Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-12
GAYNOR AND GREENE.

II was in December, 1899, that Benia.
min y. Greene and John Il. Gaynor were
indicted for conspiracy to defraud the
United states government. They were
members of a construction company, which
was engaged in government work for the
improvement of the harbor OF Savannah,
Georgia. The work was under the charge
Of Capt. Obcrlin Nj. Carter of the United
states engineer corps. who had been the
engineer in charge at Savannah for
thirteen years.
The contracting firm was called the At
lantic Contracting mpa Nominally.
it was Greene e. Gayuor. but really it
was Greene, Gaynor & Carter, for after
one-third interest in the firm. Carter
went to London as military attache, and
Captain Cassius L. Gillette, United States
engineers. who took his place during his
absence soon discovered that the govern
ment was being outrageously swindled by
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and in prices paid,
and on the quality of the stone which in
great quantities was used in constructing
jcttics. lie reported his discoveries to
the war department and after some delays
Carter was ordered before a court mar
tial. The total amount Of the steal was
shown to be 1900 600. and Carter was
found guilty in April of '9S. He had
plenty of money and powerful friends
and it was seventeen months before Pres
the court. Some extraordinary proceed
in.ys followed in an effort to save Carter,
but he was finally sent to tho United
States military prison at Fort Leaven-
worth, from which he has recently been
discharged on the expiration of his term
of confinement.
When the expose came Gaynor and
Greene fled to IA town in New York. It
took two years to extradite them from
the state. When they were finally land
ed before the court at Savannah they
gave bail in Sio,ooO zach and then fled to
Canada.
1t took n stubborn and costly Fight en-
tending over five years on the part of the
United States government to obtain the
climax of this fight was an appeal to the
privy council of England from a decision
rendered by the highest court in Canada
Diminishing the extradition proceedings
The allegation made by the counsel OF
the United States in support of the APP
peal was that Canadian officials had beer
influenced to defeat the ends of justice.
Greene and Gaynor, who had plenty OF
ostraciZed in Quebec during tn" greater
part Of their exile, employed Il law firm
in that city composed of the premier o.
the Province of Quebec, a son OF thu
deputy attorney general. the CANADIAN
minister Of justice. and Il son Of the eX'
tradition commissioner of Quebec.
In May. 1902. Extradition COMMISSIONS
Lafontaine of Montreal issued warrant.
for the fugitivcs on the application o
the federal authorities. Greene and Gay
nor were then living at tho Chateau From
tenac. the leading hotel OF Quebec. TIL
commissioner with several Montreal de
tectives went 70 Quebec. seized the tw'
men in their rooms. and took them II
closed carriages on board the tug Spray
river. Gaynor succeeded in getting wor
to his friends in Quebec that he had bee
kidnapped. They set to work and wit
writs issued by the same judge who I'm
ally dismissed the extradition proceed
ings, detectives from Quebec after a chas
by river and rail took the two men bac
to Quebec and they were agail
G installed in their luxurious quarters at tn
f Chateau Frontenac.
' The judiciary committee of the priv
2 council sustained the appeal, declarin
p that the case was a clear one Of rot
e berry of the United States government. an
G clearly extraditable: an order for the g,
. tradition of the men followed in TIM
4 and last Saturday they were taken b
- I ''FA 'ttANh ~ ~
v men to New York by way of the Del;
ware & Hudson road, and thence escorte
to Savannah by rail. Their wives share
= this exile in Canada and preceded thel
to Savannah. Their counsel. Mr.. Kellogg
t said in New York that they would MAX
no further effort to prevent the tria
a which has been set for the Novembt
term of the United States district coul
n of southern Georgia. He said they wei
t prepared to give heavy bail, II it coul
y be arranged.
The government has attached money d.
posted in several banks by Carter, to ii
amount OF $500. 900, and he is now fghtin
y a suit to recover it in Chicago.
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.