Connecticut western news., 1871-09-22
.rrat ,1saripns pefaleationsy.

There was intense excitement in Wash ington, occasioned by the report, which subsequently, appeared to be correct, that Col Hodges, Paymaster of thel Regular. Army was guilty of defalca: tion to-; the Government, extending back to 1884 4,am ounfing to half a million of dollars .cStock speculations, gold gambling, and real estate transac tions, in which he had been unfortunate, are given assthe leading causes of tue disaster. Co.'s Hodges was, conveyed, under strict guard, by order of General Sherman to Fort McHenry, Baltimore, where he will be held until court-mar-o .tial can be~organized. for his trial:
 ]. 2Geh .G Brice, ayndaster-geheral, re- ceived from Col Hodges confession of his crime, with statement that be had lost. the amount during the last few years in stock speculations. The defaulter has been favorite with Government officers, where he has always been re- gafaedsas above fsuspieion, andc he has always had what is called the "cream" of the service. He has been retained in Washington for several years, never having been subjected to the trials and endorsements of field service, ,andshas always had the easiest and least respon- sible service in the Paymaster's depart ment. Col. Hodges in his letter to Gen. Briee admits g. systematic deceit, run ming back several years to cover up false and fraudulent returns, dishonest state kments, and inaccurate accounts. His disbursements for sixfyears pastramount to ,$29, 291 ,450. hFor the payment of Treasury certificates for bounty alone, the amount ranged from $4O0,Oo0 to $500, GOO per month, $- TL3fEf1
 It has now been discovered that John w., Norton, exrassistant postmaster o1 New York city, and more recently the superin tendent of the money order de. partmento of the New York pest office; has 1 been guilty of peculations, extending over long series of years, to the amount of $115, ,O00 The discovery was made about a month ago, but the post-office authorities have been ever since engaged in getting at the real facts of the case. - John w. Norton, the defaulter, IS now ;setweep fortyzfve and fifty years; of age and 1wasz appointed by the late Jame.
 Kelly, then postmaster of New York, te
 the responsible position of assistant post
 master.s In 1864, when the Post-ofict
 money order system went into operation
 MT. Norton was given the superinten
 dence of that 1departmentiin the post
 ofice The business of the. money -ordel
 department had gby this; time grown: tt
 immense proportions it received ant
 paid oFereYery dayabout as much money
 assaha 4 theEbanks in the city, and it
 transactions. every year amounted tx about six million dollars. Every dolla
 of these immense sums was in the com
 p1ete control of MT. Norton. The manu pal, labor alone of signing the drafts ant receipts became so great that the Post master MT. Norton was instructed tt
 sign the name of General Jones, and h. drew and disbursed the money needed il his department. It was shownlas month
 however, that Norton's accounts, thougl
 they balanced with themselves most ad ! mirably, did not compare so well witl { the books of the Assistant Sub Treasury Al which is in effect the bank of deposit I the New York Post office, and upon in X vestgation the dedication was discover H ed.la The amount will be fully reccveret
 by the Goyernment. s.s. ailf ar C. .,.a t}ss'