The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-07-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G., July q SO,

L
with Ottman is now finally and ire
vocably closed by the discontinuance
a few days since of the civil suits and
the release of a further sum of $l2,-
700 which was held by attachment.
The compromise having been agreed
upon and partially carried into effect
by discontinuance of the criminal
cases and the release of part of the
stolen money, of course the rest had
to follow. This last sum of money
will, il is said, be distributed among
Ottman's lawyers, and the Hon. Rich
ard Crowley will receive share, as
pay for his services in effecting the
compromise. The laborer is worthy
of his hire. The compromise was Sc
cured june 3, 1882. Mr.Crowley was
then acting as council for the Govern
ment in the. prosecution of Lee and
Hall in Buffalo and Canandaigua. lie
came to Washington oL May ~ and
returned TO Bufia,o OF June land pre-
sented to the Government a bill for
the travelling expenses of both jour
neys, which was paid. The Govern
ment has lost money in the Ottman
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 Ottman. There is
growing impression here that If the
Government is ever to win any more
cases against plunderers and robbers
!. it will have to get rid of its compro-
missing attorneys. AS matters now
stands 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 on
ly get enough to pay his lawyers he
will be safe.
This calls to mind the case of Pay
master WATSON, who has just been
taken to prison upon the finding Of a
military court, where as rule they
punish offenders. Wasson, it will be
remembered, took about 5000 Of
Government money to pay poker
debts with. Failing to make the
shortage good in time to avoid dis
covery he was arrested, confessed and
was tried by court martial. Before
the trial his friends aided him to re-
store the money; yet this did not
save him from conviction and severe
sentence. Hard as it seems upon this
heretofore promising young man,sucl
offenses could not properly go unpun
ished. He was cashiered from the ar.
my, thus debarred from ever hold
ing military or civil Office again, sen
fenced to eighteen months imprison
ment and his crime ordered TO b,
published in the newspapers of hi
own home. But how different tn,
punishment in this case from that Of
one which occurred in the days o
Grant and Belknap. PaymastcI
Hodge was on duty in Washington
where he had been during the war
He had been repeatedly ordered away
but in some wav he managedto get tn
order rescinded and he stayed here
having millions of dollars at his dis
: posal. Bricc was Paymastcr Gcner
J al and gave Hodge loose rein. Re
suit, Hodge stole over 100000 an'
lost il, it is said, in Wall street, ,whic
} is no better than losing it at the gan
bling table. He confessed his Grim
: when he could hide il no longer, an
l was tried by court martial. He wa
/. dismissed the service and sent to tn
penitentiary. Did he become col
!. vict? No. Did he make restitutiO
Of the stolen money? No; not OF
g dollar of 1t. But he did not have HI
4 head shaved, and was not required
Y live on prison fare. He was put
\ the library, wore good clothes, al
Il had plenty to eat for year, whe
T. Grant pardoned him ont. How
I. this explained? Why, he stole nea
3 ly a half a million dollars, and nev
j. returned a cent. Wasson took $50
e and returned the whole amount. Y
If as things gothic latter isa thief, viii
If the former is ranked as gentlema
W How,thc Government hates a pet
n thief, and how it loves colossal ro
20 ber!. Queer works isn't 1t?
;. PHoNo.