The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-08-03
PosrorFICRDnFALcA

PosTOFFICE DEFALcATIONs. |
CT. JeAa r. Wood short Abess
o4SOe In His Accounts ~ Assistant
RostDaster. s.sa
This community WAS shocked |
yesterday to learn that Col. r.
Wood, late Assistant Postmaster
had proved defaulter to the
amount Of $500. Out Ut respect |
for Mr.. Woods interesting and !
Intelligent family. who are we'll |
known and highly respected, We
shall say nothing - to causes
which led to the crime.
About the 18th Of May last, |
Colonel Holloway's suspicious |
were aroused by reports which !
came to him affecting Mr.. Wood,
and he Immediately ordered an
examination Of Mr.. Woods &C.
counts. that gentleman seeming
confident that sill would be right.
Special Agent J. s. Beard. OF
Bloomington, ILL.,, and J. H Popp,
Of Richmond, were sent for and
conducted the examination. In
stead Of finding any deficit in the
stamp account. which was MI.
Woods special charge. there Was
found balance due him. But .
further examination showed tina.
on the day of the examination Mr.
Wood had deposited 93, 900 to the
credit Of the stamp account, which
was 90 suspiciousstha Col. Hol.
loway dismissed him, and appoin {
cd Mr.. Ed. p. Thompson in his
place.
Mr.. Wood was told that he
might remain in the Office until the
accounts for the quarter ending
June 30 were made up, to see that
justice was done him. The bal.
auce owing him by the govern
ment, developed at the first ex-
animation, was held until the quar-.
ter's accounts were settled.
At the end Of tho quarter;
Msssrs. Beard and Popp closed up
the accounts, and found deficit
Of abont ], 500 in Mr.. Woods &C.
count which he could not explain.
The deficit was further increased
the next day by demands from
Louisville for $4,000 three cent
stamps and $4,000 two cent stamps
and from Lafayette for 5000 three
cent stamps in all $500 worth,
which had been borrowed during
the preceding quarter. Not know
ing but there might be other points
from which loans had been made,
kilograms and letters were sent by
Colonel Holloway, but none were
found to whom the indianapolis
Office Was in debt. When the
amount Of the defaication was ac-
curately determined, Colonel Hof-
loway at once made it good to the
Government He 10 amply seour-
ed for the amount by Mr.. Woods
bondsmen.
How long Mr.. Wood has been
carrying on his peculations is not
known, a. up to the time Colonel
Holloway ordered the examination
Of bis accounts, not the slightest
suspicion had been entertained.
and his accounts had always been
reported correct at Washington
His manner Of proceeding, was ia
report In his accounts stamps or
hand, which were not In the safe
When he learned an examination
was to be made. he sent to Louis
willie and lafayette for the stamps
named, and Of course they wer,
counted % stock on hand, when In
fact they belonged elsewhere
When confronted with the proof O.
his crime, Mr.. Wood at once &C.
knowledged it all. Yesterday
afternoon Mr.. Beard filed al
AFFIDAVIT charging him with en-
bexxlement, upon which q warren
was sued for his arrest. He va,
taken before Commissioner Davis
but owing to the absence Of hi
lawyers, examination Was post
poned until August sth. In tn
meantime Mr.. Wood is ont unde
$1,000 bail.
The defalcation of Mr.. Wooi
was . matter Of surprise and ex
treme regret to all Of his acquaint
ances, and to no one more 80 thai
to Col. Holloway, who had tn
utmost confidence in his integrity
For the past twelve years Mr..
Wood has been connected with tn
postOfi1ce az cashier and assistant
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