The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-27
WANT CARTER COIN
ATTORNEY GENERAL KNOX WILL
TAKE STEPS.
INSTRUCTED BY PRESIDENT.
EX-ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGS
ENTIRELY TOO SLOW.

Prompt Action Wanted by the Ad-
in Washington With Marion Err
win, MIR. Leaken, Col. Barr, Ex-
nminer johnson and Others-NBr.
johnson Said to Have Located
$75O,OOO in Banks in New York,
Savannah and Other Cities.
Washington, April 26.-Attorney General
Knox, acting under instructions from the
President, proposes to institute immediate
proceedings to recover some of the money
which Capt. o. NJ. Carter of the army,
obtained from the government in connec-
ton with the fraud growing out of the
improvements in Savannah harbor.
A secret conference between Attorney
General Knox and the Federal officers
who have worked on this celebrated case,
has been in progress at the Department
of Justice during the present week, to
map out a plan of action.
Soon after Mr.. Knox became member
of the cabinet, his attention was called
to the case of Capt. Carter. In a gen
eral way he was familiar with the sub
ject, but he was not aware of the official
status of the case. Without any intention
of rejecting upon his predecessor, Mr..
Griggs, the new attorney general was
given to understand that prompt action
to recover some of the government funds
was required. 1t is understood that he
was given the impression, in a delicate
way, that too much time has already been
wasted by the government in prosecuting
the case of Capt. Carter. AS one distin-
guished official expressed it, Attorney
General Griggs appears to have gone to
sleep over the Carter case, and ii is time
for an awakening to take place"
After the subject was fully discussed
in cabinet, Attorney General Knox is
sued a call to all the government Of
Acers who have been prominently identi-
fed with this case to come to Washing
ton for consultation.
In response to this call, District At
torney Erwin of Georgia, and mis- assist
ant Mr.. Leaken of Savannah: District
Attorney Burnet of New York; Col. Barr.
assistant Judge Advocate General, who
conducted the Carter court martial on
behalf of the government. and Bank Ex-
aminer johnson. of the Treasury Depart
ment. who located the government funds
involved in the case in various banks, as
sembled in the Department of Justice.
The subject was reviewed from begin
ming to end, and the conclusion was
reached that no further time should be
wasted in taking prompt measures to re-
cover as far as possible the funds lost
to the government through the frauds
practiced by Capt. Carter and his asso-
ciates, in connection with the Savannah
harbor improvements.
Bank Examiner johnson is said to have
located in various banks in Savannah,
New York and other cities, sums aggre-
eating something like $4,000, which are
said to be traced directly to Capt Car
ter and his connection with the expendi-
lures in connection with Savannah har-
bor
The proceedings of the conference were
conducted with the greatest secrecy, and
all the participants were admonished TO
regard as sacred the conclusions reached.
Attorney General Knox, it appears, is
fully convinced of the justice and strength
of the governments position and pro-
poses to lose no time in the institution
of formal proceedings to recover the
funds located by Bank Examiner John
son and prosecute to the bitter end all
parties implicated in the Carter scandal