The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-10-13
History Of The Remarkable Greene
And Gaynor Case.

The arrival of John F. Gaynor and
Captain Benjamin D. Greene in Sa-
vannah makes the story of their al
legged crime Of general interest. The
events leading up to the present, as
related some time ago by James Creel-
man in the New York World follow:
On April "a, 1888, Captain Oberlin
NJ. Carter of the United States corps
Of engineers, took charge of the i'm
provement of rivers and harbors at
Savannah, Georgia, for which work
millions of dollars had been appropri-
ated. He so managed matters that the
Atlantic Construction company, con-
sisting OF John F. Gaynor, Captain
Greene and E. H. and w. T. Gaynor
got control of the contract.
In May, 1887, Captain Carter was
appointed military attache of the
United States legation in London
against his protest Captain Gillette,
the engineer officer appointed to sue
ceed him in charge of the Savannah
Improvements, charged Captain Car
ter with a conspiracy to defraud the
government in connection with the
harbor contracts. In Dec ecember, 1907,
the secretary of war ordered the trial
Of Captain Carter by courtmartial.
The charges were, roundly, that Car
ter drew the Specifications for con-
tracts so that no firm but the Allan
tic 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, Greene and Carter.
Division Of The Plunder.
1t, was shown on the trial that
these payments were frequent, and
that when they were 70 be made
Captain Carter would go to New
York, where he would draw treas
ury order for the full amount, plus
SIS, his expenses on the journey; that
this check would be handed to Greene,
and that within a few days Gaynor
would hand his check for one-third
of the payment, plus SIS, to Carter.
The dates of the checks thus drawn
correspond with Carter's visits to the
Union League Club in New York, of
which he was a member. It was es-
tirnated that Carter's share of the
p1under amounted to $722, ,528. Car
ter was found guilty. and sentenced
to- fine and Imprisonment, in addi-
ton to, military degradation.
It took long time to secure Cap
tain Carter's punishment, and it was
said that Gaynor and Greene were
moving heaven and earth 70 hush the
matter up. A few months after Car
ter's conviction Gaynor, through the
use of money, was elected member
of the democratic state committee
from Onondaga county, New York.
It 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 COM
n7ittee.
In December, 1899, Gaynor and
Greene and the other members OF
the Atlantic Construction company
were indicted by the United States
grand jury at Savannah for conspir-
acy to defraud the United States Of
$5z5o4o.oo. A few days later the in
dicted men surrendered to Unired
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 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 fled to Canada, and their
bail bonds were forfeited. It is said
that the bondsmen were afterwards
Reimbursed by the fugitives.
The two men went 70 Montreal