The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-10-13
OF 0BERLIN CARTER
1t Is Said That He VIII Be-
come a RecluSe.
TO DEVELOP HIS MINES
A Study of His Life in the
Prison Walls.

As a climax TO a series of brilliant So
cial affairs, by means OF which the time
has been passed this summer at Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, the army officers
there arranged recently for a bali TO be
given in Pope Hall in honor Of the young
ladies who have been spending the sum-
mer at the post with relatives.
1t never was more brilliantly lighted
and the music of the orchestra was never
more beautiful than on the occasion OF
this bah in honor Of the visiting Young
ladies' The han stands only short dis
tance from the hospital wing OF the fed
eral prison. and during the entire time of
lhe dance and until the janitor had turn
ed out the last light man sat in a win.
dow OF cell in the hospital ward Of the
prison and watched the dancers.
The drawn white face of the watcher
behind the grated window showed the
misery lie felt when he looked upon the
familiar scene and listened 10 the music
When the last note from the orchestra
mad died away and the laughter and talk
Of the dancers returning TO their GUAR
tiers" no longer could be heard the silent
watcher turned to his little cot.
The watcher in the grated window was
Oberlin N. Carter, former captain of en-
E1neers. serving a five-year sentence for
embezziement of government funds. and
the dancers We're women and men who
had been his friends before his downfall.
Formerly one Of the prouGest and most
naughty Of the regular army officers.
Oberlin Carter realizes the impossibilitv OF
wiping the blight from his name, relates
the New York Herald. He understands
that he cannot again enter the circles
which formerly knew him and he has
decided TO abandon the beaten paths of
civilization and become a recluse. He
is financially interested in several mining
ventures in the western states and ter
r1tories, and he viii bury himself among
the mountains and develop these proper
ties after his release, on November % of
this year.
The former captain has told his plans
only to his most intimate friends He has
henied himself 10 all visitors at the fed
eral penitentiary, except his LAWYERS. one
or two steadfast friends and his relatives.
IT is 10 these he has confided on the sub
ject OF his suferings while in prison and
IN regard to his plans for the future.
He is said to have nearly a million dol
lars, and the government has commenced
suit against him in the federal court at
Chicago 70 recover the greater part of
this. alleging that It is the fruit of his
embezzlement. This suit will require his
attention for a short time after his re-
lease. and he viii the nturn his face from
civilization
During greater part Of his term Carter
has been a prison ''trusty," and has been
at liberty TO go outside the prison walls
on errands for the officers OF the instftu- !
tion. However, the fact that the quarters
Of his old friends in the army are 50
close to the prison gates has kept him !
inside
He knows that should he meet a form /
er associate and greet him in the old way
he would be snubbed. or the officer would
be court martialed for speaking 10 him.
This was one Of the penalties imposed by /
the court before which he was convicted, 4
and he has not the spirit to subject either I
himself or former comrades TO the ordeal 1
of meeting in public. This IS one Of the (
reasons he viii become an exile upon his 1
release.
He was one OF the good fellows Of /
the army and his acquaintance was wide /
He is doomed TO go through Ike a strang- 4
er to all he knew before his downfall. /
and he has concluded that it would be 4
easier to do this in some out-of-the-way l
place where he is not liable TO meet form I
er acquaintance
Carter has remained in his cell during
his leisure hours at the prison. and the |
greater part OF his time has been spent
n studying. He has had charge of the
landscape gardening at The institution and
IS well versed in the business. He has
kept up his studies Of civil engineering
and is now one OF the best civil engineers
In the United States. He intends putting
this knowledge to use when he goes to
his mines and begins the work OF revel-
oping them.
His knowledge Of the law. which has
been acquired since he was sentenced. is
very thorough and he has drawn-up near
" all OF the petitions TO courts which
have been presented in his behalf in three
years. He has studied the laws applicable
to his situation until he is as we'll versed
IN them as any criminal lawyer in The
country
He has prepared the papers in several
cases which have been presented 70 the
courts by other prisoners with whom he is
associated
Never since he entered the prison has he
relaxed in his demeanor toward the prl-
vate soldiers wh1 are serving sentences
with him. lie h given them 10 under
stand from the Il that he i not bird
or their feather He considers himself
placed by unfort cate circumstances in
their company. holds that this does
not make them hi equal He Is general
y respected by : officers and inmates
Of the -penitentiar. although his bearing
toward the privat I has engendered the
hatred Of a majori n them.
He cares nothing for that He asks
only - be let alone. and bsliev8 that his
attitude toward those who formerly were
his inferiors VIII insure insolatson-
No letters or newspapers come 10 Car
ter from the outside world This fact
causes those who have observed his ac-
tions to believe he IS preparing himself
for his life of isolation when - lelves
the prison this fail
CIRCUIT FOR MCCLELLAN.