The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-09-21


THE DETECTIVES ON THE SCENT
SYMPATHY FOR THE ACCUSED
col. WI. ELL APPOINTED DISBUESISG CLBRk
Considerable excitement was caused In the
city yesterday by tho facts being made known
Of q heavy dcTaloation OF Col. L. u. Olmatcad,
Disturbing clerk ofthc General Post Once. The
sum 10 vAriOusly estimated at from 100000 to
Sl5OOO0, and was discovered on Saturday morn
ing, although 1t Is supposed OlmBtcadh has been
using the money of the Department for some
time past. TN Saturday morning Ulmstcad
sent his draft, Rs discussing clerk, TO the
Treasury for 10000, to pay Galnry Of clcrkB,
which was not hOrOrCd; when the Postmaster
General Immediately sent for OlmBtead to ill.,
quirc the reason why the Treasury Depart
mcnt declined 10 honor his check, the result
Of which revealed the fact that his account
with the Trcabury had been ovcrdrawn.
Olmstead, II appears, then went to the house
of Waterman in the Department. named
Brannagan, and borrowed n soldiers over
coat and q dark SLOUGH hat, stating TO the
Waterman that he was going to the country,
md he has not been heard from since.
Before parting with Brannagan, OlmstcNd
made him promise not to divulge the fact of
his absence; but shortly afterward the watch-
man, being rather conscientious, went to a
priest, to whom he related all,whcn the rcver-
end gentleman told Brannasan he had better
reveal all he knew TO the post. Office authori
ticH. This good advice was needed, and Bran
nagan Immediately called on Mr.. kilby, of the
Post Once Department, 10 whom he made ac'
quainted the facts of Olmstead obtaining
clothes from him and leaving town.
MT Kilby then sent Brannagan to the house
of Olmstesd, to request the return by his wife
of the keys of the dcsk OF the office OF Ohm
stead. Dranuagan called at the house, and in
forming Mrs Olmstcad of his GRAND, also told
her of the dcfalcation of her husband. The
distressed lady Immediately burst into tears
and after u few moments handed the keys TO
BIannagan, and also u ,OCO, which she stated
her husband had sent her during the day. The
keys and money were handed over TO Mr.
Hilby.
Olmstcad, 1t is said, remarked TO q friend,
about one month since, that his account with
the Department was 100000 short, but that
he expected to make 1t all right in n short
time, as he expected large sums from his land
and mining speculations. Others say that
OlmBtcad told them u short time ago, he was
only some so 600 behind hand. On his desk
he left u statement, showing that lie was be.
hind hand with the Department only some
$1,000. II showed various amounts paid post
Office employees, route agents, SC, but gave
no account of what bills remained unpaid.
For some time past Olmstcad has been OK.
tensiyCly engaged in private spcculatiOna,
prominent among which was perlccting
patent for making envelopes, which he hoped
to dispose OF to the Post Ohlcc department,
and 1t Is thought by his friends that he has
spent great deal of money OF the Govern
mcnt in experimenting wi III the new machine,
with hope of selling it to the Department.
lie WAS also largely interested in q plumbing
and gas.iitting Establishment on Seventh
street, and At one time was city editor OF
morning cotcmporary. lie pnrehaaci few
yCars ago $4,000 acres Of land in North Caro-
lima, and owned stock in several silver and
cOalmines. lie was also deeply interested in the
introduetion Of elyScriIe illuminnting Gts In
city Post Office, where 1t Is now in use, and
which caused n terrible explosion year or
two since with sCrious results.
Olmstcad il rcputcd great opium cater, no
well as an invctcrRtc chcwcr OF tobacco and
smoker, and although he has frequently at
tempted to discontinue their use, he never
succeeded, and to which may be attributed his
unusual nervousness and wild stare and ne
tons at times. Indeed there ia hardly u doubt
of his being partially insane, and much sym
pnthy iB Expressed by all who know him for
his present act.
A short time ago he wrote n paper with the
heading "Rcncctions on the Condition Of My
Accounts" under which were proverbs, mot.
toes, and good advice, which he gave to Mr..
Kilby, with a request TO hand it to his (Olm.
stcad's) son, who was abscnt from city, upon
his return home.
Upon the discovery of the dofalcation, dctcc.
tivcs were Immediately put upon the track Of
the refugee, but UP to n late hour last night
he had not been Apprchcndcd.
Frederick DeprO, special agent OF tho De-
partment, took the noon train for New l0rk
on Saturday, for the alleged purpose OF ferret
ting out q robbery in the post onicc Of that
city, but the real object of his absence is sup
posed to be in connection with the case of tho
defalcatiOn.
In consequence OF the discovery OF the above
loss, Col VIM Boil, of TeXas, who some years
ago held the position OF disbursing clerk, was
on Saturday afternoon selected to I'LL that pO-
sitiOn, and Immediately entered upon the diR-
charge of Its duties.
Olmstcad is q line looking man, about feet
In height, light complexion, very pleasing In
his address, and aged about 10 years. lICwalks
very erect, wears standing collar of tho
"chOker" style, and white cravat, and carrics
an ivory headed cnnO, and would he easily
mistakCn for u minister OF tho gospel. lie re-
sides on Eleventh street west, and has q wife
and an interesting family Of young children.
Tho several tTains have been narrowly
watched since Saturday noon, and the dctcc
tiycs feel confident that OlmstcAd has not
gone West or East. 1t Is thought by many
that the accused IL still somewhere III the
vicinity OF the city
LINCOLN BUILDING Co.orgRATIvE Assoc
OIATIoS.-On Friday evening last this organ
iLation held it's regular monthly meeting. The
bidding was very spirited, and resulted in the
sale OF three houses and lots ut an average Of
one hundred and fourteen per cent, and three
loans of money were also made at An average
Of one hundred and Eeventy-cight per cent.
The condition Of the association Ia second to
none in tho District, and consequently very
popular among the labOring class of persons.
UHAROE OF hRsuS.- colorCd woman,
named Eliza Woodrow, WAS arrcatcd ycster-
DAY morning, on tho complaint of Amelia
Woodrow, by ninccr steele, of the Second pre-
oinct, charged with GndcaYOring to FIRE the
premises Of tho complainant. The accused
was Arraigncd before Justice Thompson, but
the evidence not being sufficient, she was die
missed Of the charge, Eliza, however, for
being disorderly, was required to give security
10 keep the peace.
PETIT LARCENY Officers Frccr, Allen and
Brcsnehan arrested Washington Merritt, Wal
ter Brown, Geo. Bland and James Simms, all
COloTed, charged with petit larceny. Justice
CLARK committed Bland, Merritt and SimmB
to court, and released Brown GU bail, Susan
aud Annie hundy, also colOred, were held to
bNil for court on tho charge of receiving the
goOhs stolen by tho above parties.