New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-19
CONSPIRACY, SAYS CARTER
accuses General Otis, Er-Attorney
General Gnggs and officers.

Chicago. Oct 16-Charges Of conspiracy
among army officers made by Oberlin NJ. Car
ter who was convicted of embezzlement OF
SO, 100000 from the government. enlivened the
proceedings before Special Examiner Wyman
to-day. In reply to questions by Assistant AT
torney General Erwin, Carter asserted that the
finding of the court martial, which declared him
guilty, was the result of conspiracy among the
officers constituting the court martial
L was condemned and sentenced to prison on
secret testimony. at hearing where neither
myself my attorney was allowed to be.
said Carter. That is Why 1 was insistent or
obtaining trial in court of justice, where
could confront my accusers and summon wit
nesses If I could have met my father in law
r. F. Westcott. in open court, knew he would
have told the truth. AS it was, he was feeble
old man. and the government representatives
worried him into signing the statement Which Is
used as his testimony.
why should the government give you an
other trial as a military court martial a1ter
three months investigation had found you
guilty and you were serving the sentence IN
PRISON." asked Assistant Attorney General En-
win.
Because 1 never had a fair trial" shouted
Carter The investigation by the court martial
was an Infamous farce. General Otls, the pre-
siding officer of the court martial was found one
night in the office of the prosecuting attorney
plotting to have me convicted. My attorney anu
myself learned that General Otis had left the
hotel secretly to conspire with the prosecuting
attorney. We made investigation ana iouuu
he and other members of the court martlal IN
secret conference with the government attoInGS9.
They walked mile and then climbed hVe nlShtS
of stairs after the elevator stopped running So
to be alone"
You charge then. that General Otis ana other
members of the court martial entered INTO d C'ii-
spiracy to send you to prison q 80
81 do and l know what 1 talking about.
replied the witness The late President, Will
lam Mckinley was an honest man from the top
of his head to his toes. but l was ADVISED that
Attorney General GriggS was corrupt
How do you know Attorney General Grlgss
was corrupt?' askeE Assistant Attorney General
Erwin.
Because high official of the Pennsylvaniea
Railroad told me- replied the witness: He said
his road ran through New-Jersey, and he had
rea son to know Mr. Griggs's character. He ao-
vised me to have nothing to do with him"
Carter described the manner in which his
books and private papers were seized by gov
eminent officers while he was absent in Europe,
in October 1897. Certain papers, which, he
said he intended to use to prove that many or
the prosecutions witnesses committed perjury at
the investigation by the court martial. are miss
ing He accused the officers of the court martial
of having taken them.
He also accused the government officers OF
negiecting to return several pieces Of personal
property which he highly priced. One Of these
was piece of the flag which 1oated over Fort
Sumter when the fort was first fired upon. in
1861 and another letter from his wife
containing a lock of her hair.