Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-03
MAJOR SMITHS CHANGES.
His Case In the Hands of the War De
psrtment-What He Says About the
~ ser.

His Case In the Hands of the War De
psrtment-What He Says About the
~ ser.
IhuunaccOuntable disappearance from
Savannah Of Paymaster Smyth, and his
discovery in New York, laboring under
what his friends claim to have been a
mental alteration, have been uppermOst
topics Of street gossip since the fact of
his departure was first announced in the
NEWS on Thursday. There have been few
developments IN the case here to throw anv
light upon the motives which actuated the
sudden flight. So far as can be learned
there was no assignable reason for il. and
the friends Of the unfortunate officer are
stronger than ever inclined TO the theory
that he was suffering from a temporary ab-
erratlcn Ofmind. Information was received
I from Washington yesterday that the
Major had arrived there from New York
and surrendered himself to the Paw
master General. His clerk, Mr.. W. +.
Bassett. has also been ordered there,
and will leave Savannah this morning.
A Washington dispatch TO the News
last night says that omyth will, it is un-
dcrstOOd, be quietly allowed TO resign
fIom the army upon the ground that he
had no intention % embeZZle government
funds, and that he promptly made good
his shortage. His fathers influence will
save him from any further punishment.
President Arthur is exceedingly ANNOYED
by the affair. Paymaster General RO-
chester, OF the army, made this statement
Of the case: "Smyth arrived in Wash
ingtOn this morning from New York, and
voluntarily surrendered himself, with all
the money in his possession. We are
Just finishing the count OF his money.
He drew at Savannah $1,000 and
the amount he has turned over is S5I5O.
tie is now about TO draw his salary $3.50
for December, which he had not touched.
That will bring the amount to $1,000, and
his friend who came with him has in his
pocket, he says, the $1,000 that is needed
10 make good the whole amount. If
Smyth had intended abscOnding he could
have taken a much larger amount with
elm. He had over $1,000 to his credit in
Savannah, and over $4,000 in New York,
with his months salary still due. As IL
was, be had simply drawn the amount
necessary to make his monthly payment
at st. Augustine"
Maj. Smytn, being interviewed, said:
Il got to drinking in Savannah, and
when drew the money to make my st.
Augustine payment did not know what
/ was doing. The fact is. did not know
when left Savannah. All | know is, that
/ regained consciousness on a steamer
that had nearly reached New York. l
arrived in that city yesterday, and at
once telegraphed my pay clerk at Sa-
vaunah that 1 would be back
as soon as 1 possibly could get there and
fix matters all right. He replied that it
would be best for me to report to the Pay
master-General in Washington. l fol-
lowed his advice, and here l am"
How about the story that you were seen
riding in a hack with your mOustache
shaved of, rs if to prevent Identification? ?"
asked the reporter.
That was ridiculous" )" was the reply,
''i0r il is we'll known among my friends in
Savannah that l shaved my mOustache be-
fore Christmas, that might give it a fresh
start -