Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-09-04
DISHONEST RAILROAD MEN.
4 DcfalcatiOr Unearthed in the Georgia
Railroad.

A great deGslcation on the part of p.
W. Printup, road master; Il. W. Rhodes
general freight agent, and j. S. Shipley,
supervisor, all officials of the Georgia
railroad, has been unearthcd by Carlton
Hilrye-, the auditor of the road. These
robbciies have been under investigation
since last May, and have now been fully
developed.
The most prominent official of the road
named in coDHccticn with these pecula-
tions wasp. W. Printup, road master,
who has been Unidentified with the road
for thirty years, filing responsible posi-
tions, and, so Ear as We can learn, without
the slightest previous suspicion of his
integrity and perfect fair dealing. Upon
him rumor charged (for we do not pro-
fcss to speak strietly by the card) the
use of the road in his official capacity to
advance hs private fortune, by the
transportation Of grain and other supplies
necessary to run his plantations. As road
master he had full control Of the mat
ter of supplying the lumber, timber,
cross ties and wood necessary for the use
of the road. His accounts tor the pur-
chase Of these supplies necessarily came
under the notice of the auditor. The
accounts fof lumber, as furnished to the
auditory Office, arc reported to have
beep>Startlingly in excess of the amount
which could be traced to consumption
Tor road purposes. After funds had
been placed in his hands, with which to
pay for cruss-ties purchased for the road,
it is alleged that claims were made out
against the road for payment for those
identical purchases. Other irreguiari-
ties iu his accounts were reported, re,
sulting in loss to the road OF several
thousands Of dollars-placed at from
500, 900 to SlSO,000.
The next most prominent official charg-
ed with having his hands tainted with
these pcculations aud misrepresentation OF
money which should have gone into the
treasury OF the company was Il W:
hnOucS, SeuCldi lIcJSilt dSSHVoi wv iO"S
at this point for the past three years, aud
for the past thirteen or fourteen years con
nected with the road in various otilcla!
capacities. To the better understanding
of the charges agiust Mr.. Rhodes. 1t Is
necessary to state that in his official ca
pacity he had control ofwhat is known rs
" lost freight" which accumulated at
this poin.. Frequently when owners
presented their claims to the road !or
freight lost in transportation, such claims
were promptly paid, the missing freight
becoming the property ofthe road when
ever it turned up. Mr.. Rhodes was
charged with converting this freight from
time to time to his own use, and with the
appropriation Ola portion of the proceeds
of its sale. lie WAS ais" charged so says
rlmor) with having retained in his pos
session considerable amouuts of money
collected through him from the Guar or
masters Department ofthe United States
Government for transportation of troops.
The loss of the road through these irrcg-
ulariti, we have heard placed at s. 900
to 1900
The above named officials have been
removed and others appointed in Their
place. No arrests have been made. 1t Is
also understood that the entire force III
the Road Masters and supervisor ) De-
partments has been dismi, scd, and that
new men will be appointed.