The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-04

A United States Army Officer Loses n Large
Amount Of GOvernment Funds.

Amount Of fGovernment Funds.
The Chicago Republican of Friday last says
First Lieutenant ID. q. Fenno, of the 18th Infan-
try, United States army, and Acting Post Com
miseary at Grand River Agency, Dakotah Terri
tory, with his wife and sister, arrived on Mon
day IN this city and engaged rooms at the Sher-
man. After partaking of his dinner, Feuno re-
quested a blank check, and filling IL out for
$500, asked the clerk to send 1t to the deposit
tary for collection. The clerk did "a requested,
and the messenger soon returned with the check
and a note requesting the Lieutenant to call at
the depositary. Fenno did so at once, aud
found that his neglect to present in person his
check and authority for drawing 1t was the rea-
son payment was refused Settling the prelimi-
naries TO the satisfaction Of the cashier, he re-
ceived the $500 and departed.
About o'clock on the same evening he
visited house on Randolph street to try his
luck at cards. He was in highly intoxicated
condition.
He sat down at the dealing table and invested
ten.dollar greenback; he won. Again and
again did the X go in and yield rich harvest.
He won upward of $3.50 and then his luck
changed. He came out loser in several deals,
and his pile was reduced to $50.
On the following morning "wednesday his
sister departed for home, and her bill was
charged up to her brothers account. 1t would
appear that FeBno remembered his previous
nights debauch, for, with an evident intention
to win back all he had lost at the Dearborn
street establishment he revisited that place
shortly after dinner, having several hundred
dollars in his possession.
He was perfectly sober at the time, and drank
but sparingly during the entire afternoon. His
first venture was SO; he won, and next time
lost, In few moments his losses amounted to
upwards of 500. He then doubled the stake,
and the same luck attended him. He would win
occasionally, but not often. In an hour he had
lost all the ready money he had with him, $460.
Calling for blank check he filed it out for
$1,000 on the United States Depositary. This
check was given to an attendant, who shortly
afterwards returned with the money.
sNl kf.rV
high as $500 on a deal. His losses continued,
and by o'clock every dollar of the $1,000 was
lost.
Becoming desperate, Fenno finally filed out a
check on the depositary for $4,000, and being
too late to draw it then, it was taken for its
full value by the dealer, who was satisfied of its
worth by Fennos statement of the position he
held. At o'clock Fenno arose from the table
without dollar the loser of $3i60.
Major-Genera Hartsuff, commandant of the
department in General Sheridans absence. sent
for Fenno yesterday morning, and ordered him
to Immediately report himself under arrest to
the commanding General at st. Paul, Minn.,
that being the headquarters of his department.
He stated his family to be wealthy and pro-
minent persons in Wheeling, Va, and that they
would help him out of his present difficulties
All the money he lost was Government funds,
but as lie was obliged to give bonds when ap
pointed coDmissary, the Government will pro-
baby not suffer by his dishonesty.
About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mrs.
Fenno called at the gambling house, and with
tears in her eyes requested money enough to
enable her and her miserable husband to leave
the city, stating that they had not dollar. She
was given 800, with which Fenno shortly after
paid his hotel bill. They left on the o'clock
train via the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy
road.
Mrs. Fenno is most refined and cultivated
lady, daughter of prominent man in Penn
sylvania, and one who has always been sur
rounded with all the accessories of wealth and
position. The dreadful course of her husband
must cause her to suffer untold misery. Fenuo
is very ordinary-appearing man, but said to
be very highly connected