The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-01
POKER PLAYING.
At Washinyton-llow the Epauleteu
Sn0bs Kill Time.
A Fruitful Source Of Disgrace High
and Low
Are Alike Eniangled In the Meshes.

the gambling practices of number OF
prominent army officers here continues to
excite good deal of comment. Considera-
BILE sympathy ana great deal OF
pity are ielt and expressed for
Colonel Morrow, who came to Wash
ington with high reputation, both as q
gallant soldier and man af spo'less honor
and intsgrlty He had won his brevet OF
colonel in the regular army by 'conspic-
uous gallantry in action" and his detail as
aide.de-camp 10 the general OF
the army gave him the pay OF
his brevet rank. This place he had
filled ten years TO the perfect satisfaction OF
his chief. who reposed perfect confidence
in him. Colonel Morrow's pay
amounts to $500 u year, a
sum which is ample to maintain COM
fortably an officer of his rank, even in
Washington. Upon inquiry at the war de-
partment to-day 1t was learned that no Oili-
C,al information had been received showing
that Colonel Morrow had been guilty OF
signing duplicate pay accountsfor the same
period, AID obtaining money upon them;
but 1t was admitted that there had been
official correspondence respecting his in
debtedness.
The case of Lieutenant Colonel Ilges, OF
shC ElbutCCutu y, 10 hioO III pOlilts
Some time ago he rendered his resignation,
to take effect q number of months after.
ward II was discovered that he had obtained
money on duplicate pay accounts, and he
was informed by the secretary OF
war that his resignation must take
effect Immediately or he would be COM
PEELED to stand cOurtmartal. Herecalled
and amended his resignation and again for.
warded 1t. To-day Adjutant. General Drum
received telegram from Colonel Ilges re.
calling his resignation. He has probably
heard of Colonel Morrow's case, and de-
TRIMMED to take the risk of court-martial.
IL appears that this is not the first offense
OF the kind committed by Colonel llges. In
1915 he was tried by cOurt-martial for OBJ.
tanning money on duplicate pay accoun' y
Second oflense), and was sentenced to be
dismissed from the service. In considera-
ton of his excellent military record, the
sentence was mitigated to suspension from
his rank and from One-half his pay proper
Tor one year and q reprimand in the general
orders. In the general order prOmulgating
the sentence OF llges the secretary Of war
OBSERVED:
"The duplicating of his pay accounts by
an officer puts at peril the interests both Of
individuals and Of the United States, the
making and assigning of the second of the
accounts involving prima facia fraud, a
falsehood and an act Of dIshonor. One
transaction OF this kind commonly leads on
to others, each step finding the offender
more deeply implicated in disgrace and
wrong, and more incapable of emancipat-
Ing himself. He becomes also the victim
Of the rapacity Of professional money
lender a class from whose hold an officer
rarely extricates himself without very
considerable loss of his pecuniary substance
and of his self respect. Clemency in such
acase cannot be expected by any officer
alter this warming"
The charge against Ilges was the viola.
ti0n OF the 18th article Of war, which reads
% follows:
Every officer who signs false certificate
relating to the absence or pay of an officer
or soldier shall be dismissed from the ser.
VICE." Any officer who signs duplicate
pay account is, OF course, guilty Of signing
q false certificate. Great sorrow Is ex-
pressed by q majority Of the army officers
In Washington on account Of further dis
closures which seem to be impending, but
many Of them say that publicity appears to
be the only cure for the evil.
"All this trouble comes from the POKER.
playing habits Of few old officers, whose
example has produced terribly demoraliz-
ing effect, not only in Washington, but
throughout the entire army" said a prOmi.
nent staff officer to-day. when 1t is
known that poker-playing for high stakes
Ii a regular practice among officers of high
rank, right here. within the very shadow Of
the war department, officers of lower rank s
at frontier posts where there is little work
to be done, and few or no Legitimate amuse-
ments, social or otherwise, easily fall under
the temptations OF the card table.
The giving Of duplicate pay accounts
10 not the only wrong that follows.
Take young lieutenant who is detailed
Is acting assistant commlssary or
acquires the habit Of gambling. He has in
his possession a few hundred or several
thousand dollars of public money. He
loses his own money at the poker table; the
next thing he does Is to use the public
money in the same way, in the vain hope OF
retrieving his losses; disgrace and dishonor