The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-06
ONLY ONE WITNESS ON STAND
Progress Of the Case Against
Greene and Gaynor
JUDGE COMMENTS ON WITNESS
Familiarity With Dates and Other In
formation of j. w. o. Sherley
Bench-COunsel for Both Sides
Questioned the Witness Closely.

Savannah, Ga, February Blu
one witness occupied the stand dur
| ing today's session of the federal cour
in the case against Greene and Gaynor
| This was J. w. O. Sterley. whose ia
miliarity with dates and other infor
nation regarding river and harbo1
contracts and improvements Wa:
comment from the court touching
the excellent memory Of the witness.
Mr.. Sterley was questioned closely
by both the district attorney and coun-
sci for the accused. He was unshaker
in his attitude of condemnation Of
methods that were followed by Cap
tain Carter in the administration Of his
office as director of engineering work
The witness was chief clerk under
Captain Carter. and his immediate
predecessor, and he retained the post
under succeeding heads of the Savan-
nah district.
The evidence related almost exclu-
sively to the advertisement for proper
proposals on the big contract of 1896
for the Savannah harbor, the gov
ernment's contention being that Car
ter for the benefit of himself and
Greene and Gaynor, adopted methods
that tended to the elimination Of ali
other contracts, and the consequent
assuring of the big enterprise to
Greene and GaynOr.
On adjourning until Monday Judge
Speer said. in part:
Gentlemen Of the jury: It is most
important that you and I should every
day strive fully to realize the impOr-
tance of arduOus labor in which We are
engaged.
I'VE must realize that this prosecu-
ton, if proper, is intended not only
to bring accused to justice if they are
convicted conformably to law, but for
the protection of the large sums gath
cred from the people by taxation and
placed in the hands of the disbursing
officers of the government or other
trust officers.
''Profgacy in the misuse or unlaW-
fll diversion of public funds. as much
perhaps as any other one cause, has
contributed to the downfall of nations,
even the most prosperous. Especially
important in these days. when such
vast expenditures are being made for
the public welfare, is the judicial pro-
lection afforded by courts and juries
TO the public treasury. Think for a
moment of enormous sums apprOpri-
ated for the construction of the Pana-
ma canal. for public buildings, for all
SOrtS OF puDllc improvements. NOT less
important is your protection of the
accused in their constitutional rights
to a thorough investigation and an
impartial trial. These, indeed, are "a
essential to the public welfare as tha
protection of the public money. o. any
other duty of government. Now. I
know this task which has fallen to
your lot is laborious and painful. It
is particularly hard for you TO be
away from your homes at this season
of the year.
ut is hard on all of us. You must,
however, think of the patriotic and
character of the seSvice to
the entire country we are called upon
to perform.
'If we are thus animated to the end
Of the trial we may be sure of right
eOus result which will receive the ap-
probation of our consciences and
country as long as we live