The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-15

"A DcSlu. OIotu6 dIIO WALL
- at last be brought to trial before
the federal criminal courts. for their
alleged conspiracy with Oberlin M. Car
ter, formerly a captain Of the engineer
corps, United States army, to defraud
the United States government out of
millions Of dollars. The closing scene
will be striking, as BELTS operations of
processes of the two greatest countries
In the world have been exhausted in a
titantic legal battle, and where finally
diplomacy had to intervene in order to
bring to trial two fugitives from JUS
tice, whose alleged accomplish had been
convicted years ago and had served his
sentence in felon s cell.
They will be tried at the next session
Of the federal criminal court at Savan-
holiday for fashion. Gaily dressed spec
tators will throng the courtroom from
day to day. The accused will be the
recipients Of those attentions often
sEhowered upon criminals. Every priv
ilege and every luxury that money can
buy will be at their disposal: The most
brilliant legal talent in the United
sss VIII l be S arrayeda h on the the Opposing opp
mits to be used to defeat or to delay
the ends of justice will be used in their
behalf, as such devices have been used
In the past. Every technicality that
can be strained in their favor will be-
come a subject of strenuous contention
BY. the opposed legal giants, before the
eminent judge who will preside over
the long wrangle that is sure to occur.
Appeal may follow appeal; "errors" in
rulings may result in new trials; and
1t may be that the supreme court of the
United States will yet have to pass
upon some of the disputed points Of the
great controversy, as the highest court
of the Dominion Of Canada and the
already done, before the scales, of JUS
tice shall tip for or against these al
legged swindlers and conspirators.
Seven years ago Captain O. M. Carter
was brought to trial before modest
military court, on charges growing out
of the same transaction. Within three
months after his populations had been
within six months he had been stripped
of his army uniform, clothed in a
sfelon's garb, and incarcerated in the
federal penitentiary at -Leavenworth,
.Kas,. He had, received a fair trial,
which eventually stood successfully the
test of examination by the supreme
eourt, Of the United States, and the
5SWoIu VI JuotlCC lau ~ OAlIptAy 1AnlCtcu
the penalty Of the law for the crime
OF which he was convicted.
Carter was one of the most promising
young engineer officers Of the army.
This great department has been hon
-ored by such names as Lee, Johnston,
Abbott, Meade and Wilson,. It has had
charge of the great river and harbor
improvements, for which congress ap.
propriates hundreds. of millions of dol
lars, and until Captain Carter was &C.
.cused Of fraud no officer Of that de-
partment had ever been suspected of
disappointing a dollar of the gov
ernment funds entrusted to him. The
brightest members of the successive
classes graduated at West Point had
been annually assigned to that depart
.ment. To their pride as West Pointers
was added an overweening pride in
their corps Of engineers, which is justly
considered the elite corps Of the army
They regarded themselves as the finest
body Of professional men in the world;
the honor Of each member Of that corps
was the pride and care Of every other
member. That any member of the corps
could be guilty Of dishonesty was
simply uncomfortable.
" + i. !. =
Captain Carter's period Of duty al
Savannah expired, and another cap
Tain Of engineers, Gillette, was sent tc
take over his duties in order that
Garter might be sent elsewhere on
other duty. Gillette did not find