Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-15
COL. MORROW.
An Army Officer Swindles His Wash
Woman, Landlady, and Others.


WASHINGTON, Oct. Fit seems that
Col. A. =. Morrow is liable to come to
grief after all that has been done to keep
him in the army. About six months ago
Il sensation was created by the announce
ment that he had negotiated his paw ac-
counts over and over for tie same months,
and had sWindled several local brokers.
1t soon came out that Morrow had been
leading a prodigal life here, and that, too.
though he only enjoyed the full pay and
emoluments of Lieutenant Colonel,
equal to about So, 500 a year. 1t was al
legged that he played poker, which he de-
MED, and rumOr charged some of his losses
to speculation in petroleum. Atany rate,
he was found, upon the detection of his
frauds. to be about 5000 behind. 1t so hap
pened that his creditors were Middleton,
Bateman Il Co., and other local bankers.
VINO nave large and influential circles of
relatives in official life, and they at once
began the maneuver to save Morrow from
a court martial and to fix his affairs so
as to recover their money advanced on his
| bogus pay orders. A syndicate of the
creditors was formed. Middleton was
made trustee for all concerned, with
authority to draw his pay every month.
Morrow himself was to receive a small
portion, and the creditors were to divide
the rest, and place the respective amounts
to his credit The brokers. however,
did not recognize the small bills. and
lett out the amount due Mrs. Norris, a
cOlOred woman, who had furnished the
gallant soldier his meals: his landlady.
from whom he rented rooms; another poor
woman, his washerwoman. and so on.
| These creditors trusted simply TO the
honor, supposed to be incarnate in an
officer of the army, and were all swindled.
Morrow was sent to his regiment. and
wrote fair promises to his small creditors.
W hen they called upon Mr.. Middleton,
| the banker trustee, they We're informed
that there was an attachment upon the
money, and he could do moth
ing for them. When they
called at the War Department, they
were Informed that they could prefer
charges against Morrow if they desired
but that would only result in his eXpul-
sion from the army, and then they felt
that their only hope of satisfaction would
be gone. They have, therefore, done moth
ing and received nothing, and the brokers
have divided his pay from month to
month, keeping the case from the official
knowledge of the Secretary of War.
who could do nothing unless charges were
preferred, which the creditors were
careful to see was not done. Ii appears
that he has continued his dissolute habits
at his post, and Gen. Crook, who is a strict
dlsclpllnarian, has preferred charges of
drunkenness, for which he will be tried.
To those who know him here the charge
| of drunkenness is no surprise, since he
was habitually seen about the streets
under the influence of liquor. 1t is under
stood that it was a source of ANNOYANCE
to the Secretary of War that no charges
were preferred against him here by those
whom he swindled since his conduct be-
came notorious, and was considered by
| brother officers a disgrace to the army.
Curiously enough, among others whom he
sWindled was the Judge Advocate Gen
eral Of the army, whose review of the
findings of the court will be interesting.