The New York herald., 1873-10-02
TEE PITfSBURG POSTMASTER.
Proceedings Commenced Against Colonel Stew
art-Hs Defalcations Alleged To Be More
Than s33, ,000-A Disgusting state
Of Affairs at the Post
Office In Pittsburg.
PITrsBURo, Sept. 20. 1873.


This morning District Attorney swoope COM
menced civil proceedings In the United States Dis
trict Court against Colonel John II. Stewart, late
postmaster, whose removal for emhezzlement has
already been mentioned in the HERALD. Suit was
also issued against John Ste wart Iather OF the ex-
postmaster, and James Kelly, as sureties In debt
on the Official bond OF the delinquent. The amount
claimed Is not to exceed $4,000. Further investi-
CATION into the affairs OF the Post ONCE show that
for long time past the whole mail service OF this
city was in most deplorable condition. Every
regulation OF the department was openly violated,
and to the letters everybody had access, whether
uney were the sworn employees OF the ONCE or
not. No rules Of any kind were in force, and 1t Is
not to be wondered at that valuable letters and
packages disappeared one after another as
regularly as they were mailed. More than year
ago District Attorney Swoope, whose ONCE Is in
the Post ONCE building, suspected that something
was wrong in the management OF the department,
and lie acquainted Mr.. Stewart with his views
among other things the fact Of employees being in
the worst stages OF 0iintoxicaton--so drunk indeed,
that they were unable to navigate through the
halls. Stewart at the time promised TO give the
matter his attention, but II he did there was no
perceptible improvement In the state OF
affairs. Drunkenness was as common as
neglect was manifest. Thus matters went on
from bad to worse; valuable letters disappeared
and no trace OF them could be found. Complaints
were made to the postmaster. but this failed to
bring about any change In the regularity or security
OF the mails. Finding that no complaints had
reached Washington and that no Improvement in
the condition OF the Post ONCE was made after
peated demands upon the special agent assigned
to this district Mr.. G. M. Gould, the District
Attorney, wrote to the Postmaster General. en-
closing the complaint OF parties OF Cannonsburg
as to the loss Of valuable letters between that
point and Pittsburg during which no change or
mail occurred and suggesting that fhe condition
OF the Post ONCE at Plttsburg was such as to de-
mand special investigation. Not until the evil
complained OF had become almost unbearabe were
measures taken to afford the people relief. Major
Patherbrldge came on and summoned to his assist
commenced a thorough investigation, which, as
already stated,
DISCLOSED CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE
In almost every department. In addition to the
deialcation by Postmaster Stewart, which is stated
to be upwards Of sS3,Ooo 1t was found that he was
for which he filed vouchers at Washington
and swore were correct He also placed
upon his pay rolls and paid out OF the government
funds persons who were not employed in the Offlce
at all and who rendered no service OF any kind or
character. Among those may be mentioned q
clerk at the livery stable OF Patterson Il Stewart
(the last named OF the firm being the postmaster),
VINO received regularly quarterly payments as
clerk at the rate OF 81 500 per annum. daughter
OF former postmaster also drew regularly hand
some salary, Ior which no service whatever was
rendered. on taking possession Of the office Mayor
Patherbridge made demand on Colonel Stewart
for the money In his possession. Then 1t
was discovered that the postmaster had
never made any deposits in the United States
depository but that he had kept his accounts in
two banks. He declined to show his bank books,
asserting the government had no business with
private property, and not until harsh measures
had been threatened were the books delivered up.
The balances In both banks to his credit did not
exceed $1,000.
No one can imagine what Colonel Stewart did
with the vast amount OF money he is known to
nave taken. 1t is said he was lavish In his contr-
buttons to the expenses OF the republican party,
and only recently came down handsomely for the
entertainment OF Generals Grant, Sherman Sher
dan and others on the occasion of the reunion OF
the Society OF the Army OF the Cumberland He
had the reputation OF being "deuced clever
fellow" and he put up without stint for
every administration display that was made. His
Office was the resort OF republican Dummers, who
drank with him and borrowed from him. and who
are now the loudest IN his condemnation TO get
this man In position as a reward for his services to
the administration to retain his influence among
q certain class Of voters, an old and most worthy
citizen, against whose personal integrity there
rested no solitary blot, was suspended McCle
land, the person alluded to poor old man, he Is
dead now was not an active partisan and not
vigorous enough to give strong hand to the run
ming of the political machine. He was laid on the
shelf and good, sound radical, who fairly wor-
shipped the sphinx at Washington, put in his
stead. The change and It's attending clrcum.
stances sneak volumes.