Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1881-08-24
CAPTAIN HowsAfE.
he Is Re arrested and Put Under
$4,000 Bonds-How Howgste
Appropriated the Approprla.
lions for the Signal Service
His Loose Way OF Doing Gov.
eminent Business.

CHICAGO, August ga Times Wash.
inston special says: Captain Howsats
has been supposed to be an ordinary de-
iaulter, one OF the lesser thieves who
are continually robbing the government.
For that reason his shortcomings have
not attracted a. much notice a. they
deserve; but a. the investigation goes on
his stealings have been discovered to bs
80 great as to sntiils him to respectful
consideration. he was today re.srrested
upon an order from the Attorney Cen
eral and the amount OF his bail was
raised to 500, 900. His smbezzlemsnt
Of government funds ioots up to $780,
900. and in the opinion Of the investi-
eating officer will aggregate about $780,
600. 1t Is the belief Of General Hazsn
that fully twenty-five per cent. OF the
entire Signal Service fund was each year
appropriated by Captain Howgste to
his own use. The fund appropriated
yearly has been over $400. 000.
Captain Howeate has been the dis
bursting officer OF this fund for about
about four years. During that time he
has audited and disbursed the large
sums placed at his disposal without .
single check or inspection from the
officers OF the War or the Treasury De-
partment. The yacht he used upon the
Potomac river was actually constructed
In the back yard Of the signal office with
the money OF that office. A prominent
| official now investigating HowRate's 40
counts says Captain Howsste. for the
last four or Ave years. has had the con.
troll Of the appropriations OF the signal
office. and up TO the time he was relieved
| by General Dunne there has been from
$500, 900 to $500. 900 annually appro.
priated, and there has been no super
vision OF his accounts whatever. About
one-auarter OF that mount he has APP
propriated to bis own use. 80 far as /
can see In going through the accounts.
He seemed to run the business with the
idea that The money belonged to him.
self ; 10 other words. that 80 long a. be
kept up the signal service. he could sp-
propriats the rest.
The way the thing was done was
through blank vouchers; that is. have
parties sign vouchers In blank. For In.
stance: At one time he represented to
agent LsmsnI in New York. with whom
BIO 10 intimate. that Q previous voucher
that had been given embraced sppropri.
ations from two fiscal years. and that to
be correct. he would have to have tive
sets OF vouchers. whsreupon that gen
tlsman signed them. At another tim
there was Q voucher signs1 for $8.0Ot
for the purchase Of manifold paper
which that gentleman said be never say
or heard OF. That was the way b.,
usually succeeded in getting hold OF th,
vouchers; by representing that they
were In for some necessary purpose. and
then he would AL them out to suit him.
self. Aud 90 II vas In nearly everything
be had to do with money transactions.
he had . way Of getting the vouchers
signed and raising them afterward In all
sorts OF ways. he made things subser.
Went to his own pocket, raising the
vouchers and showing his accounts.
he collected q large amount OF money
for that Gulnafe business. which went
into his own pocket. He had all the
s.rgeants In the service soliciting funds
for it. he got Il fitted out out OF the
appropriation for the Signal Service.
and be then presented that ship TO the
government as his own gift. He ex-
pended 9 great deal OF the money he
received. He has bought . great
deal Of property. He owns prop
erty In Florida and Virginia. and
be pays taxes on about $50. 600
worth In this city. He owns Western
Union stock and other stocks and bonds.
II We can get hold Of the property first
the government will recover perhaps .
part. Doubtless this last proceeding
will stop any further transfer BY him,
but the government 10 very slow In do.
Tending itself.