The Republican journal., 1871-09-21
Radical DefauIters. They Come Faster
and Heavier.

!
who have stolen without limit, and are in
a condition to leave their country for
their countly's good, is becoming alarm
lngly large, even considering the reputa-
ton OF the party. Last week no less than
three defaults of public money were
brought to light. The first was the Post
master at Atlanta, Ga, as follows:
| A Washington correspondent saws that the
| papers anu accounts of Semmes, Postmaster at
Atlanta, Ga, Will convict him of embeZZljno
S3O,000 of Government funds. A special agent
| is now in charge of the office.
| Then we come north to New York.
| where the radicals are Just now making Il
| howl over the Democratic City admins
tration. The story is briefly told in the
following despatch
New YORK, Sept, 13.
1t is reported that John w. Norton, superin-
! tendent of the money order department in the
post office in this city, is defaulter to the eX-
tent OF Sl42 900, He was arrested but settled
with the government and resigned his posi-
| ton.
| Assistant Postmaster Norton has been in the
employ OF the government thirteen wears His
defalcations amount TO S113, 900, drawn from
| the treasury during the past two years. He
| confesses his gnit, and surrcnders the whole of
| his property to the government. including real
| estate at Plainfeld ~ j. He is NOT likely ia
| be prosecuted. as the value of his real estate is
| more than sufficient to cover his defalcatons.
| Norton fell victim to the mania of stock
gambling in Wall street.
This is pretty steep, but the next one is
sleeper. Major Hodge, an army pay
| ho. 10, Io 4
| to an immense amount full Il million
dollars, it is stated being unaccounted
for. The following is the Washington
Patriots account of this matter
| Two weeks ago General Brice discovered a
| palpahle error i'll Major Hodges returns, and
| by letter requested him to explain it, for he
| could not even then believe that his deputy was
dishonest. Hodge, however, failed to make a
| satisfactory explanation. and a more rigid and
| careful examination of his books followed, and
the accused was then placed under strict sur
| veilancc, and all his movements We're closely
| watched. Finding that it was impossible for
| hi IN longer to conceal his crime, Major Hodge
wrote to General Brice letter containing
FULL CONFESSION OF HIS GUILT,
and stating that he had been making fraudulent
| returns and statements for several wears. and
that the money thus obtaine,! had been ,pent
mentioned i'll his letter the name Of one firm
who knew the money he had sent them for in
vcstment belonged to the Government, and con-
cluded by stating that he was ready to turn
| over all of his property. both personal and real
amounting in value to something like so 900,
to any agent of the Government authorizing to
receive such an assignment. He express ed
contrition for his crime; said he intended to
return the money he had taken. and impl0red
that he be as lenently dealt with as possible.
The tull of thp letter lIlt1lpI In st
night, but General Brice declined 10 make it
public, because it was addressed 10 the Secre-
tary OF War. and it would not be proper TO give
it publicity. Besides it was not deemed adyi,-
able to publish the name Of The firm referred
| to in the confession
4 In view of this confcsSiou there was but one
course to pursue, and that was to place the de-
flulter under arrest, which was accordingly
done, and IN order having been obtained from
| General Sherman, he was. on Thursday
evening, sent under guard to Fort MclIenry,
with instructions to place him in solitary con
tinement, and to have his cell carefully guarded.
THE AMOUNT OF DEFALCATIoN
was stated yesterday at between 800 900 and
| $500, 000 but this was in part guess work, after
very slight examination of the books. All OF
! Hodges books and papers are in Il very bad
condition, but it was believed last night, in
circles that ought TO be thoroughly informed on
| the subject, that the defaleation will not fall
| short of
"NE MILLION polLARS'
nearly al ot which WI! be total loss to the
I Government, As Hodges property and the
amount of his bond will cover a yery small prn.
pofion OF a,e amount t, ane @ ,the t amount can a
Second Auditors Office AS well as those of the
ay Thc Snal, haSe 9gt 'n9foughy
make the Investigation at once.
ho n lem "tss PRIOR 10 'lG me- arEGil, 1tner lrire
the army, with reference to tie manner Of dis
lenI him 10 rne1 St,tes fort f", S ~
ra At an earT av and it it Is SIEf nrob fr h, s
court Of inquiry Will be ordered to Investigate
how far others arc c,ilnabjc thronab ncaligenrr
OF Otherwise.
speculating largely in stock, and other III s secur. en-
tles Tor number OF years. and it was reported
nearly Two wears hoo. he last one hmnIroI thon.
| sand dollars in one transaction. like the ins.
| trous President of the United States. Major
| Hodge was an a,lmirer of horsetlesh. and has
invested good dea Of money ~ fast horses,
princely stvle-a stvle entirely too prlncely for
man who was supposed to have no other
$500 per M annum. ''' '''' ''''' '''''' VI
NJ -','''''o '''''' ''''''i '''pt'. III 'lie
congratulations eA'e'"eo oy US on the
| l.