The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-05
From the st. Louis Republican, March "a.


The public has already been made acquainted,
| by an official order published by Major General
Jesup, of extensive frauds committed on several
officers of the United States army by one Gustavus
McHarcourt We find the whole history Of this
matter to be about this: McHarcourt, who has been
employed for a long time in the army, and who
has, until the discovery OF these frauds, always
joyed high reputation for integrity and efficiency
was engaged by Captain l.. c. Easton, in Septem-
Der, 1919, as clerk in the Quartermaster's Depart
ment, and shortly afterwards went with Captain
L. to New Mexico.
Shortly after the arrival of Captain E. in Santa
Fc. his whole family was stricken down by sick
ness, and in the course Of q few days he lost his
vile, his brother-in-law, and a servant. He WAS
thus LETT with several small children. Zone an in
!ant,) without even the assistance of servant
and compelled to fulfil all the duties of father,
mother, and SERVANT in fact, every thing that ap-
pertains TO domestic life
McHarcourt, who until recently, had always
enjoyed the highest confidence OF all his employ
ere, was therefore necessarily entrusted, to some
degree, with the control Of business. Afterwards,
Captain E. being several times absent from the
post on duty, the management Of affairs was, dur
ing these intervals. left entirely to the clerk.
In October last Captain E who was then at ST..
Louis, was informed by General Jesup of a deficit
IN one OF the items of his quarterly account, end
ing April, 1881, amounting to $4,000. He now
examined his books in company with some conf
Dental friends In this city, when he discovered,
his alarm and astonishmeut that his books (Which
were kept solely by McH had been artfuy al
ter's account by changing the figures, and in two
instances entirely erasing the entries Of amounts
received from other officers. and thus reducing
the amount to be accounted for, as shown by the
books Sis. 900 lees than what was in fact re-
ceived and receipted for. These facts appear upon
the face Of the books when closely inspected.
Captain L. Immediately wroteto General Jesup,
acquainting him with the extent, and all the par
Il uiars Of the fraud, and started at once Santa
r. In pursuit of McHarcourt The severity Of the
weather was such Iii being in the winter) that he
did not reach Santa Fe until the 9th Of January,
1852. He suffered very much the road. He
here learned that McHarcourt had forged his name
and that Of Colonel +. v. Sumner to several draits
which he sold, and had left about two months be.
fore HE arrival for chihuahua. Captain E. still
pursuing him, started thiiher with all speed, but
10 no purpose. When he reached FL Paso he found
that MICH. had succeeded in selling drafts forged
by him as above mentioned, 10 the amount Of
about thirty thousand dollars and had left Chihun
hus about sx weeks bt fore for Durango travelling
with great speed. Pursuit being hopeless,
Captain 4. returned to S.. Louis by way OF San
Antonio.
a reward Of ST. coo was offered by Captain r.
for the arrest and delivery of the cuprit which he
Is still willing TO pay.
There is no definite information Of the amount
OF the frauds committed by Mcfiarcourt; but
enough is known 10 say that they will altogether
amount 20 not less than 80 900 IN the aggregate.
Is "a little singular that no one suspected him
in New Mexico until information Of these forgeries
was received from the United States Such was
his high character, that he sold the drafs in Chi
huahuo, drawn for large sums, without any diff
Guilty.