Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-09-27
The Safe Robbery at the Treasury.


THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
During the war, when men enlisted and were
entitled to bounty money, some of their valua-
bles were held back at the recruiting stations to
be forwarded to them when they were reported at
the front. This was done to prevent bounty Jump
Ing In some cases the men deserted. Naturally
they put In no claim to what had been retained
from them at the rendezvous The paymaster-
general turned over the unclaimed matter,
OondS and money to the second auditor of the
Treasury. The late c. F. Herring, Chief clerk,
and afterwards acting deputy second audi
tor. had charge OF the money and bonds.
had been prepared in another office of the Sec
ond Auditors division. That schedule was
kept In Herring's Office was large safe, which
had private drawers In 1t. Two OF these draw
proEerty. Another was for F. f. Good Ill, dis
bursting clerk. There was another drawer con-
tanning official property. The keys TO the two
private drawers OF Mr.. Herring, and that OF the
sion until after his death. Shortly before his
death, in 1879, Mrs Herring asked Mr.. Henry L
Wilson and Mr.. Goodall giving them at the
husbands desk, and get anything contained
therein that there might be OF value
Nothing No e.. OF any value was found In
ri 6ls oesk, S1o Lor In his two private
Herring had been seen to go to the safe and
take therefrom a large roll of bills, which was
supposed by the clerk. who witnessed the act, to
The bills seemed to be In the denominations of
f1ves, tens, and tWent1eS. Herring said that it
was money awaiting Treasury action before q
final disposition. When the bonds and money
taken from the bounty jumpers were sent to
the Office the schedule showed large number
OF bills On state banks They were counter
felt, and so marked and scheduled. Several
officials In the bureau, who had acted
after the money and bonds were put In the
safe by Heir ng, were never entrusted with the
keys. Before tue package left Mr.. Rathbone
the clerk from whose hands it went to Herring.
the former took out several papers and put in
a statement OF his authority and reasons for so
doing. The papers were wanted In the course
OF business. There had also been deposited
with Herring by Mr.. Harmon, in charge OF the
in money. This money was not turned into the
treasury, but put In the safe, In HerrIngs p-t-
vate drawer. After his death, in 1879, the safe
was examined. The 81 ,3l524 was good. The
package was found and the counterfeit money
was found. The latter was turned over to Chief
Brooks, OF the secret service, who conducted
the investigation, and Is now in his hands
1.SO notes. 500 each in denomination, with
coupons attached worth 1892. So and six Monroe
county, New York. bonds with coupons attached
worth s2,5S9.12 The above securities were also
missing, making, with the interest money,
A,ls1.s1 that was gone. Itwss ascertained that
on The 18th Of August 1S73 c. f. Herring had sent
ahIough Adams express company the Monroe
county bonds for redemption. An inspection
OF lhe DOCKS OF the company showed that the
oonds had been sent. Mr.. Herring was not an
eXtraVagant man. The money he took did not
60 TO his family: He lived very plainly-not
vsrH VsrH up 10 Two thirds OF his salary. He was
s,y very ciose IN spending his money, whether out.
sue sd hls family or at home 1t Is Impossible to
se seil where the money went. 1t is suspected by
Sose SUI Inat ne was In the hands OF black -mailers.
slI aug nad oeen ever since he came to Washington
from New England,