The new North-west., 1883-06-01
SCANDALS SIN THE SERVICE,
Officers of the Army and Navy in Disgra

NEW YORK, May 24.-The SUMS Wash.
ington special says: Six officers of the army
and navy have been lnvolesd In disreputable
practices that have been recently made pub.
lie. Lieutenant Colonel Morrow, Paymas
ter Wasson, Paymaster Smith, and Colonel
Ilges are accused Of dishonesty, while Col.
Nickerson and Commander White are In dis
grace OF account Of domestic scandal. Those
In power, both In the War and Navy De,
partnents, are seriously concerned about the
state or things these exposures indicate.
Colonel Ilges was allowed to resign, when,
by the rules, he should have been court mar
tailed. lie was charged with having obs
tanned money by duplicating his pay &C
counts, and he preferred TO resign rather
than meet the charge. Major Wasson Is a
defaulter, as the Government thinks, though
be excuses his shortage by saying he took
the money as forced loan, which he intend
cd TO return through the conscience fund.
The amount taken Is believed to be about
$4,000. Major Wasson was poker player
Paymaster Smith, of the navy, will be court
martialed In few days on charge Of dis.
honesty.
Colonel Morrow's case is q peculiar one.
He has been one of the most dashing officers
on Sherman's staff. Since he has been In
Washington he has been living well and was
the most popular member of the army set.
Some weeks ago he went to Secretary Lin
coin, said he was deeply in debt, aud asked
to be sent back to his regiment, as he be
lieyed he could save money enough TO pay
his debts If be were allowed TO do so. The
Secretary consented. 1t appears, however,
that Colonel Morrow had done something
worse than getting in debt. He had dupli
Gated his pay accounts; in fact, Implicated
them. The Government had been no loser
and had known nothing Of it, for Colonel
Morrow had managed to take up the vouch.
ers as they became due In the hands OF the
brokers.
When It was decided be should rejoin his
regiment, Colonel Morrow called his credit
ors together, told them what he had done,
and proposed that the amount be pooled and
placed In the hands of broker In pay &C.
counts named Middleton. He further pro.
posed to have enough Of his future pay &C
counts hypothecated to take up the old ones
The creditors consented, provided an order
should be issued by Paymaster General
Rochester to all paymasters to pay no ac-
counts Of Colonel Morrow. This was In,
tended as security for the brokers. The
Paymaster General consented, the order was
issued, the crooked accounts Strengthened
ont In that way, and Colonel Morrow went
to his regiment. Secretary Lincoln knew
nothing of this, but has now learned of It.
and II Is expected he will order q courl
martial.
Commander White resigned from the navy
day or two ago, and 1t is charged he did SC
to avoid the exposure Of scandal that oc
CURED At Norfolk, and Colonel Nickerson /.
accused Of procuring q fraudulent dvorc.
that he might remarry.
There Is little doub. that the temptation.
of Washington life have led officers to violate
their honor, and there Is less doubt tha
gambling In the army has ruined man,
officers, aud Secretary Lincoln has an.
nounced his determination to put stop ts
1t, and The best field for him TO begin hi:
campaign is right here in Washington. The
brokers who advance money on officers pay
accounts al ininous rates of interest. know
| perfectly well that If IL were not for the
gambling that prevails here, their business
In this direction would be greatly cnrailed
This gambling In the main does not taks
place at public gambling houses, /. Is done
&C clubs.