Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-15
Carpet.BagSers Troubles.

Post.
CarpetB2ggers Troubles.
The defaieatioD OF the late Collector Lee, Of
the Norfolk custom house, was the result Of
prolonged system of embezzlemen,, amounting
to nearly $4,000. Even during and after the
time that such cmbezzlements were being effec
| ted two special agents Of the Treasury, Messls
| Aver and Chamberlain, were located at Nor
folk. constantly inspecting the affairs of the
collectors Office, and yet they failed TO report
any irregularity. On the contrary, they pro
| nounced that everything was 10 proper condi
| ton. 10 this connection it may be we'll to give
the following extract from confidential letter
addressed to Assistant Secretary Mccormick by
Judge Hughes. Of Alexandra, concerning the
removal Of Mr. Moore, the special agent Of the
| Treasury
1t would, 10 MY judgment, be highly Djudi
cious to remove MIR. W. 3. Moore as special
agent Of the Treasury at this time. 1t is
| not for me- TO say more than that he has
just been engaged 10 80 intricate investiga-
lion into the transactions Of tho late collec-
tor Of customs at Norfolk, apd has found EN-
bezzlements TO the amount of $l3 600 to $l5.-
| 900 since 1870. This is the more remarkable
10 connection with the fact that there had been
| two agents habitualy at Norfolk si0ce 1873
who had reported the affairs ofthat Office as 10
proper condition. Iazluae IN street confidence
official confidence, to the t'go agents AVER aod
| CHAMBERLAIN. x
The result Of what he (Moore) has So far
| done has been to unearth an endorsement Of
$l3,0 900 70 $4,000 which had escaped both
| aver and Chamberlain.
The following extract from q report 10 Sec
rotary Sherman by Special Agent Moore throws
more light upon the subject, anl shows up one
of the most shameful and systematic robbcrcs
ever pcrpe,rated upon tho customs service
which these Two gentlemen, Messrs. Aver aud
Chamberlain, either through ignorance or de-
sign. overlooked.
Mr.. S. f. Chamberlain was stationed at Nor
folk 10 the capacity OF Special Agent OF the
Treasury during large portion Of the time
that these frauds were going on, and there are
numerous reports from him representing that
be vas habtually examining The Office, aod the
records were properly kept and receipts &C.
counted for.
The facts arc that there never was 4 DAY
during the time that Mir. Chamberlain was
making these reports Of the condition Of the
Norfolk Custom house that the cash ca ha0l
correspondent with the amount that appeared
| by the cash book TO be DUE
Collector Brsxton informed lie that when
| he entered upon the duties Of his Office as
Lees successor, Special Agent Chamberlain
had ia his possession large number OF origl-
nal papers belonging to the files Of the custom
house, including nianllests, which lie hal some
difficulty 10 getting returned, and it is not car
tain that all have been returned that much OF
tho confusion in the records Ct the office arises
| froo, bo hlo bf Mr. Enp, j,nr
lain in Withdrawing so many important papers
without properly accounting Tor them. The
facts show that Mr.. Chamberiaia couGiyed with
the officers Of the Custom house 10 the frauds,
or was totally Incompetent to cope with the
consprators, while the latter were stealing the
entire duties on whole ship loads of du,iabe
cargoes, and entering the ship upon the impost
book as arriving in ballast.
The result of the above named letter has
been to direct the attention Of the Department
to the official status of Mcssrs. Aver and Cham
beraio, and already steps have been taken 10
that direction. Yesterday Acting Secretary
| Mccormick directed special agent now GU
duty 10 the West 10 Immediately report here.
| He is q new man and entirely unacquainted
| with any of these transactions or the parties 10
them. AS soon as be arrives here he will be de
| tailed to Norfolk to Investigate the affairs OF
the Custom house at that place, and the part
that Aver and Chamberlain took concerning
them. AS the case DOW stands Aver aud
Chamberlain are placed 10 q suspicious light
Whether they can explain their omission to re-
port to the Department the Irregularities that
must have been known to them remairs TO be
seen. The most natural consequence, however,
of the investigation would seem to be the sum-
mary dismissal from tho service of both Of
these officers, as from the facts thus far devel-
oped they have proven themselves wholly unit
for their positions. Wash. Republican.