Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-10-28
DOUGaERTY HELD FOX COURT, In
$4,000 BAIL.

Yesterday afternoon, Z. J. Dougherty late
Chief Clerk in the Wilmington PosI-ofhce had
preliminary hearing before L. s. Commission
er Smith, on a charge of being responsible for
a deficiency in the accounts of the Office with
the Post Office Department. DougheTty was
represented and defended by Sam'l NJ Harring-
ion, Ekq., and Geo. &. Gordon, Esq, while the
Government was represented by District Attor-
ney Higgins. The hearing con menced shortly
after two o'clock, and lasted until after eight.
From the following summary Of the evidence
adduced, it will be seen that for the last eigh-
leen or twenty months, the affairs of the Viii
mington Postofhce have been conducted in a
most lamentably negligent and deficient man
ner Deficiencies have occurred, and have been
carried over, from time 10 time, by sending
false reports to the Postofice department The
money order fund, considered sacred by the
Government, has been tampered with while the
stamp account has been short for a long time
past. Clerks and letter carriers have been al
lowed to help themselves to their salaries, from
the funds OF the Office, and various olher
irregularities have occurred.
The irst wilneAs called was Wm. Thomas
Henderson, Special Agent Of the Poet Office
Department. In substance, MIR. Henderson
testified that as special agent, his duties are
various; that he came to Wilmington on the
instructions Of Chae. Cochran, Jr, Chief Of the
| Division ofDefalcation with orders 10 hunt up a
lost registry case and also to examine thorough
| ly the accounts OF the Post Office here. On his
arrival here, he at once proceeded TO make a
thorough examination Of all books, papers.
monies, stamps, envelopes, &c. This examina-
lion disclosed Ihe following exhibit. Defcien-
ey insafe account 81 ,5S3.22, deficiency in stamp
account, $452.75, total, 2O35, ,95; amount given
| TO Postmaster LeWis, for which no vouchers
we're taken, Sl,ll4G2; making total deicien-
cy Of 3,l5057. Upon examining the accounts
Of Ar, DOngherty, deficit was found in he
total account as represented BY his ledger. Olthe
amount stated above. The books Of the Pos
Office were offered 10 evidence, bat Mr.. Cor.
don objected on the ground that they had no,
bCel proved 10 be books kept By Mr.. Dough
erty,
Question by District Attorney-Wele MOI
those books in his charge? AnsWer-The were
found TO be in his charge, a. Assistant POstmas.
ter.
The Commissioner admitted the books as evi
dence.
The books showed that the indebtedness q
the POstofice to various employees was As fol.
Iowa To II. G. Gamble, 2,7O; ThOs. NJ. Cul
bert, $l45; E5aml Pyle, $lO9; ID. Meuuimer
$223,37; ]. Wiisil, SIO5Os; 5. Heuey, S37
| WIN. i. Heal, $I2238 -
In the money order account, which d con
sideTed by The Government as sacred to mons,
order purposes one, q deficiency Of Sl06.Js
vas discovered. In this department WA found
. small tag, on which was written, in Doughe
| lye handwriting, "due from RAfe account
sl96.37." The books alaO Hhawa1 fha RAFiou'
credits which being taken ffd lie tehfla
showed q total deficiency of 81 2O35.o5.
AlieF ascceEaainine this deficiency, the Aeenl
went before q. s. Commissioner Smith, and
entered complaint of Doughsfly, e ths one &C.