Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-16

AN OFFICER WHO ROBBED HIAsELF-THE DIS
GRACE TO A BRILLIANT YOUNG NAN.
From the st. Louis Poet Dispatch.
gentleman connected with the army, who
has just arrived from San Antonio and who is
familiar with all of the inside facts of the recent
detection OF Major James r. WATSON, the United
States paymaster, who has confessed to robbing
himself OF s24, GOO of government money on the
Texas Pacific railroad and to other defalcatlons,
gave the following account of the matter The
narrative is interesting and discloses one Of the
keenest and shrewdest pieces Of detective work
on the part of Col. C. NJ. Terrell, chiefpaymaster
Of the Texas department. ever accomplished.
Major WATSON stood as high as any man In
the army, and was stationed at Galveston as
paymaster for that district. When the robbery
was committed he was making a pay tour out
side of his district having applied to Col. Ter
relt for tie privilege 1t is supposed from this
and the tact that he had large sum of money
at his command in his own district, that he had
planned to get as much cash as possible in his
possession and then decamD for parts unknown.
This design however, was frustrated by Col.
Terrelfs shrewdness. When Major WATSON re-
ported the loss to headquarters there .-:- NOT
soul but hen:c::. Story, 50 high did he stand
M drmy circles. Col. Terrell, however, on an
inspiration almost and as matter of precau-
ton, Immediately went to work to examine
Wassohs accounts, and spent two days ard
nights in the hardest kind OF labor. In this ex-
animation he discovered discrepancies and what
appeared to be erasures changes in his stub
book, one being the change of So, 600 to $50. His
suspicious were aroused at once that Major Was
son had robbed himself but he did not say any
received letter from Major WATSON giving an
account of the robbery. In this letter he wrote:
III only remember waking up during the night,
that the vaiise was still under my head and that
the moon was shining in my face" Col. Terrell
seized on this incident, and calculating the
direction Of the railway and the position OF the
moon. came to the conclusion that WATSON occu-
pied the south side of the car. He then remarked
to General Anger that If a search should be made
the vaiise of WassOn would be found he Thought.
one the south side Of the Texas Pacific, lying
near the track. with enough papers in it to
identify It, When q search was made the
prediction proved true, and the vaiise was
found In that position cut open with q razor,
aud with few papers remaining in it. Col.
Ierrell's theory was that WATSON had taken
the money from the valise and had thrown
1t out OF the window, and this circum-
stance only confirmed his suspicion. Two other
circumstances that tended to make the matter
more certain were that Wasson had drawn nearly
$loOOO on deposit in New York. for which he
had no use, and that he had taken with him
more money than was needed to pay the troops
These suspicious were still kept secret. and an
order.was sent to Major WATSON to report i'm
mediatey to headquarters at San Antonio. Not
suspecting that anything was wrong, WATSON
came, and Col Terrell told him that he wanted
to go over his books with him. After having
all the money In his possession, except the
stolen amount, checked over to the govern
ment, Col. Terrell pointed out the discrepan-
cies, and Wasson attempted to explain them.
Col. Terrell then asked him why he had drawn
out the New York money.
safe" ' ''>'N
Col. Terrell determined then to make a bold
move. and, turning around to face WATSON, said
In the presence OF the gentleman who tells the
story:
'MaiOr Wasson. we are going to take possess
sion OF your Office peaceably if you consent, but
II not with the whole force"
Major WATSON hesitated In confusion bnt
finding the game up he put his hand in his
pocket and pulled out a bunch Of keys and said
There Is no use going any further. Colonel.
Here are the keys. You will find the money in
the Office He broke down completely and
confessed the whole matter. WATSON was ac-
counted one of the most popular men in the
army. and was the pet of not only the army
people in Texas, but of a large circle of friends
NO one would believe him guilty until his own
confession compelled them to accept It, He
was the youngest man in his rank, and was in
the line of promotion to the highest rank When
Adlutant General Vincent came into the room
ana attempted to read the form of arrest he was
unable to do so from emotion, but burst into
tears WATSON was looked upon as generous
and chivalrous. and it was characteristic of him
when Capt. Hickey. of the Fourth Cavalry,
classmate of his, offered to shake hands with
him after his disgrace that Wasson waved him
away, saying: mo. cannot permit you to be
disgraced by shaking hands with such as L."
Major WassOn's career has been a brilliant one
mp to the time of his disgrace. He enlisted az a
private from Iowa during the war, and served
with such distinction that he was given an ap-
polntment to West Point, where he graduated
with the highest honOrs While there he was
the most intimate friend of Fred Grant. and
was credited with coaching him through. After
serving Tor awhile. he resigned second lleuten-
antship to go to Japan as chief instructor in q
military school at salary of $4,000. There he
married daughter Of Gen. Bingham, minister
to Japan and on his return to this country was
appointed paymaster through the influence of
Gen. Grant He has recently had q splendid Of
Ter from the japanese government to take
charge OF another school, He was prodigal with
his MONEY, but the chief cause of his ruin is at
tributed to gambling. as he is said to have lost
heavily at poker In Galveston.