I finally assented- Then Greene met
me at the Hoffman House on October II. 1897.
and gave me the bonds I deposited them in
the New-York Safety Deposit Company al No.
AZ Broadway"
The witness then went on TO tell Of Carter's
having asked him 70 so before the Board OF IN
quiry and testify that the large amounts OF
money Carter was spending were received from
him hin
But I told him" said Mr. Westcott. that 7
could not do that-that I could not swear 10
a lie"
made by Mr. WestcOtt, and in reply 70 a ques-
ton put by Mr.. Erwin the witness said:
Wei. don't know just how 10 answer that
question I an in a peculiar position here and
can't protect myself"
III protect YOU responded Commissioners
Shields.
You don't need any more protection
shouted Mt Kellogg He pointed 70 Henry L
Stimson. NIr West-0tt's personal counsel who
was sitting il The courtroom
There sits the Secretary OF Wars assistant
TO protect vow he continued
What do you mean. sir?-' asked Mr.. StimsOn
sharply he rose and advanced toward Rel-
lcgg What do YOU mean by such an asser-
ton? I am not Secretary Rcor's assistant
his law partner and this witness was my
personal client He was not the client OF the
firm"
sit down. sir" commanded Commissioner
Shields TO Mr.. kellogg This is a public court
room. and this man has right To remain here"
The argument between Mr. Kellogg and Mr.
StinSOn continued until Commissioner Shields
threatened to have both put OUT of the room
II was then brought GuJ hit uy lir tnat prevl-
Gus TO the sessions 0t The Board 1L Inquiry both
Captain Garter and Benjamin D. Greene had
gone 70 Mr. WestcOtt. who known 20 have
large sums OF money. and asked him 10 take the
bonds and securities This done, declared
counsel for the prosecution, because 10 was
known that Carter had large sums Of money on
deposit. which he could Hot we'll have made
from his salary. Consequently. Mr. WestcOtr
was asked 10 become member OF the Atlantic
Contracting Company 20 account tor MS having
the bonds and securities. This he refused to do.
out took the bonds and placed them in safe
deposit vault. Then. n order 10 show that nothing
was to be thought OF Carriers large personal
bank account powers OF attorney shown
from WesJCOtt which gave Carter entire control
OF all WesrCOtt's business affairs The bonds
and securities thar were handed 70 WestcOtt, 70
the amount OF S+J0Utu. never appeared IN the
Board OF Inquiry proceedings II relative