The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-29

The frauds in the Savannah harbor
work, for which o. NJ. Carter. formerly
captain in the corps OF engineers, Is
now under sentence OF Imprisonment. are
again brought into public notice. A Uni
ted States grand jury at Savannah has
called the attention of congress to the as
tonishing delay encountered in the att
tempt to bring to justice the members OF
the contracting firm with whom Capt.
Carter was convicted Of conspiracy. In
New York, Judge Addison Brown, of the
United States district court, handed down
decision on April 4, refusing to order the
transfer of the indicted persons to the Sa-
vannah district.
Shakespeare makes Hamlet, In his ia
nous soliloquy, speak OF:
The oppressor's wrong the proud mans
contumely, the laws delay. the insolence
OF office and the spurns that patient merit
OF the unworthy takes"
The whole quotation was never more
graphically exemplifed than It has been
In the history of the Carter case; but 1t
Is "the laws delay" on wink n attention Is
now deservedly concentrated. 1t may DO
Of interest to present brief chronology
or the Carter case from the beginning. to
see just how signiht ant this delay has
been. The record is as follows:
1889. May 31.--Sworn statement made by
w. r. Curtis, an assistant engineer In the
government employ, charging Carter with
collusfon with certain contractors the
same with whom his conspiracy was prov
en- before the court martial nine years
later). An investigation was held Carter
was exonerated and the unfortunate en-
gineer who was too honest to hold his
tongue died from disappointment and NOR
tifif alton at the fruitlesS outcome of his
endeavor to protect his country from rob-
berry.
1897, August 14-Capt. c. M Gillette,
who succeeded Capt. Carter In charge Of
the Savannah district on July 20. reported
to the chief of engineers his discovery OF
irregularities In the conduct OF the Savan-
nah harbor work.
1897. Aug. 2l-Gen p. C. Hams. division
engineer, instructed to proc eed to Savan-
nah and conduct Investigation.
1897, Sept 7.-Gen. Hams made a report
unfavorable to Capt. Carter, the whole
matter was laid before the secretary Of
war. and Capt. Carter. then in London,
was ordered to report at Washington.
1897. Sept ia board Of engineer ON
GERS Col. Gillespie, Mai. Raymond and
Maj Adams, was convened at savannah
to inquire into the charges against Capt.
Carter.
1897. Nov. 1s-Board Of engineers pre-
scented its report recommending that Capt.
Carter be tried by court-martial. The ex-
animation Of the board was most thor
ough, occupying nearly two months. A
great number of witnesses were examined
and the entire record OF the inquiry was
over 1000 pages In length.
neers referred to judge advocate generals
office for examination and preparation of
formal charges.
1897, Dec. 2.-Court-martfai ordered to
meet at Savannah. on Jan. IL. for the trial
of Carter.
1897. Dec 30-Copy of formal charges
and specifications transmitted TO Carter.
1898, Jan. u-Capt. Carter placed under
arrest
1898. Jan. 12-Trial by court-martiai be-
gun.
1898. April so-Court-martial adjourned
ana. s',,tiadiaas- ranartAd- to secretary OF
general
1898. July s.-Judge advocate general re-
ported TO secretary of war his approval of
the findings of the court-martial.
1925, July 12-Record and findings sub
mitted by secretary OF war 70 Hon. George
r Edmunds. with request for an opinion.
1898. Oct. s.--Report and opinion OF Ed
munds delivered to secretary Of war.
1885, Oct. 2A-Record submitted by secre-
tary of war to President Mckinley.
- -. Matter referred by the
President to Attorney General GriRgs
- - --.--Attorneys for Carter sub |
mitted an argument and brief o attorney |
general,
1899. May l3--Col. Thomas r Barr, as
sistant Judge advocate general Y. S. A.,