The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-14

Carriers sPRDers Traced and Identified
by Witnesses-They VIII BE Used
in the Prosecution of Greene and
the Gnynors-TeStiacd That the
signatures of Certain Bondsmcn
Were ForGed-ChRnges Said to
Have Been Made in Contracts.
New York, Aug. 13.-The hearing in the
proceedings to secure the removal of
John F.. w r.. and E H. Gaynor and
Benjamin d. Greene, accused of conspira-
cy to defraud the government in connec-
ton with Capt. Obeln NJ Carter. in the
Savannah harbor improvements, was con-
tinued before United States Commissions
er Shields to-day.
The first witness, f. NJ. Smith, a clerk
In the Judge Advocate Generals office in
Washington, in reply to District Attor-
Eey Marion Erwin of Georgia. who asked
IL he remembered receiving a box con-
taining letters and papers belonging 70
Capt Carter, replied that box was re-
ceived at the Adiutant Generals office.
May 2. 1898. and later another box or
chest was received The first had been
opened when the second was received.
Mr. Smith said that he had looked into
the first box sufficiently to see that 1t
did not contain record OF Capt Carters
trial. The second box was understood
to contain "A record of the court-martiai.
The boxes remained in the chief clerks
office until July, 1895 In 1899, the depart
ment of Justice called for them and they
we're delivered June IA of that yeer. On
| cross-examination IL appeared that num-
Der of persons had had access to the
rooms In which the boxes had been placed.
sterley Again ON the stand.
]. w. o. Sterley, chief clerk IN the gov
ernment engineers office at Savannah an
der Capt Carter, was called and verified
certain checks issued to contractors by
| Capt. Carter, drawn on the assistant
treasurer of the United States. and veri-
fed also certain supplementary contracts
entered into by Capt. Carter for work in
Savannah, Ga.
paper was shown to the witness con-
cerning changes in 1897 in work contracted
for and accomplished in 1896 involving a
half million dollars.
Commissioner Shields allowed District
Attorney Erwin to show. after objection
| by other counsel, that the names of the
| two hondsmen were forged by Capt. Car
| ters confidential clerk. Michael A. Con-
molly Contracts for work awarded by
capt. Carter In 1896 were Identified by the
witness and rendered In evidence
District Attorney Erwin announced that
ne had one more witness to call and his
side of the case would end. and an ad-
Journment was taken for two hours
At the afternoon session Mr. Slcrley
continued his testimony. He was shown
a letter from r. V. Howell, a bidder under
Capt. Carter, in which complaint was
made on the short length of time allowed
40 "a ka.s -
rejected on a technicaIity. Mr. Kellogg
OBJECTED TO the admission of this letter on
the ground that the signatu had not
been proven, and might not be genuine.
The commissioner reserved decision.
johnson Had Cnrter's Papers.
EDWARD johnson, an expert accountant
OF New Orleans was the next witness.
He said he was present In the Attorney
Generals office when the box of private
papers OF Capt. Carter was opened, and
there was no indication that the box had
been opened or tampered with. 1t con-
tained letter-press books, letter files, va
rious bills against Capt. Carter, checks,
bank books, etc, a list of which he made
The contents of the box have since been
in his custody The list OF the contents
was identified by the witness II showed
large number of checks for money
drawn in Carter's name for personal ex-
penses. The list was marked for identi-
fication. The list of personal expenses
showed .hat Capt Carers expenses in
creased from 1890, when they were a lit
tie more than $1,000 in jumps each year
until 1896. when they were nearly $4,000.
After the witness had finished Mr.. Ster-
ley was recalled, and simply testified to
certain trips from Savannah by Capt.
Carter
Mr.. Erwin then recalled Cap<. Gillette,
Capt. Carter's successor. His testimony
was Of a purely technical nature, per-
tanning to regulations of the United
States In the matter of river and harbor
improvements. The government then clos
ed its case.
The hearing will be resumed Sept 27.
when the defense will present its side OF
the case.