Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-02-02


under date of the 9th ultmo, certificate OF de-
posite in the branch bank Of Indiana, made on the
9th of the same month, OF $40, 433 w, leaving
a balance in his hands OF 500 ,947 40. have to
request that YOU will instruct MIR. West, the ex-
amincr referred to in my letter above stated, to
make special inquiry into this matter, ana to re-
port TO the Department the result, &C. &C
Mr. West appointed and entered on his
duties on the lth day Of August, 1896. In his
report he says he shows balance OF SlS,I9o o5
then due from said receiver to the UnIted States.
He says:
..Whv this balance of Sls,705 Oh appears, has
not been xplained and if any explanation could
be made, Mr. Spencer's absence precludes me
from giving IT, His clerk thinks he has more mo-
ney at Richmond but as he left for collection
there, the Ist of June, what they on the LIST
day of August finally passed to his credit, have
thought this not very probable His clerk, though
called up, gives me schedule of the money he
took with him to Richmond, when he went 10
make his deposite on the lst OF June
81 think Mr. Spencer could not with proprety
urge when he went to make deposite on the lst
of June, a good cause for delay IN not having
done before, the state of the roads: as a free
passage was open for him via Logansport, and no
difficulty in his way"
(See his apology in his letter of the goth OF
June, 1867 He represents the books, papers,
&c. IN the office being very negligcntly kept
not being regularly made during the months of
January, February, and March. that Mr.. Spencer
did think 1t necessary, the office was clos
ed and no business doing. (This Is different
excuse from what Mr.. Spencer made) His ir-
regularity since, he (the clerk) states, is owing
"to the great pressure OF business; and am con-
WINGED it has been very great.
'in answer to my question, why the present
large sum now with Mr.. Spencer was allowed to
accumulate, they offer the letter of the President
of the indianapolis Bank excuse, copy of
which is herewith enclosed. 1t does not appear
when it was received, but probably about the 22d
July"
From this it appears that the SlOO, 500 :s2
spoken of by the receiver in his letter of the 22d
of August as having been retained so long on hand
was retained by him without any such excuse
as therein set up.
But what is stated heretofore bv the examiner
may fall perhaps under the head of gross negli-
gencc on the part Of the receiver, which should
have been considered good cause of instant remo-
val from office.
But what follows must be placed under the head
of positive offence against law, principle and mo-
raiity. He says:
upon the subject of using the money of tho U.
States, beg leave to state that find 1t univer-
sally stated, and believed, and II is conceded to as
IA fact by the clerks IN the receivers office, that
both ne and his rclatre, Da'cson, have been much
in the habit in the office, of shaving money; that
is exchan rng the money which could not I've re-
ceived for public lands; the rate of exchange or
discount varying from three To five per cent.
find in the case of Isaiah Wells. of Marion county
Ohio, that, recently the 9th instant, he paid
into the hands of the receiver, IN his office, eight
dollars for exchanging two hundred and forty
dollars of Ohio bank notes of five dollars each. 10 [
what extent this shaving business has been car
ried OH in the office, of course do not know but
am satisfied it has been 10 a very considerable
extent; and that he Government money paid IN
by one person has been handed out by the re-
ceiver in exchange for uncurrent, or not land OF
flee money-he receiving for his own prirntc use
the discounts agreed upon; and that the same
Gov eminent money again is passed into the land
office, TO be again used for the like purpose, in
paw for the public lands. That the receiver has
aiken In bank notes OF five dollars, contrary to
riders, the schedule prepared at his office. here
With enclosed, will prove; that he received
onus for taking the same is, think, almost be-
ond doubt
The examiner adds =
up. S. Mr.. Spencer has Just come in, having
cen as far as Richmond, where. by obtaining a |
iscount on some drafts due IN September, origi-
ally taken here for land he was enabled TO swell
is deposte there to S52,S3 81; which, together
18th the money taken with hun from here, and r
ONE OTTER money, enabled him to deposlte TO t
lie credit of he United States S455, 900. His t
wn account will stand thus c
Here no states tho account debtor and credi- I
,r, and strikes balance, bringing the said re-
ever indebted to the United States in the of :
. ,2O6 81, which was at first stated at S3,2l6 u
4, but corrected on the last page
After this report of West made, VIM. Hen e
r.cks wrote to the Secretary the following: Z.
"MApIsoN, August 81, 1896. 3
-'Sir am informed that some things stated .
gently, to the prejudice of Col. John Spencer, :,
ceiver at Fort Wayne; and am requested to :, :,
rite you. -
..In doing so, can only say that have been
atfed in learning that his deposites have been =,
ade To YOUR satisfaction; and, If so. hope that =
inor matters. if mere irregularities, will be -
erlookcd He is reputeI to be an honest and OF o,
norable man, and do not believe that he has
either done wrong, violated his 10
structions. 1t nould, to some ertent. produce pa
citement if he trere remored, for he has many
Urn and influential friends both at Fort Wayne ne
d IN Dearborn county, from which he emoved
his present residence. BETTER LET 1T BE. on
''With much respect, &c
CIVILIAN HENDRICKS. &c
Hon Levi Woodbury., Secretary of the Trea- u, u,
sury" di'
Ills enough Better let it BET" And ~
Lat IL, FL,