Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-03-08
The sig ngilliOn Robbery.

The report of the House Committee on the
fraudulent abstraction of Indian bonds and the
circumstances connected herewith, illustrate
the usual result of Investigations into official
pIunderings. The horse is gone-but precise
y who took him and where he is, remain
mystery but it is recommended that the stable
door be looked after in future. This is no
fault of the Committee. They are put on the
track of expert rogues who have long previous
had the field TO themselves. and were as ingen-
iOus in concealing their frauds as in parpe-
trating them. But still, enough has been dis
covered to disgrace the country, and to lead
to the hope-that condign punishment will yet
be mcted out to some of the parties. These.
50 far as the report of the Committee extends,
range themselves about three central figures.
which. for the sake of brevity and ucidity, we
shall take up in cur own order.
Wm H. Russell is the head of tie house of
Russell, Majors & Wadlell, firm widely
known as contractors with the War Depart
nient for tran porting army provisions over
the Western and Southwestern plains, and
largely employed in cauncction witd the Utah
expedition. The firm have had the reputation
of doing very profitable business, but which
requires large amount Of money to carry it
Cd. While under this n2c2s5iiy it appears
tint Mr.. Russell hears of MIR. Bailey at
| Washington who, he is led to believe. can ac-
commiodatc him. He goes there, meets Bailey
in the War Department, which is not his place,
and is introduced by the Chief Clerk and inti-
mate personal friend of Gov. Floyd, then Sec
reiary of War. He is accommodated by ID
dian bonds fraudulently passed over to him by
! Bailey, who is their custodian, to The amount
| Of SL50,O0O. This was about the middle ol
July last, and the transaction thus begun was
repeated until the sums reached S670,000.--
Previous to this and, as il is said introductory
! to it, Mr. Russell had negotiated acceptance
TO a large amount mad. in hs favor by the
Secretary of War, in advance Of his Russell 81
earnings, and contrary 10 the practices Of thc
Government. Thus far Mr.. Russell, whose
trial is yet to take place.
GODDARD Bailey, born in South Carolina
lately resident in Alabama. came TO Washing
ton in 1887, bankrupt in fortune, but well sup
4 piled with recommendations, and was appoint
ed clerk in the Department of the Interior, tc
have charge of the Indian Trust Bonds. His
salary was $4,000 per anuum, and he was q
man whose reputation had gone abroad as ca
pable OF helping along the great house Of Rus
SELL Major & ,WaddelI. He did it by abstract
ing the bonds before referred to, which vert
kept in such loose way that the theft wa
easily concealed for a long time. After thu.
aiding Mr.. Russell, Baileys own deposits o
savings With his bankers went up to five or sil
thousand dollars. Bailey kept his official &C
counts all fair the face, and the robber!
was incidentally discovered through the tideli
ty Of one of the auditors. The trial of Mr.
Bailey will probably fill out She details of thi
outline.
Thus far we have been Il 'aling with $870,
000 thieves -iow We mrs. ti+. to ~fip,,u.iers
IN millions JaHu b Fi1y1 Secretary q
War, began IN 1858 20 iszts4 acceptance in IA
vor Of Russeits firm, ana to write. letters t
capitalists, urging their purchase or disroun
! He made these issues ut random--at the dC
tpartmeAt, At his house, or wherever hs happer