The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-09
GILLETTE AGAIN on THE STAND
Becomes Witness for Defendants,
Greene and Gaynor
TELLS OF COST OF DREDGING
Action Of Mr.. Osborne in Accepting
Major Gillette as . Witness for the
Defense Gives Him Unique Distinc-
ton in the Case-Evidence Given
by R. F. Wescott, Deceased, Read
by Judge Adams.

Savannah. Ga. March 7.-Najor
Cassius e. Gillette was given unique
distinction in the federal court today
Of becoming a witness for the defen-
dants Greene and Gaynor, the men
whom he has done SO much to have
arraigned at the bar Of justice. District
Attorney Marion Erwin had put Major
Gillette on the stand again to bring
out further points that he desired to
develop in the governments case. Con-
cluding with his examination, the dis
trict attorney turned the witness over
to the defense and Mr.. Osborne began
a line Of questioning foreign to and
independent of that to which Mr.. Err
win had resorted. The court asked
the purport Of this questioning, which
he was inclined to deem irrevelant
Mr.. Osborne explained, whereupon the
court remarked that he would permit
the questioning, but that Major Gill
lette would then become witness for
the defense. Mr.. Osborne accepted
this ruling and continued his ques-
tioning relative to cost of dredging
work and certain contracts entered
into. Under the cross examination al
lowed Mr.. Erwin by the courts ruling,
ment's counsel said they regarded as
entirely satisfactory was forthcoming.
Major Gillette was asked about the
price of dredging by District Attorney
Erwin. The court failed to see the
relevancy, and inquired regarding it.
whereupon the district attorney said
he was proving that when Carter
found that the jetties being built by
Greene and Gaynor were not doing
good he attempted to get the govern
ment to allow him to enter into a sup
Elemental contract for nearly half a
million dollars worth of dreding by the
defendants at 25 cents per cubic yard.
The judge advocate general, to whom
this recommendation was regarded,
decided that such contract would be
illegal. The witness said that 10 cents
a cubic yard. This was touched upon
to pay and subsequently in this con-
nection, Mr.. Osborne, for the defense
brought out that two bids were sub
mitted to- Major Gillette for similar
dredging in the same place and that
one Of them was as high as 70 cents
cubic yard. This wastouche d upon
by the district attorney in the direct
examination. The 70 cents bid. said
the witness. was for very small piece
of work, which, taken in connection
with other more extensive work, aver
aged only 16 cents. The price paid
he said, always varies immensely with
the amount of work to be done. The
average cost of doing the work by gov
ernment dredges at Cumberland sound
he said, exclusive of that investment
represented by the dredges, is only six
cents a cubic yard. Judge S. B. Ad-
ans. for the government, upon the
conclusion of Major Gillette's testi-
mony, began to read the evidence
given by r. F. Wescott, deceased faith
er-in-law of 0. M. Carter. This evil
dence is regarded by the government
as being highly important, and the de-
fense had fought vigorously, but with
out success to have it excluded. Dur
ing the progress of the reading numer-
Gus objections were offered by coun-
sci for the defense, and exceptions not
ed, when the court overruled them all
When the hour for adjournment arriv-
ed no great progress had been made.