The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-23
A WARNING
 TO MELDRIM Greene -Gaynor Attorney is Cautioned. HE CRITICISED JUDGE STEER Reasons Why the Defendants Fled From Georgia. Denied That There Was coliuslon Re- tween Greene and Gaynor and Captain Carter to Defraud
 the Government.
 
HE CRITICISED JUDGE STEER

Savannah, Ga, Jan. 22.-coI. F. w Meidrim. leading counsel for Greene and Gaynor narrowly missed. in the Federal court. today sharing the expe- rience of his associate, A. A. Lawrence. who last week was fined $f0o for con tempt of court Judge Emory speer construed certain remarks of Colonel Meldrim as out of order and in con- tempt of court, but accepted the ex- planation of counsel and passed the matter. thus closing an intensely dra- matic scene.
 The point was reached in the trial where the examination of witnesses be- gan. Major Gillette took the stand and had answered a preliminary ques- tion when objection was raised to an- swering the question of Mir. Erwin as to what Carter had said to him in Washington bearing upon the conspir- acy that Major Gillette afterwards dis covered to have existed in Savannah After arguing the court overruled the objection, adjournment was taken and the question will doubtless be answer ed by Major Gillette upon the reconven- Ing Of court tomorrow morning.
 Speech of MeEdrim.
 Colonel Meldrim, of counsel for the defense, made statement of the de- fendants side of the case. He said it was true that Greene and Carter were on terms of friendship as the prosecuting attorney Mir. Erwin had asserted, but that there was nothing surprising in that as Greene, too, had been an army officer and in the engin- eering corps. He secuted the idea that Carter was dupe, weak tool, plia- ble clay in the hands of, Greene, this statement being disproved by Carter's attachments and his appointments to places of trust and importance
 Colonel Meldrim challenged the gov ernment to prove that Greene and Gaynor ever loaned Carter cent and that the loan was one of $I600 made in fsSs by Greene which Carter had repaid within a years time in driblets Point by point, Colonel Meidrim took up the governments view as given by MT. Erwin and gave an explanation
 He said the Chilean project in which 1t was alleged Carter and tho contrac- tors were about to embark, had never materialized and that the river and harbor convention in Savannah was held long before Carter came here. It was disputed that Carter advertised for bids on contracts for much shorter periods than the regulations required. and said 1t was the custom of other engineer officers Colonel Meldrim say ing that he would show that Colonel Gilmour and others had advertiser but for fourteen days.
 Guard of Specifications.
 The assertions relative to the strict guard kept upon the specifications were denied, and 1t was declared that pro- spective bidders had no difficulty in securing copies. Colonels Greene and Gaynor, Colonel Meldrim said, got the contracts because they were on the ground, knew all the local conditions regarding labor, dredges, boats and other essentials to be considered, and consequently were able to make the lowest bids.
 Of the contention relatives to the large bank deposits made by Carter, the defense would establish, said Cole mel Meldrim, that he had made the money, not through conspiracy and col- fusion with Greene and Gaynor, but through investments made in Georgia timber lands and Florida phosphate lands with money received from the late R. F. Westcott, Carter's father-in- law. He would challenge the Govern ment, he said, to show that one dollar of the money Greene and Gaynor got from the Government ever went to Carter or Westcott. Greene and Gay nor, he said had, as was natural, given Westcott an interest in their contract
 
 his influence in securing the contract to raise the tracks of the New York Central Railroad in New York city and Buffalo.
 Colonel Meldrim drew the pleasing picture of Savannah as a great port and attributed the commercial import ance of the city to the faithfulness and ability Of Carter and the honest and hard work of the accused contractors No better tests than these results, he maintained, could be offered and he indicated that it would be the effort of the defense to have the jury visit the harbor and view the improvements that have been made.
 Judge Speer's Caution.
 Colonel Meldrim referred to the ef- forts of the defendants to evade being brought back to Judge Speer's juris- diction for trial and proceeded to indi- cate an activity and interest on the part of Judge Speer that gave the de- fendants grounds for apprehension in a trial given them in this court. Coun sel was referring to the language usexI by a New York newspaper at the time of the hearing in that city declaring Greene and Gaynor did not return to savannah for trial, when the Judge interrupted. directing Colonel Meldrim to be seated and the Jury to retire. He then asked Colonel Meldrim to show cause why he should not De lined for contempt of court
 colonel Meldrim replied that he had intended no contempt. The stenograph- er's record was read and Colonel Mel drim made an extensive explanation to which Judge Speer responded.
 The jury was then recalled and Col onel Meldrim proceeded. detailing the movements of the defendants, their coming to Savannah in 1892, their re- turning to New York, their absconding to Canada, and the forfeiture of bonds of $40. GOO each. They fought he said, against a return to Savannah. where thev were to be tried among strangers and away from their friends They feared the tremendous power of the c,overnment. and 1t was fear, not guilt, tbat made them go to Quebec. This Government. as he could prove, he said. ,.lsidnapped the defendants at Quebec and took them to Montreal" ."
 "Then l challenge you to prove it." said Mir, Erwin
 Colonel Meldrim cited the condemna- tion of Charles l. and Marie Antoinette ss examples of the power of Govern r1ent to show the wisdom of the fear the defendants had felt