The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-27
MADE FALSE CLAIMS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS CARTER
CHILLED THE BIDDING AND
USED DEFECTIVE MATERIAL
IN CONSTRUCTING THE JETTIES IN
CUMBERLAND SOUND.


Equipment - Assistant Engineer
swears $4,000 Would he Maximum
Figure Says That Tramway
which Carter Told Bidders Would
Have to be Built Was IntireIy
Unnecessary-MOre Testimony To-
day in the Matter.
Though the evidence introduced
yesterday in the hearing before Com
missioner Hewlett in the Carter case
was mostly of a preliminary nature,
and little developed of interest from
the testimony itself, the questions
asked indicated the position which the
government will take in the trial of
the case as to the work done in Cum
berland sound. They will attempt to
show that not only was the material
used of a very inferior quality, differ
ent from that stipulated in the con-
tracts. but that Carter made gross
misrepresentation to the contractors
who sought to do the work.
In view of the fact that the govern
ment expects to prove by several con-
tractors that Carter represented to
them that in order to undertake the
work in the sound they would have to
expend as much as 100000 in pur-
chasing equipment, building tram
ways, wharves, etc, the questions pro-
mulgated by District Attorney Erwin
yesterday were designed to disprove
such statements, and to show that as
a matter of fact the expense was hard
ly appreciable, and that the represen-
tationS made by the eX-captain of en-
gineers were made for the sole pur-
pose of freezing out bidders for the
work.
Were False Representations.
The witness examined in this con-
| nection was Assistant Engineer James
H. Bacon, who has had charge of the
work in the harbor since Capt. Gill
lett's term of Office began. He swore
that the work was being done with
out the use of a tramway, and that,
as matter of fact, there was no use
for such a thing. He said that he
knew of nowhere where tramways were
used in constructing jetties. He also
swore that the entire work done dur
ing the past two years on the jettles
consisted of stone.
Engineer Bacon said that had it been
necessary to purchase new equipment
the whole cost would hardly have ex-
| ceeded $4,000 He said that the same
equipment is used for numerous con-
tracts, and that it is seldom that a
complete lot of new equipment is re-
quired, and that if the usual equip
ment were on hand that no additional
equipment would be required because
Of the nature of the work in progress
in Cumberland sound
The examination will be continued
this morning at which time the govern
ment expects to bring out that the
work done by Carter was inferior and
| not IN accordance with contract. MANY
maps were introduced in evidence yes
| terday, the major part of the exanina-
ton consisting of the introduction ana
proof of various contracts and mans.
winch viii be used to demonstrate the
contentious of the government
Remains to be Seen
Carriers counsel frequently objected
10 the introduction of testimony They
| say IL remains to be seen what
amount OF durability the jetties now
| being constructed possess. The mate
rial used. they contend was the best.
and at the trial they will attempt to
| prove that the plan which Carter
mapped out for the construction of the
! Jettfes was the most practicable. They
| say that little Importance should he
| attached to the testimony which is
| now being taken
capt. Gillette was placed on the
stand to testify to certain dates, par
tlcularly the time when the work in
the sound was removed to the Florida
district ana the time when it was re-
| moved back to the Savannah district
and as to the dates of certain con-
tracts. He said that about, 81 ,OOO. 900
| had been expended on the improve
! ment of the sound.
Savannah Harbor Work.
II is probable that the examination
relative to the Cumberland sound work
Will be concluded to-day 1t is NOT
/ improbable that the matter of the
| work done in Savannah harbor NAV be
treated similarly to the way in which
| the Cumberland project is now being
! handled by the district attorney. The
| testimony on these matters were OBJ
| Jected to by Mr.. Stone, chief coun-
| sci for Carter, at the hearing yester-
day on the ground that they were ir-
| relevant, the defense contending that
they do not pertain to any of the vital
points involved in the case.
This position is not shared by the
district attorney who says that their
! relevancy will be impressed on the de-
| tense at the proper time In the ex-
4
| played thorough knowledge of the
subject in hand, his education and
| diploma as a civil engineer standing
| him in good stead in the conduct of
the case. The work is tedious and the
taking of evidence almost intermin-
able, and before the case comes up
| for disposition in Chicago the record
to be presented to the court will be
one of the most voluminous ever intro
duced in similar case in the courts
of the land.
The hearing as to Carriers transac
tions with certain local corpora tons
| Will not take place, counsel having
consented to an agreed statement of
| facts. These parties were simply I'M
fortunate enough to have sold stock
| to Capt. Carter, and are willing to
have their accounts examined for the
ascertainment of the dates of the va
rious transactions which they had with
| him. Under this statement of facts
! and their expression of a Willingness
to abide by the decree of the court,
the matter was temporarily continued
as to them.