Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-07-18
VIM. d. McMAsTER, Editor & Pro'r.
From our regular correspondents.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., July IA, 'ss.

WaSuluklouJ ~ W, WY ~~' W.
The Governmeuts's little transaction
with Gilman is now finally and irrevo-
cably closed by the discontinuance a
few days since of the civil suits and the
release of a further sum OF Sl2,7OO
which was held by attachment. The
compromise having been agreed upon
and partially carried into effect by a
discoutinuance of the criminal cases
and the release of part of the stolen
money, of course the rest had to fol-
low. This last sum OF money, will, it
is said, be distributed among Gilman S
lawyers, and the Hon. Richard Crow
lev will receive share, as pay tor his
services in effecting the compromise
The laborer is worthy of his hire.
The compromise was secured June o.
1882. Mr.. Crowley was then acting
as counsel for the Government in the
prosecution of Lee and Hall in Buffalo
and Canandaguia. He came to Wash
ington on May 20 and returned to But
falo on June 7, and presented to the
Government bill for the travelling ex-
penses of both journeys, which was
maid. The Government has lost money
in the Gilman case, and it would be a
generous act for Mr.. Crowley to refund
at least half of that expense bill out OF
the fee received from Gilman. There
is growing impression here that II
the Government is ever to win any
more cases against plunderers and rob-
hers it will have to get rid OF its COM
promising attorneys. As matters now
stand there don't seem to be much OF
anything to deter dishonesty disposed
official from stealing all he can get his
hands on. If he can only get enough
to pay his lawyers he will be safe.
This calls to mind the case of Pay
master WATSON, who has just been TAX
en- to prison upon the finding of mill
tary court, where as rule they punish
offenders. WATSON, it will be remem-
bered. took about $4,000 of Govern
ment money to pay poker debts with
Failing to make the shortage good in
time to avoid discovery he was arrest
ed, confessed and was tried by court
martial. Before his trial his friends
aided him to restore the money; yet
this did not save him from conviction
and severe sentence. Hard as il
seems upon this heretofore promising
young imam, such otfenses could not
properly go unpublished. He was
cashiered from the army, thus de-
barred from holding military or civil
office again, sentenced to eighteen
months Imprisonment and his crime
ordered to be published in the newspa-
pers of his own home. But how diff
ferent the punishment in this case from
that of one which occurred in the days
of Grant and Belknap. Paymaster
Hodge was on duty in Washington,
where he had been during the war.
He had been repeatedly ordered away,
but in some way he managed to get the
order rescinded and he stayed here,
having millions of dollars at his dispo-
sal. Brice was Paymaster-General
and gave Hodges loose rein. Re-
suit, Hodge stole over S400, 900, and
lost it, it is said, in Wall street, which
is no better than losing it at the gam
bling table. He confessed his crime
when he could hide it no longer, and
was tried by court-martial. He was
dismissed the service and sent to the
penitentiary. Did he become con-
vict! No. Did he make restitution
of the stolen money? No; not one dol
lar of it. But he did not have his head
shaved, and was not required to live
on prison fare. He was put in the
library, wore good clothes, and had
plenty to eat for "a year, when Grant
pardoned him out. How is this ex-
planned? Why, he stole nearly half a
million dollars, and never returned a
cent. WATSON took $4,000 and re-
turned the whole amount. Yet as
things go, the latter is thief, while
the former is ranked as a gentleman.
How the Government hates petty
thief, and how it loves colossal rob-
Der Queer world, isn't it? P.