Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
DEFRAUDING THE GOVEBSMENT.
Obtaining Money bya False Voucher.
THE CHARGE AGAINST DANIEL CARRIGAN AND Z. c.
KIRKwOOD

THE CHARGE AGAINST DANIEL CARRIGAN AND z. C.
KIRKwOOD.
secretary Chandler, In company with District
Attorney WorthDgton and Assistant Thomas, went
to Judge SHELLS residence last evening, where the
Secretary made the following affidavit:
That Frank w. Sanborn, Edwin c. Kirkwood
and Daniel Carrigan entered into an agree
ment, combination and conspiracy with
each other to defraud the department of
the United States, known as the Navy de-
partment, by obtaining and aiding to obtain the
payment and allowances of q certain false and
fraudulent claim by fraudulently obtaining the
approval OF Surgeon General Wales to a voucher in
which was charged 45 dozen bottle clasps $780, and
test cases, 1929, which were charged having
been sent TO the naval laboratory for issue to hos
pitals Also, 800 feet of rubber hose, $3.50, and
nre eXtinguiShers 1854, charged to the naval hos
pital, at Chelsea, Mass. Total amount, 1928
The voucher is dated November 10, 1852.
The affidavit further recites that on the Goth Of
November, two days later, the accused men re-
ceived the 1923 from Richard Washington, pay in
spector, in pursuance OF the false and fraudulent
claim.
KIRKwooD ARRESTED AND HIS BAIL FIXED AT s25OO
Upon this affidavit a warrant was issued by
Deputy Clerk Harper, Of the Police Court, charging
the men named with conspiracy. 1t was placed in
the hands OF Deputy Marshal Chas Jahrans, who
arrested Kirkwood at his resi- ience, No. AL N
street, about o'clock, and locked him up at the
fifth precinct station. In the Police Court this
morning Assistant District Attorney Thomas called
the attention OF the court to the against Kirk
wood, and asked that bail be fixed at s. 500 Mr. A.
B. Williams, for the defendant, said that they had
no objection, and the court fixed 1t at the amount
asked for.
BAIL FOR KIRKwooD.
Mr.. James W. Humphrey this afternoon gave bail
in g., 500 for Kirkwood
AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
At the Navy department the developments Gre
ated sensation. Surgeon General Gunnell, the
present incumbent, stated to STAR reporter that
he knew nothing further than that there were sus-
piciOnS for some time past that fraud had been
committed some time ago, and that efforts were
made to secure the evidence. The act had been
committed prior to his entering upon the duties of
surgeon general, and therefore he was not par
u n'ary interested in it, and had not been kept in
70 IN I'd OF what was done.
WHAT SECRETARY CHANDLER SAYS.
A STAR reporter succeeded in reaching the ear OF
Secretary Chandler, and in response to inquiries
or information regarding the matter the Secretary
said
ave have had suspicious for a long time that
there some such crooked transaction in the
bureau, but found difficulty in securing evidence
enough to act"
GLOW were suspicious first aroused?" asked the
reporter
ment and reported the fraud and claimed that he
could furnish satisfactory evidence. l expressed
willingness to take any action warrantable but he
failed to produce the necessary evidence. The
matter then lay dormant, as no action could be
taken without evidence. Recently Mr.. William p.
Wood came TO the department, and prOfeSSed his
ability to furnish the necessary evidence, which he
did, and warrants for conspiracy We're sworn out
against +. W. SanbOrn, the alleged contractor; eX-
Chief Clerk Carrigan and E. c. KirkwOod"
GLOW was the guilt prOved?" asked the reporter.
''By finding that such a voucher had been paid,
While there was no record OF 1t on the books OF the
department, and no such articles reported bought
ever received. l presume the voucher was signed
by surgeon General Wales, although l don't know
that"
''Were any other false vouchers discovered ?"
asked the reporter.
fOrS only Mr.
suspects Series OF similar frauds In other bureaus,
but no evidence has been found In them. If there
were any other frauds in the bureau OF medicine
and surgery, they could not amount to much, for
the whole amount appropriated for the mainte-
nance OF the bureau i5 only 100000"
"H0W Is MIR. WetmOre implicated ~ asked THE
STAR
''He has turned states evidence" was the reply
"WaS Carngan brought here from the west or did
he return Voluntarily"
"Of his own accord, believe. 1t was his inten-
ton to turn states evidence, but he was not allowed
to do So l have not heard OF his arrest, and he
ruSal of his Offer"
'Are there any other persons implicated"
" There has been considerable talk among the
detectives OF cabinet-maker and statiOner being
connected with the fraud but there is no evidence,
That know OF, and hence 1t would not be advisable
TO mention their Names"
WHAT COL WOOD SAYs-FRAUDS TO AMOUNT OF
$25 900.
Col W. P. Wood this morning, on being asked
as to the case stated that he would not be inter
viewed except to say that the amount of the frauds
would, in the past three years. reach about $25 OOO
and the developed three selected to test
his ability to unearth the fraud He laid the mat
ter in April last before the Navy department. which
refused TO accept his conditions Till an investigation
by DR.. Van Ripper could be made. On the report OF
DR.. Van Ripper 1t was declared that there was no
been committed. He then proposed to establish
cases OF fraud to the satisfaction Of the depart
ment, but no action was taken until few days
since, when the district attorney, Mr. Worthlngton
accepted his proposal and he then proposed to sat-
1sfy him within 4S hours OF the fraud, and in 20
hours thereafter he succeeded in satisfying Mr.
Worthington and the department of the fraud IN
the three cases Selected-those In which there had
been reports made that there was no fraud.
SURGEON GENERAL GUNNELL,
while declining to give any information, is OF the
opinion that the $40 voucher Will not cover all the
rascality in the bureau of medicine and surgery,
but that considerable more Will be discovered
1t Is the general impression at the department
that Medical Director Philip s. Wales, who was
surgeon general at the time OF the date of the
voucher, is In nowise to blame in the matter,
although it may prove that his signature is genu-
Inc. Said an official to THE STAR reporter: sit
would be a very easy matter for a chief clerk who
had been trusted emplOye for II years to impose
upon his chief. He could do 1t in this way. The
vouchers are made out In triplicate form. They
are usually pinned together One good voucher
could be pinned on top and one on the bottom with
false one in the middle. Seeing the first one all
right the others would be signed without sus-
piciOn. One OF the good ones would go to the &C
counting officer and the other to the contractor,
TO make false one to be retained in his own Of
fice The second and third sets OF vouchers could
be treated in the same way, until the person so
minded could obtain three fraudulent vouchers
properly signed"
wETMORE's HISTORY.
The person named Wetmore, who figures promi-
nently in the affair, is well known about Washing
ton, and has gained public notOriety before now
He was connected with the Navy department sew
eral years ago. and was secretary OF the board
OF inspection under Admiral Porter. Some trouble
arose between him and Admiral Porter, and he was
dismissed, and subsequently made some public
charges OF a scandalOuS nature against Admiral
Porter, including intimacy with his (WetmOreS)
WIFE,
THE ACCUSED MEN.
Mr.. Daniel Carrigan, the former chief clerk OF the
bureau, had been In the department for seventeen
years, and had always received the confidence and
respect OF the officials until his resignation cou-
pie OF months ago
E. c. Kirkwood, the clerk in the bureau, until re-
Gently resided upon Capitol HILL He is said to have
been carrying on the business OF an oyster dealer
at the Center market In the name OF his son.
Nothing Is known OF the man named +. w. San
born in whose favor the voucher was made. 1t is
supposed that that person is simply myth, and
the name assumed for the purpose
Carrigan resigned the chief clerkShp of the bu-
reau some time ago to 60 into business he said, in
Dakota. He went west, but, it Is understood, re-
turned to this city couple OF weeks ago. 1t is
stated to-day that he left here again on Monday by
the & q. railroad.
THE MODE OF OPERATIONS.
The arrests 1t is said, were based upon an af1ida-
Wit of Henry s. WetmOre, revealing the mode OF
operations by which the government has been de-