Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-09
THE DEFALCATION.
Correspondence Of The Boston .dttas.

WASHINGTON, June Z3s IooI.
The defalcation and the attempted elopement
of the Sergeant.at. Arms Of the House OF Repre-
seRtatives furnishes the principle topic OF CONVEX
sation to the q,id nuacs, in and out OF Congress.
Mr.. Dunn was defaulter to the amount OF three
thousand dollars at the commencement OF the pre-
sent session, but he was popular among the mem.
bers, and was reelected without difficulty. Al
various times, during the session. individual
members have complained that he did not pay
over TO them, with sufficient premptness, the mo-
ney which they drew through him, from the U.
S. Bank, for their per diem, allowance. for
NAL complaint was made to the Speaker about
two months ago, that he had in one instance,
shown manifest intentions to defraud q member,
but the Speaker hushed the matter up, and the
money was all paid. Since that time, he has, it
seems, received checks. for large amount, from
members. which he has collected but not &C
counted for. On Saturday, Col. johnson. OF
Kentucky, " ent to the Speaker and stated that
the complaints of members were heavy and al
most universal against. the conduct OF the Ser
jeant-at. Arms, and that he was strongly suspec-
ted Of dishonesty in his transactions with them.
Mr.. Speaker Stevenson sent for Dunn and told
him in the presence Of Col. Johnson, that he
must explain his conduct. Dunn carelessly said
that his books would speak for themselves, and
brought them to Col. Johnson, requesting him to
look them over. The Col. replied that no doubt
all was right, but the members would have it all
was wrong. He did not pretend to know any
thing about it himself, and declined examining
the books. This morning, Monday the Ser
jeant went to the Bank as soon as 1t was open,
and, an hour 0r two after. was seen at Bladens-
burg. on the road to Baltimore. The alarm
spread with amazing celebrity, and, BY q O'Clock,
pursuit was started. and the members severally
lett the Tariff and all other political and social
considerations. to inspect their accounts
The results Of the examination were forclbly
depicted in the number Of elongated and wobe
gone faces. In the majority Of the cases. the
sums charged exceeded considerably the sums
which honorable gentlemen had received. Many
we're overcharged one or two hundred dollars,
others FIVE or six hundred. and some 10 the entire
amount of their pay and mileage. Some mem.
bers are really very much embarrassed by this
loss. which had not entered into their financial es
Inmates, and which of course they were not pre-
pared for. One or two gentlemen with whom
conyersed had drawn nothing during the whole
session, but had signed blank checks and re.
uuested Dunn to bring them the money due to
them this week. Mr.. Dickson, Of New York.
not having drawn any thing, called for the Check
Book on Saturday, endorsed check. and filled
| it with fifteen hundred dollars The Speaker
signed the check and Dunn drew the money this
morning. mention this case to shew the way
in which the money passes through the hands OF
the Sergeant.at.Arms. In some Instances, per.
haps generally, the members do not insert the
sum. but leave it for the Sergeant to Fill the
blank with tie sum ascertained to be due to them
l.. = -. r.ainea what amrnn' A. D. he
embe zzied, but it is believed to exceed fwenty
thousand dollars You will observe that the
loss falls exclusively upon the members, not the
government; for the Sergeantat.Arms IS not
disburs'ng officer either of the House or OF the
government, and the collection Of the checks is
devOlved upon him by the members, as matter
of convenience. Some members suspecting him,
after an affair he had with Mr.. Cook Of Ohio,
did not trust him with any money. Alta o'clock
this evening, Mr.. Sergeant Dunn was brought
back to the city, and he was immediately waited
upon, at his house on Capitol Hill, by M. Speak
er Stevenson. Further, your correspondent has
received no information the subject.
P. S. Seven o'clock Dunn declares to the
Speaker and other inquiring friends that he has
but forty dollars in the world.
Mr.. Dunn rendered his resignation on the toll
lowing day. which was accepted. He is youns
man, about SO, and succeeded his father in the
Office in the winter Of 1924. 1t is probable that
he fell victim to gambling. ]7Ed. .AtIas.