The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-20
HOW THEY WORK.
Attorney for Government Makes
His Opening Statement
In the Case Against Green and
GaynOr at Savannah.
CARTER THEIR TOOL.
They Made Him Believe He Was
a Second Eads.
Got a Hold on Him by LOaning
Him Honey.
CARTER THEIR TOOL.

Savannah. Ga, Jan. 20.-Assistant
Attorney Marion Erwin, upon the con-
vening of the federal court today indi-
Gated to the jury the course the gov
ernment would follow in presenting its
case against Greene and Gaynor. He
said that it would show in support OF
the charge of conspiracy, that the de-
fendants came together in an agree
nent to defraud the government and
that the overt act of conspiracy had
actually been committed.
The government. he said. would seek
to show that Lieutenant O. NJ. Carter
came here in 1884, under General Gil
more and was connected with the river
and harbor work when appropriations
for rivers and harbors were not Sc large
as now. Carter was appointed in charge
upon the death Of General Gilmore and
the government would show, said Mr..
Erwin, that he fell in with Greene. and
Gaynor here. At an early stage MIR.
Erwin said the contractors started to
work on Carter, getting him into little
side contracts with them and making
a little money for him or at least SO
pretending; then they commenced to
lend him money. He was young Off
Ger, who had no money to speak of him-
self. He would pay the money back
and at first the loans were inconsider-
able, but soon the amounts grew to as
much as $4,000; gradually the amounts
increased and he became involved N
contracts and enterprises with them.
A second Eads.
Their associations were very close in
the earlier stages and they led him to
believe he was a SECOND Eads, q man
of great ability and that he could leave
the army and go in with them in the
4rNF1 F1r1r
and elsewhere. Mr.. Erwin implied that
the defendants never had any intention
of carrying out these plans, but by en-
tering into them they made Carter their
man indisputably. Then the alleged
conspirators interested the people Of
Savannah in getting a very large ap-
preparation for Savannah harbOF work.
great convention being arranged to
lend aid to the enterprise. This over
stepped the Chilli scheme even and offer
ed a splendid opportunity for the al
legged conspirators.
Congress made this great appropria-
tion and in 1891, Mr.. Erwin said, Carter
went over to Greene and Gaynor, body
and soul" Just how he was to be paid,
the agreement in this body and
soul Sell-Out does not appear. but a
little later when the payments began
upon the big contracts made under the
larger appropriation, divisions Of the
money could be shown to have been
made at the end Of each month as reg
ularly as clock work. From 1892, con-
tinue Mr. Erwin month by month the
balances from payments after defraying
the expenditure of the work and pay
ments made to their co-cOnspiratOrs the
younger Gaynors and others involved
were split up by Greene, Gaynor and
Carter in equal amounts.
Didn't Follow Regulations.
In the advertising of contracts. Mr..
Erwin declared Carter did not follow
the regulations, often on 81, ,00O. 600 con-
tracts, cutting down the time and 50
managing as to suppress competition
and leave the work necessarily to fan
to the Atlantic Contracting company Of
which Greene and Gaynor We're the
chief beneficiaries. Many obstacles were
thrown in the way Of other prospective
bidders Carter was said. to have kept
the specifications under lock and key,
guarding them carefully and knowing
every man who got a copy. Carter said
Mr.. Erwin, adopted means to stop the
competition, the alleged cOnspiratofs
sometimes buying off other bidders and
leaving the work to the Atlantic Com
tracing company at e5oorbitant prices.