New-York tribune., 1911-03-25
'BENJ. D. GREENE HERE,
AND J. F. GAYNOR FREE
Both Men Served in Prison for
S1,000,000 Savannah Harbor
Contract Frauds.
FOUGHT HARD FOR FREEDOM
Following Captain Carter's Fall,
They Sought Safety in Canada,
but Were Surrendered, Tried
and Fined Half a Million.

Benjamin -. Greene returned to New
York yesterday after three years spent
H. the federal prison at Atlanta. for en-
bczzlement i'm the Savannah harbor con-
tract frauds. He looked well. talked
cheerfuly and intimated that he would
re-enter business.
John +. Gaynor. who was indicted with
Greene in 1899. and with him succeeded
in staving off trial three years finally
going To Canada where. as the extradi-
ton laws did not apply to them. they
lived three Years until the British gov
crnment surrendered them as a matter
Of courtesy and friendship" was freed
yesterday. Greene said he did not be
lieve his former associate would be able
to enter active life again.
Tie criminal prose cution of these two
men. who were engaged on a million
dollar contract. followed the court mar
tai Of Captain Obcrlin VI. Garter. under
whose supervision their work was done.
Carter was sent TO prison. and the money
he was said To have obtained by fraud
were finally convicted at Savannah be-
fore Judge Emery Speer. after pro-
longed legal battle. sentenced TO four
years Imprisonment each. for embezzle-
ment. and Jointly fined S51J.Ii9 ~
That's all over" Greene said Of his
three years' imprisonment. The bars
were M before me Now they arc up be-
hind ne. ! have forgotten all about it,
He came into the city by way of the
Pennsylvania tunnel under the Nortl,
River and INTO the nov station in seventh
avenue. His clothing. outWsrdly. at least.
was the same that he wore through the
gates Of the prison when he began his
term for tho Savannah harbor frauds
except for new pair of fawn colored
spats. and ne had the saine silver watch
chain that had adorned his Wastcost for
forty Years. Two Gladstone bags COM
prised his baggage.
Surprised 20 See Reporters.
nc had telegraphed no one 10 meet
him and had expected to walk across
the city 10 the Park Avenue Hotel. but
when tho train pulled into the station
had been flashed ahead and 3 curious
crowd was waiting TO see the man who
gave the government nine years work
10 land him behind the bars \ tsXicah,
the first he had ridden in. gave him
refuge. and at the hotel an old friend
soon appeared ~ meet inquirer.
Il may he sixtv-seven years old. - Cap
tain Greene said "hut I am Just as
Young in spirit as ever was, and 7
tel YOU il feels good To be ont again. OF
course 7 don't know vet what am going
to do. You understand now that is. But
| am not a back number by any means.
Arc YOU going To wait here for Cay
nor. when he gets out. next week :" he
was asked.
II don't know what Gaynor is going
10 do" Captain Greene replied "IIe is
= very sick man. don't think he viii
oy or lie able To go into business again.
"Rut what docs everybody want 10
know about me for he continued.
"That never WIS bie scandal. nothing
like the Tweed ring. Look 1T the rec
orde OF the trial The district Attorney
never asked me about anything but
sIoOOun. aud S10onD isn't anything 10
howl about Nothing like the Tweed
ring
The captain likes to talk, now that he
has the chance. "A prison is like big
city," he explained. "iou can live there
forever and never know who your next
door neiehbor is. didn't have any
chance to talk to Gaynor. and ! never
had an opportunity To speak I" Charles
~ Morse of course, | saw him occa-
sionally. and he looked pretty well 10
me. | never spoke to him. though, 80
don't know whether he was sick or not.
Il am all right This is the same old
mustachc. sure. DO you think ! could
grow one like this overnight? And |
weigh about the same. lost two or
three pounds when | first went in. but
cot that back \ man doesn't lose
weight. YOU know, when he has clear