The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-24
COVERING UP HIS TRACKS.
TARCICtL TRIAL OF Owe or ROBE
SONS PAYMASTERS
Two Millions OF Dollars Missing Where n
Witnes. was Wanted who 4. said TO Have
Done Remarkably Well in Washington,

witness was wanted whots said TO Have
Done Remarkably Well in Washington,
From the ST. Louis Republican.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-Your correspond
ent has come into possession OF some facts
which seem to indicate that Robson was re-
markedly successful In covering his tracks last
winter. Information derived from an entirely
trustworthy source justi6es him In saying that
when the Congressional Naval Investigating
Committee was In session II would have been
an excellent idea II they had called before them
Reat-Admiral william Reynolds. He was for a
long time acting secretary OF the navy, and had
been Chief OF the Bureau OF Ordnance. or OF
docks and yards or something OF that kind. 1t
has been stated by naval officers that the
absence OF Admiral Reynolds on a foreign sta
tlon at the time OF this Investigation Of Robes on
was very fortunate for that person. and from
what my informant tells me, rather fancy
Bill Rennolds," wlO Is said 10 hare done rcip
Ueu IN Washington. would have made an inter-
estinr witness. 1t is a pity he was away.
Robson Is smarter than Belknap. He can
cover up his tracks much better Robson Is
very smart and has a cute way Of getting out Of
NV informant asked what had become Of the
court-martial OF Pdymaster Spauding at San
Francisco, saying post G ptain In the navy IN
formed him some time ago that two years
before the dedication OF Plnney (SpauldnTs
clerk the Navy Department was IN full posses
sion of facts going to snow that the navy paw
masters once In San Francisco was rotten to
the core. 1t was said then that Robson wish cd
to pooh-pooh the whole business. But as the
complaints were reiterated, he was at las.
obliged to take some notice OF II. He
appointed commission OF civilians, !
my informant" Unfortunately there was
an honest one on that commission" He
would not be blinded, and reported to Robson
that the charges were we'll founded. Something
was about to be done then by the Paymaster-
General. Spaulding was to be removed or sub
Jected TO court of inquiry But Robson took
business himself. Nothing was done for two
years more. About this time Pinney, Spauld-
ings clerk, ran away. and about two millions OF
dollars were missing in one way or other.
spaulding was ordered to a court martial. Not
understanding he carried the thing on Jauntly
and was not at all scared. He said that II thev
fail.
Whom did he meant Perhaps Mr.. Robson,
perhaps Senator sargent can tell. Well. a court
martial was called and Spaulding was put on
trial. Instead Of naval officer n Maryland law =
Robeson's private secretary, who was well up In
the rules OF addition, division. and silence.
especially the latter. was sent all the way from
Washington TO act as Clerk Of the Court. Just
as the case was getting interesting and begin
ming to look very black for Spauldine. Mr..
Smith, the Clerk of the Court. got into quar-
rel with the Judge Advocate, and rushed back
TO Washington. Soon after an order came
from Robson dissolvinc the court. Funny,
isn't ttr i believe another court has been or
dered, but has Spaulding been tried2 Is
SpsuldlnR at libertYf Is II possible that Spauld-
ing viii es0ape by default4 i don't know. |
ask only Tor Information. II really seems TO me
that the investigating committee might rake Up
something n they would only look into the m =
tiyes hack OF this farcical trial OF spauldins.
The anxiety betrayed to protect Spaulding GER
taiDly seems to indicate that he has some great
influence with Robeson, and whether he Is the
custodian OF secrets dam aging to that jolly tar,
or to some lesser light In the Republican party,
the facts should be brought out.