The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-15


Question of the Date of Carriers
Release Is Now Under COnsidera-
ton.
(By r. M. Larner)
Washington, May 14.-United States
District Attorney Marion Erwin of
Georgia was here to-day and had a
lengthy consultation with Solicitor
General Hoyt relative to the case of
ex-Capt. o. M. Carter.
Mr.. Erwin says it is not true that
the government has already recovered
$4,000 of Capt. Carriers money and Sc
curities, which is said to be sufficient
to make good the losses the govern
ment sustained through the gay cap
tain's financial performances at Sa-
vannah. The amount which Capt. Car
ter is supposed to owe the government
aggregates something like $75O,00O. Mr..
Erwin says thus far about 100000 of
that amount has been recovered, and
placed in the hands of a receiver.
Mr.. Erwin further says there is no
foundation for the report to the effect
lIdL legal proceedings clSellliob NAN'eA7'
Greene and Gaynor have been aban-
doned by reason of the belief that Car
ter has made good the losses sustained
by the government through the Greene
and Gaynor and Carter frauds in con-
nection with the Savannah harbor I'M
proVements.
Removal of Gillette.
NEassrs CRANE and Gavnor are sup
posed to be still in Canada, beyond the
Jurisdiction of the United States au-
thorities. When Capt. Gillette was re-
Gently relieved from duty in connection
with the river and harbor improve
ments at Savannah, it was SAID that
the fact of his transfer to another neio
of duty was in the nature OF an ac-
Acknowledgement that the government
had practically despaired of bringing
Messrs. Greene and Gaynor to SaVan-
nah for trial. This report is also de-
MED by Mr. Erwin and the engineer
office at the War Department. capt.
Gillette's transfer to Newport was tne
result of a general shake-up in the En-
cheering Corps, and had no bearings
whatever, it is said, on the Greene ana
Gaynor case.
Carter Probably Out Nov. 2s.
Cant. Carter is due to be released
from the United States prison at LeaV-
enworth Nov. %. This is in accordance
with the regulations, which allow MIN
two months out of each year for good
conduct. AS a result of his excelleht
behavior while in prison ten months
are to be cut off of his sentence. Some
of Carriers friends, who WELD a great
deal of influence in national AFFAIRS,
still assert that he was the innocent
tool of designing persons, and at the
expiration Of his imprisonment they
may seek a vindication by means OF a
special act of Congress.
There are others who contend that
he still has an interest in the great
river and harbor contract trust, IN
which Messrs Greene and Gaynor are
still believed 10 be financially interest,"
ed. Various attempts have been made
to demolish this trust, but it is believ-
ed to be in a flourishing condition to-
day, and some of the sub-contractors
are indirectly representing the Greene
and Gaynor trust, which it is alleged
for many years virtually had monop-
oily of all the great river and harbor
contracts along the Atlantic coast from
Maine to Florida.
The notifications of this trust were
30 great that even when its existence
became known to the government au-
thorities it was so manipulated that
the trust by indirect methods and put
ting up dummy contractors managed TO
secure nearly all Of the big contracts,
which were worth having.
May Keep Him Longer.
Mr.. Erwin says there is soms ques-
tion as TO whether Capt. Carriers term
Of Imprisonment legally e&9ires next
November. He was condemned by
conrt-martial in general order 10,
headquarters Of the army, Sept. 70, 1899.
Ordinarily, his Imprisonment should
have dated from that period. capt.
Carter, IN resisting the sentence OF the
court-martial by writs OF haDeas cor
pus and other legal proceedings, de-
layed his confinement 10 the United
States peniteBfiary for nearly SIX
months. The questi0n/is now under
consideration Of the War Department