Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-07-29
The Charges Against Col. Popham

IOpnam, superintendent Vi luc loiulnS ooAAh
of the House of Representatives and clerk
of the United States district court for the
eastern district of Virginia, had forged checks
to the amount of $1,000 has created much
comment.
Mr.. Brownlow doorkeeper OF the House of
Representatives, yesterday said he had no
knowledge of the reported issuance of the
warrant for the arrest of Popham, except
from the newspapers. "Mr. Popham,'' he
said, has been acting as clerk of the United
States District Court Of Virginia and super
intendent of the folding room, but he has
for some time contemplated giving up one
or the other of these positions. He has not
been removed from the superintendency of
the folding room.' In the course of fur
Their conversation Mr.. Brownlow said that
he had inquired of Representatives Dezen-
dorf and Gorgensen, of Virginia, with regard
to the charges against Mr.. Popham, but
neither of these gentlemen knew anything
about them. He had been told by son OF
Mr.. Popham that the latter had left Wash
ington for Culpeper, Va.
The warrant Of arrest issued by Judge
Hughes charges Popham with having be-
trayed trust in misrepresentation of mon
eys entrusted to his care. The facts are rs
follows: In order to facilitate the transac
ton of business, Judge Hughes, Of the Uni
ted States Court. signed number Of checks
which Colonel Popham. who WAS the clerk,
was Is ill out and use in the proper dispo-
sition oflhe court fund. The checks being
signed by the judge, Colonel Popham
filled ont for his own private use to the amount
Of $500. and obtained the money thereupon
This money So used was the property of bankrupt
estates and various Richmond banks. 1t was this
discovery Of the transportation OF this fund that
led to Colonel Popham's arrest and subsequent dis
charge from the position OF clerk Of the court,
which discharge Judge Hughes promptly ordered
f. upon the discovery of the facts in the Col
. Popham's friends claim that he did not intend to
steal the money but TO resitute IL The warrant
for his arrest has not yet been served upon Pop
ham Had the money been stolen from the
, fund" OF State court Popham could be indicted
and convicted upon i charge of grand larceny.
As, however, the fund was that of u United States
court, it is Very doubtful if any definite charge
against him he sustained, the offence being in
, legal language. misappropriation Of funds and Il
I breach OF trust. The personal friends Of P"pham
say that he has not been i'll proper possession Of
; his faculties for some time past, and regret the
l position in which the accused is placed.
Assistant District Attorney Taggart, of WuslI-
ington, who has charge of the District Attorney 5
office during Mr.. Corkhill's absence said last night
that he had recevedno warrant for Col Popham' 5
arrest. neither have the police authorities.
Col. Porham passed through this city
night before last on the South Bound Mid
land train
The Richmond Dispatch of to day says
A few days ago United States Commission
l cr Peasants issued Il warrant for the arrest
| of Colonel Popham, in which he was char
=, ged with forging the name of Judge Robert
W. Hughes, ofthe United States Court for
. the Eastern district of Virginia, and EN-
bezzling &2.lO0 The warrant was pla-
: ced in the hands of United States Mar
D shall Hughes, and by him returned to the
: court unexecnted, by reason Of the fact that
G., the Colonel could not be found within
4 the scope of the NIarshal's jurisdiction.
I This was Thursday, and as soon Us this re-
: turn was made the warrant was sent to
! United States District Attorney G.. d. Cork
hill, Of the District of Columbia The money
: used Was that in the hands of the Court bv
; reason of the bankrupt cases of ID. c. Mayo,
and the Dollar Savings Bank.
:. CAS- soon as the forgery was discovered
4 Col. Popham was removed from his position
as clerk of the United States District Court,
and his deputy, Mr.. w. B. Ball, appointed
in his stead. Mr.. Wall, however, has not
AS yet qualified, but is discharging the du-
ties of the office as deputy clerk. In few
days, perhaps, he will take the oath of office
: and execute the customary bond
''Col. John r. Popham was born in Kappa
hammock county, Va, and is now about 10
years OF age. He is man of diminutive
; statue, but of forceful and impetuous lispo.
siton, and in his habits has always inidi-
Gated Il fondness for pleasure, and 4 free
dom from the restraints that govern most
men in their social intercourse.
Previous to the war he went to Richmond
l and was employed as clerk or salesman in
} a store. When the news came of the estab-
llshment of the Confederate States Govern
ment at Montgomery and the threatened
attack upon Fort Sumter, at Charleston
2 Col. Popham was seized with the idea of
Offering his services to the young govern
mcnt. He had made many friends by rea-
son of his generous and afiable manners, and
t among others Beverly Douglas, who gave
} young Popham strong letter of introduce
ton to friends at Charleston. Popham went
to Charleston, but did not enter the army,
. and after the scene of war drifted lack TO
Virginia returned to Richmond, where he
remained until the war closed. He then re.
moved TO Bath county, and entered the law
/ office of Judge w. H. Terrell With his
. usual address he succeeded in soon becom-
ing tarorlte i'll his new home, and aptness
+ i'll political affairs caused attention to be d.
iectd TO him, resulting in his being returned
to Richmond as a member Of the House of
Delegates from Bath county. While 4 men,
Der Of the House he showed great activity as
4 politician, and made quite reputation for
shrewdness in debate and aptness in repair
tee. He returned to Bath county at the
close of the session of 1S70-'7l, and became
involved in personal quarrel with a man
whom he killed by q blow on the head with
4 billet of wood. He was tried and acquit.
ted for this offence.
In 1871, when Robert w. Hughes was
made Judge Of the United States District
Court for the Eastern district of Virginia he
rendered Col. Popham the position of clerk
OF the court, and it was accepted. After
this Popham was made member of the Re-
publican State Central Committee, and took
an active part in the political struggles of
his party. He founded the LteIiiopucr
| neWSDaDpr in the Snrin,r If 1870 and ,l,,r;,,r