Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-10-13
GREENE AND eAYNoR.
History Of Most Remarkable Criminal
Case of the Day.

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The arrival Of John F. Gaynor and
Captain Benjamin D. Greene in Savan-
7ah makes the story of their alleged
crime of general interest. The events
leading up to the present, as related
some time ago by James Creelman In
the New York World follow:
On April "a, 1888, Capt. oberlin M
Carter Of the United States corps OF
engineers, took charge Of the improve
ment Of rivers and harbors at Savan-
nah, Ca, for which work millions OF
dollars had been appropriated. He 80
managed matters that the Atlantic
Construction company, consisting OF
John F. Gaynor, Capt. Greene and e.
H. and w. T. Gaynor got control OF
the contract.
In May, 1897, Captain Carter was
appointed military attache OF the Unit
ed States legation In London against
his protest. Captain Gillette, the en-
gineer officer appointed to succeed him
in charge of the Savannah improve
ments, charged Captain Carter with a
conspiracy to defraud the government
in connection with the harbor con-
tracts In December. 1897. the secre-
tary of war ordered the trial OF Captain
Carter by courtmartial. The charges
were, roundly, that Carter drew the
specifications for contracts so that no
firm but the Atlantic Construction
company would dare to bid on the
work, that inferior work and materials
were accepted and that the surplus
moneys above the actual cost were
divided pro rata between Gaynor,
Green and Carter.
1t was shown on the trial that these
payments were frequent, and that
when they were to be made Captain
Carter would go to New York, where
he would draw a treasury order for
the full amount, plus $75, his expenses
on the journey; that this check would
be handed to Greene, and that within
few days Gaynor would hand his
check for one-third Of the payment,
plus SIS, to Carter The dates OF the
checks thus drawn corresponded with
Carter's visits to the Union League
club In New York. Of which he was
member. It was estimated that Car
ters share of the plunder amounted TO
$722 52S. Carter was found guilty and
sentenced to a fine and Imprisonment,
In addition to military degradation.
1t took a long time to secure Cap
tain Carter's punishment, and 1t was
said that Gaynor and Greene were
moving heaven and earth to hush the
matter up. A few months after Car
ter's conviction Gaynor, through the
use of money, was elected member
of the Democratic committee from
Onondago county, New York. 1t was
said that he was elected In the interest
Of David B. Hill. but went over to
Richard Croker, thus giving Tammany
control Of the state committee.
In December, 1899, Greene and Cay
nor and the other members Of the At
lantic Construction company were IN
dicted by the United States grand jury
at Savannah for conspiracy to de-
fraud the United States Of $575,949.90.
A few days later the indicted men sur
rendered to United States Marshal
Shields in New York. Then followed
long struggle against extradition to
Savannah. Gaynor and Greene had
appeared in Savannah and had each
given a bond Of $4,000. Step by step
the case was fought, and when the
United States supreme court finally
swept away all distractions between
them and their trial, Gaynor and
Greene fed to Canada, and their bail
bonds were forfeited. 1t is said that
the bondsmen were afterward reim-
bursed by the fugitives.
The two men went to Montreal first
and then to Quebec. The extradition
commissioner lived in Montreal, and
they wanted to get as far away from
him as possible. They set themselves
I'D in the Chateau Frontenac, lived
sumptuously and hired lawyers.
Extradition Commissioner Lafon-
taine, at Montreal. issued warrant
for the arrest Of the fugitives on the
application of the United States. Then
followed a dramatic event. On May
Is, 1902, a party of detectives went to
Quebec secretly with Commissioner
Lafontaine's warrants, pounced upon
Gaynor and Greene, thrust them into
closed cabs, put them on the tug
Spray, the swiftest vessel on the st.
Lawrence, and started at full speed for
Montreal. Gaynor shouted from the
cab window to a friend in the street, i
am kidnapped" \ detective put his
hand over the prisoners mouth. But
that signal was enough, and the cry
was Immediately raised by Mrs. Gay
nor and her friends. The prisoners
lawyers went about Quebec declaring
that their clients had been kidnapped.
At once a boatload of Quebec officers
was sent to overtake the Spray and
bring Gaynor and Greene back.
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ing one, and the news spreading rapid
ly, the progress Of the two boats up
the st. Lawrence was eagerly watched.
But the Spray was too fast to be
caught. Realizing this, the chief con-
stable of Quebec, armed with a writ
Of habeas corpus from Judge Andrews
of that city, hurried to Three Rivers
on a special train, and setting out In
boat with his officers ordered the
Spray to halt in the queens name. NO
attention was paid to the challenge.
Gaynor and Greene were taken to Mon
treal, where Commissioner Lafontaine
committed them to jail.
| The high constable of Quebec hur-
ried back to Judge Andrews on a spe-
cial train and secured another writ
addressed to the Montreal jailer, who
surrendered the prisoners; and so Gay
nor and Greene went back to Quebec
on a special train. feasting their official
rescuers on the way, So fearful were
the exiles that they would be kidnap-
ped again, that they asked to be COM
mitted to the Quebec Jail, where they
felt reasonably safe from the Montreal
and American detectives.