Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-17
The Defalcation in the N. Y. Post Office.

The Defalcation in the N. Y. Post Ofhce.
The New York Post says:-"The rumor
from Washington respecting the heavy de-
falcations in the New York city post Office
has been foundto be substantially correct
An investigation ordered by the Department,
and conducted by the special agent OF the
General Post Office, thus far exhibits de-
iiciency of over one hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars on the part of Isaac V. Fowler,
the postmaster of the city. The criminality
consists in his failing to deposite at the Sub
treasury the full amount Of postal revenue
collected for the Government. There is evil
dence that there is now due in such despc-
sites the amount above stated. 1t may be
found as the investigation proceeds that the
deficit amounts to a much larger sum-"
George Law and G. A. Conver are the pre-
sent sureties for Mr.. Fowler to the amount
of S75 900 Mr.. Fowler was appointed by
President Pierce, and reapponted by MIR.
Buchanan. The detalcation is an'lndctable
oifense under tie sub-treasury law. The u.
S. Marshal has a warrant for his arrest, but
is unable to find him. The Express, after
stating that Mr.. T. dned with Mr.. Belmont
ON Saturday evening, says:
lie LETT the New York Hotel, where he
has resided for the last ten years. at 2 o'clock
on Sunday morning, since which time no
one except the two or three intimate friends
who accompanied him, has been able to as
certain his Whereabouts. 1t Is said that he
is completely overwhelmed at the exposure.
There are, various rumOrs as to the cause OF
! the defalcation-one that Mr.. I. had u mania
for specializing in new patents for sewing
machines, steamboat propellers, car brakes,
&c, and that since his connection with the
New York post-otfce he has owned no less
than twelve or fifteen patents, out OF which
but one turned out success, and that the
car brake speculation is now being used
with success, and whose value, it is alleged,
| with the indcmntication of his sureties, (S75-,
00O,) will nearly, If not quite, balance his
account with the government. Dir. L. is
lawyer by profession; man of fine talents,
possessing much tact and great energy OF
character-libcral to fault-which has, no
doubt, aided greatly in his present embar-
rassment. He is a man of about forty-hvc
years of age, !. bachelor; has one brother, a
lawyer residing in this city, and Of the firm
of Cumm Il Fowler; his mother and two
sisters reside at Newburg. This is a severe
blow to them"
The New York post-oflice is now in charge
Of assistant postmaster Samuel King, with
Mr., Orpett and Mr.. lIolbrook, the special
agent Of the rost-ofiice department, until
they shall have investigated the whole affair.
There were rllmorS IL short time since that
there was ii deficiency in a quarters report OF
Mr.. Fowler but they were Immediately set
at rest by his deposting the SIS, 900 claimed
in the suh-trcasury.
The Tribune says the defllcation amounts
to Sl7j, 900, and adds that some of Mr.. Fow-
ler's friends rendered the deficits asccrtained
up to Saturday but Mr.. Holt, the Postmas
ter General, said it was too late and would
be compoundng the felony. The Tribune
further remarks
MIR. Fowler was but few years ago re-
puted to be worth $50 900, all Of which. it
is said by those who know HIM we'll, has been
spent for party purposes. While universal
~ recognized as good fellow" SO called,
his style oi living was never extravagant,
at least for his position. He was not addict
ed to fast life, last women. sporting, gamb-
ling, or other ruinous eXtravagances. and
no one supposes that amy mentiopable amount
has gone in such channels. At the New
York Hotel, where he has lived for several
years, he is spoken OF in the kindest terms,
and from the proprietors to the humblest SER
want there is Il general expression of regret
and sympathy It's one of the few Instances
where falling man is not kicked by his
more fortunate neighbours.
One OF the many rumors aloat is that Mr.
Fowler has sailed for Brazil his intimate
friends having subscribed $4,000 for his
benefit last week, on hearing Of the defalca-
ton. The material portion of MIR. Fowler's
default occurred within the last six months.
Whatever deficits existed previously were
comparatively small, and were answered by
loans obtained by Mr.. Fowler from his per-
sula friends.