Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-13
CRIMES IN VIRGINIA.

DEFALcATIoN, FORGERY AND ATTEMPT
AT SUICIDE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
$4,000 GoNE-DEFALCATIoN OF AN U.
S. OFFICER AT LYNCHBURG-THES SUM
OF $4,000 READY TO GO-FLIGHT OF
THE DEFAULTER TO STAUNTON-HIS
CAPTURE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
&C., &C., &c.
Two startling defalcations are announc-
ed in Virginia this week, both committed
by men in responsible positions, who ell
joyed the esteem and confidence of the
communities in which they lived, and who
are most respectfully connected. The first
is the
DEFALCATIoN IN LYNCHBURG,
in which John G. Henry, clerk in the
U. S. Revenue Office. secreted 100000
ready to carry off, but was detected in the
following manner related by the Lynch
burg Republican of Saturday
ttJohn G.. Henry, son of Mr.. John Hen
~, and son-in-law of MI. John P. Wright,
the editor of the Radical Press, of this
CITY, has for years been a clerk under Cap
tain Rives, and for many months has acted
in the capacity of stampclerk and cashier.
s'Y yesterday morning MI. Rogers, All
agent of the, Internal Revenue Depart
ment, made his appearance at the revenue
office, coming unheralded, as is usually the
case with officials charged with inspecting
the books and accounts of revenue officers.
This was about II O'Clock in the day. He
was cordially received by Captain Rives,
and even Mr.. Henry, who was in the dis
charge of his accustomed duties, had a
smile for the Washington representative.
The agent at once proposed an examination
of the collectors books. to which Captain
Rives promptly acceded. But very little
Roadway had been made before Captain
Rives discovered a discrepancy in the stamp
! account, and immediateld called MI. Hen
~ from the front to the rear room where
| the examination was being made,) and
asked in regard to the item.
HENRY ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN
| the matter by a manipulation Of figures;
| but this failing he remarked that some re-
QUESTIONS had come in Thursday afternoon
after business hours, and that he had left
| them at his boarding place 1.-THE Hancock
Housed. He was ordered to go for them
at once, which order he seemingly proceed
ed to obey. But five, ten, fifteen minutes,
and then half an hour elapsed, ana still he
did not return, although his clearinghouse
was not full square off. A visit to the
Hancock House revealed the fact that he
was not there, and then surmises became
confirmation strong as holy writ that
| John G. Henry was a fleeing defaulter. The
police were notified of the affair as quickly
as possible, and they at once commenced a
vigorous search for the missing man. The
| telegraph was brought into requisition,
and lookout on all the roads was estab-
lished. These things being attended to,
| the revenue officials returned to the office
to commence thorough investigation into
the affair. The money-drawer was exam
| ined, and found to contain only few hun
dred dollars; but at a late hour secret
spring was forced open and a false bottom
discovered, in which was found nearly
$40, 900 in greenbacks, placed there by Hen
ry to be grabbed when be was ready to va
NOSE, but which he had been unable to get
as he went to his boarding house, because
| of the presence Of MI. Henderson, an en-
ploye in the front office. This caused the
| officials to make an examination OF a large
pine box, securely nailed up, which Henry
| had brought into the office about the LIST
of January.
Con opening the boxa
! AA->A~ -A1AN
! FILLED VALIsE
were disclosed to view, snugly partitioned
off, and so secured that they would make
no noise when the box was moved. The
trunk was opened and found to contain
several suits of elegant broadcloth, under
| clothing, and shirts of the finest make, an
elegant gold watch, handsome diamond
pin, and other valuable articles of jeWelry,
| +,a o1n Of
gentleman might well be proud The wa
Use also contained many yaluables; in adj
dition to which, on top of the trunk was
secured fine breech-loading shotgun, a
| nice pair of skates, a silk hat of the latest
mode and other fancy articles. These
things were ready to be shipped by express
to any desired point, but the thief had been
careful not to address the box until ready
to make his big haul and take his de-
| parture.
Gas before remarked, John G. Henry is
the son of Mr.. John Henry, a member Of
the City Council from the Third Ward, and
| Radical politician of some notoriety his
| father-in-laW is Mr.. John P. Wright, also
a prominent Radical politician, and pro-
| prietor of the Radical Press, Of this city.
| These persons are on John G. Henry's bond
| to Captain Rives to the amount of $4,000.
| John Henry yesterday, upon the discovery
Of the defalcation and flight Of his son,
pronounced his purported
SIGNATURE ON THE BOND A FRAUD,
and declared that he was utterly ignorant
that his name had been used in any such
connection. 1t is also asserted that the
two witnesses to Henry's signature can
neither read nor write, and deny having
witnessed such signature. On the other
hand, John P. Wright acknowledges the
genuineness of his signature, and manfully
accepts the consequences Of this very bad
transaction on the part of his son-in-laW.
1t is not believed, however, that this will
help the matter much, as it is asserted that
Wright's property is to a great extent I'M
der mortgage.
''The causes which have led John c.
Henry to this defalcation and gross betray-
al of confidence are inexplicable. He was
in receipt of a salary of ST 800 per year,
and drew his wages regularly every month !;
his family was SMALL consisting of a wife
and one child, and while they presented a
respectable appearance, there was no indi-
cation that he was living beyond his Very
liberal salary. Although recognized as a |
member of the Republican party, and hold |
ing position because of such political fell
loWship, Henry was not regarded as a Bit
tel partisan. On the contrary on account |
of his modest and gentlemanly department |
and moderate views, he had secured the
recognition of the best men in the commu-
nifty, a fact which is attested by his cleo
ton as one of the vice-presidents Of the
Tobacco City Boat Club, an organization
composed of some of our leading citizens.
He was a man of temperate habits, so far
as is known, was a member in good stand
ing in the Presbyterian Church, and was
about twenty-five years of age,
ny has a large number of unsettled bills
with the clothing merchants. jewelrymen,
and others, and we suspect large portion
of the contents of the trunk and valise are