The Chickasaw messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1880-1900, 1881-09-08

sfstemce Lieutenant Eiipper
Camuof be Regarded as "a
Brilliant Success.
A letter from Fort Davis, rexas,
dated August 10Th, saws
A few DAYS ago. Colonel Shafter,
the commanding officer here, receiv-
ed a telegram from the commissary
at San Antonio stating that Lieuten-
ant Flipper's funds had not been
received that be had telegraphed
the fact to Lieutenant Flipper. asking
for information Of them that be had
received no reply, and requested
Colonel Shafter to investigate the
affair. Colonel Shafter questioned
Lieutenant Flipper, who stated that
be had sent the funds by mail on the
9th Of July, bat that be had kept no
record Of them, aud as no one had
witnessed the mailing (ss l believe
is usual in suen cases J, be could not
prove that he had done 90. This
was looked upon as a very gross
piece Of carelessness on the part lof
Lieutenant Flipper, but no one re-
garded it as anything more.
On Friday evening some Of the
officers and ladies were driving, and
and seeing Lieutenant FlippeT's
horse, with a pair Of saddle-bags on
the saddle, fastened in front Of one
of the stores in the little town Of
Chihuahua, Immediately outside ef
the garrison, thought that it looked
as though Lieutenant Flipper might
be contemplating flight into Mexi-
CO; so the commanding officer sent
the Adjutant to bring Lieutenant
Flipper into the garrison, when he
required him Immediately to turn
over his funds to another officer and
relieved him from duty as acting
Commissary Of Subsistence The
funds which Lieutenant Flipper
claimed to have sent by mail on the
9th Of July we're composed in part
OF checks on different banks which
had been given him by the officers
in payment Of their monthly bills.
A description Of these checks was
telegraphed to the banks, and infor-
nation received in reply that they
had not been presented for payment.
The commanding officer now con-
cluded that circumstances looked
very suspicious indeed, and determ-
ined to have Lieutenant Flipper's
quarters searched for the missing
checks. lie accordingly told Lieu
tenant Flipper that circumstances
pointed to bis having made away
with the commissary funds, placed
him in arrest and began the search
of his quarters, telling Lieutenant
Flipper that he might possibly be
doing him an injustice, that if it
proved so he could very easily and
willingly make amends to him for so
doing, and tlfat otherwise he WAS only
doing bis duty. The Adjutant and
the officer who had relieved Lieuteu-
ant Flipper we're appointed to search
his quarters, and theg found money
to the amount OF $500 or S40O
strewn about in a very careless man
ner, in drawers, books, trunks, desks,
etc, besides q quantity of gold Jew
elry, consisting of watches and
chains, rings, buttons, earrings and
pins, bracelets, loekets, etc, some Of
which are claimed by his woman SER
want. Several weekly statements Of
subsistence funds which had been
examined and signed by Colonel
Shafter we're found-some OF them
in his servants trunk These papers
Lieutenant Flipper had claimed to
have sent off also, and after finding
some Of them Colonel Shafter ques-
toned her very closely, and finally
had her searched, and finding an en-
velope containing the missing CHECKS
concealed on her person, the Womah.
was turned over to tue civil authsfi-
ties aud is now lodged 10 Jail. Lieu
tenant Flipper, to prevent his escape,
has been confined in a cell at the
guardhouse.
Lieutenant Flipper had the respect
of the officers Of the post, and has
been treated very kindly by them,
though he has never shown a dispo-
sition to mingle with them in a social
manner. The fact OF bis having re-
tanned the position of acting Com
misssry of Subsistence for SO long 8
time shows in what light his oharac-
ter and intellect we're regarded. Be-
ing the only colored officer in the
army, great regret is expressed that
Lieutenant Flipper could not have
maintained his reputation for integ-
rity and high moral character; but
"evil communications corrupt good
manners" and it is said that his most
intimate associates of late have not
been Of the best. 1t is said that some
friends Of Lieutenant Flipper are en-
deavoring to raise 70. him the amount
Of bis Indebtedness to the Govern
ment, some 81, 900 (since the checks
are found), and il they succeed they
expect the commanding officer to
release him from the cell