The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-04-26
AN EMBEZZLER.
The Assistant Postmaster Of Racine,
Wis.,. steals S5,143.59 of the
Government Funds.

at the postoffice by Capt j. E. Stuart
: Chicago, Postoffice Inspector, on wal
: rant issued by Francis Bloodgood, con
! missioner of the United States Circu
Court at Milwaukee, charging him vii
the embezzlement of So. 80 of post
Office funds which came into his posses
ion as public officer The news of til
arrest, as shocking as it was unexpected
flew over the city with lightning rapidit
, and within an hour the story was i
eyerybody's mouth. After his arrest
Wright begged for parting interview
with his family and permission beinl
given, he rode to his honse i'll the custod
, of Capt. Stuart and Inspector j. d. King
who had assisted in the investigation
brief and and affecting int rview with hi
: Young wife, who then first learned of he
husband" crime, was followed by sac
farewell and the officers hurried witt
their prisoner to the Northwestern depo
to catch the seven O'Clock train for Mil
waukee. Postmaster Field accompanied
the party to that city where they were
met BY Postmaster Fl. B. Payne. After q
short consultation at the Milwaukee post
Office, the prisoner was conveyed to the
Jail and given in charge of Sheriff Bentley
fol the night. Arrangements were made
for holding the preliminary examination
at 8 o'clock this morning.
THE GAME Is ALL UP GENTLEMEN
made partial confession of his crime and
begged for time to procure the money.
The fact of the embeZZlement was con
| fided to Mr.. S. G. Yout, father-in-law of
Wright who at once proceeded to St.
Louis to endeaver to procure necessary
funds from James S. Huse, a millionaire
ice dealer of that city and brother-in
law of Wright, whose sister Mrs. Huse is.
Yesterday afternoon a rather indefinite
telegram was received from Mr.. Yout say
ing that partial arrangements had been
made for raising the funds. The telegram
was unsatisfactory to Capt. Stuart who at
once informed Wright that he must take
him to Milwaukee under arrest in the
evening. In the meantime the criminal
had made a
DETAILED CONFESSION IN WRITING
which explains the modus operanIi of his
operations more fully than any other
statement can. 1t is as follows:
RACINE, April PA E. START, Esq:
PostofGe Iqspector-Sir: have made a
full and honest statement in regard to the
deficit in the motley order accounts and
general postal accounts of the Racine
Wis, postoffice. / was was assistant
postmaster under the administration of
Henry w. Wright. Jan. 1, 1882. n. J.
Field took possession of the Office as post
master. | made the transfer of money
order funds and postage stamps, enve-
lopes, etc, from Postmaster Wright to
the present postmaster, Mr.. Field At |
that time there was no deficit in money |
order accounts, but IN his general postage |
accounts there was a deficit of about |
81 800 or 81, 300. This deficit covered |
up in this way: In turning over the |
stamps, etc, from Wright to Field. re-
ceipt was given by Mr.. Field to Mr. |
Wright for the correct number of stamps,
envelopes, etc, in hand. But in making
put the final returns to the department of
Mr. Wright's account made it appear
hat Wright had turned over to Mr. Field
4 larger amount of stamps, etc, on hand
han there was actually turned over.
enough more to cover the deficit, which I
believe was between $500 or $500. |
Since MIR. Field took possession of the
office the deficit was gradually increased |
Until it has reached the sum of s., 143, so.
This deficit of funds ] alone am respon-
lbie Tor. | took the money, little bv
title, from time TO time and appropriated
he same to my own legitimate expenses
With the hope that would in the future
re able to replace it. | never used ANY of
he money in gambling or in any other
manner than to defray personal and
ousehold expenses. The money order !
eficit of S512,23 was used by
he to make up the amount of :
'ostal bonds Of general account which :
'as required to be deposited, and the de-
cit IN general postal account was covered
p by carrying larger balance on hand
I postage stamps than there actually
ere on hand The deficit hope and
18th great confidence, to replace in day =
r TWO. Begging leniency / hope YOU !
i'll remember / have an old father eighty
So years old, and good wife and dar- :.
ng baby. of whom should have thought
efore doing this great wrong. -
HENRY T. WRIeHT. =
p. SIN order TO make up a deficiency :
funds TO balance Mr.. Wright 5 accounts, Il
took in the neighborhood of 1890 of Y
oney received during the first ten DAYS
Mr.. Fields administration "A
HENRY T. WRIGHT h
Witnesses: j. e. STUART \,
NORTON ]. FIELD.
The penalty for the two distinct of,
nses OF which he has acknowledged his
ilt is imprisonment for a term of not ~
IS than one year nor more than five 70
ars for the Conversion of money receiv- ca
from the sale of stamps, and for not
IS than one year nor more than ten years - -
r the misrepresentation of money order
nds.. Efforts will be made, however to
mpromise the matter and secure a set Ia
ment with the government Mr.. ~
'ut's mission to St. Louis was success Tel
|, as the arrival of the money in the
y this morning to pay the deficit, testi- tr'
). Had it come twenty four hours -, -
'lier it is quite possible the matter B,
uld never have been made public But
wing been arrested, and his confession