The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-28
CARTER WILL TELL
TO TURN STATES EVIDENCE
AGAINST GREENE AND GAYNOR.
SUCH REPORT OF HIS FRIENDS
WILL TRY TO RECOVER PROPERTY
SEIZED BY GOVERNMENT.

Nov. 2S-POIiticaI, Social and FL
nnnciaI Interests at Work in His
Behalf-GrOwing Sympathy for
Him in War Northumberland
and GaynOr May Yet BE Surren-
dered by Canada-Carter VIII
Fight for His Property Regardless
of whom He May Hurt.
Washington, Sept. 27.-Army friends
of Capt. o. NJ. Carter, formerly an
engineer officer, who is serving out a
term of five years in prison at Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, say he con-
templates turning states evidence and
appearing as a prosecuting witness
against Messrs. Greene and Gaynor
who are involved in the famous mill
tary scandal growing out of the river
and harbor improvement at Savannah
Ga.
The announcement that Capt. Car
ter proposes to try and recover from
the government over $750,OOO worth of
property, seized by the United States
authorities after he was convicted of
embezzlement by a court-martial, has
brought to light the sensational declar-
ration from Capt. Carter that he has
been made a victim of a conspiracy
by Messrs. Greene and Gaynor, and
as soon as he obtains his freedom he
proposes to prove that he was not the
principal offender against the United
States government in the Savannah
harbor fraud.
The court-martial which tried and
convicted Capt. Carter, sentenced him
to be dismissed from the service and
imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth for
term of five years. Allowing one
month to be deducted from each year
on account of good behavior, Carriers
term of Imprisonment ends on Nov. %,
next.
Friends Back of Him.
The same powerful political, social
aid financial interests which defended
Carter during his trial and previous
to his conviction, are again actively at
work in his behalf. 1t is proposed that
the government shall restore to him all
or part of the property taken from him
by the United States district attorney
of Georgia. To accomplish this end,
Capt. Carter proposes tn become a
United States witness against Messrs.
Greene and Gaynor, who are now fugi-
tives from justice in Canada as Cocoon
spirators with Carter in defrauding the
government out of more than $1,000,000
in connection with the Savannah har-
Dor improvement.
At the War Department there is a.
growing sympathy for Carter, and some
of the most prominent officers of the
army express the sincere hope that he
will be able to show that he was a
tool of Messrs. Greene and Gaynor, and
did not receive the enormous sums of
money which was placed to his credit
by them.
A prominent official at the War De-
partment who is entirely familiar with
the legal status of the case, without
committing himself either for or
against Capt. Carter, said to-day when
questioned on the subject that so far
as the court-martial proceedings go,
there Is nothing to show how much
money Carter received as his share o.
the fraud. The court did not pass upon
the question of whether Carriers share
amounted to more or less than $750000.
There is nothing in the records of
that famous court-martial to indicate
the exact amount Carter is alleged TO
have received. He was convicted and
sentenced upon the charge of embezzle-
ment and a conspiracy to defraud the
government of the United States. The
amount he is supposed to have re-
ceived from his connection with the
transaction, is supposed to be known
to the district attorney of Georgia and
the officials of the Department of JUS
~. civil
ceedings against Carter and his ac-
completes, Messrs. Greene and Gaynor.
May Yet Get Fugitives.
In this connection it is also stated
that the extradition proceedings against
Messrs. Greene and Gaynor now in
progress at London will probably result
in the Canadian government sending
these two American fugitives back to
the United States for trial, either at
Savannah, where the crime is alleged
70 have been committed, or elsewhere,
as may hereafter be determined.
During the confinement of Capt. Car
ter at Leavenworth he and his friends,
the latter embracing some of the most
distinguished politicians, nnanclers
and social magnates in this country,
have followed closely every phase of
This now celebra ted case. 1t is with
the understanding that Messrs. Greene
and Gavnor are to be brought back to
This country for trial that Capt. Car
ter nroposss to reopen the case and
secure so much of a vindication as he
can and at the same time recover the
property of which he claims 70 nave
been uniustly deprived.
n is alleged that he was victim
If circumstances and that he Is now
nrena red to battle for his rights with
ant regard to what effect his disclosures
NAV have upon others. 1t is claimed
that he has borne in silence the dis
grace of being dishonorably discharged
from the United States army. worn
a convicts garb. and suffered such in
dignity as preclude him from ever oc-
cupvine the position of confidence, and
esteem he once held, and now the time
has arrived to tell all he knows. ana
endeavor to save some Of his property
even II he cannot redeem his reputa-
ton.
In army circles the feeling that
previously existed against Carter has
considerably softened because OF his
cnce brilliant record. and his personal
popuIarity. The opinion now prevails
mat he has already suffered sufficient
ly for his misdeeds, and there IL no
dlepositlon 10 prosecute him further.
Within a few weeks he will have served
Out his term Of imprisonment and rs
tabllshed q record for exemplary con-
duct never eyceled ~ Fort Leaven-
worth.
Rrwfn's Discoveries secret.