Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-02
PAYMASTER SMITH IN TOWN.


ssac $Os0OO DfaWn at savannah
"Have you heard anything about Paymastel
Smyth?" asked STAR reporter of Paymastsr Gen.
eral Rochester this morning.
"fes, SIR" was the reply, "there sits that oficer
IN the next room," pointing through an open door.
"He arrived here this morning from New York, !,
continued the general, "and voluntarily surren.
dered himself with all the money In his possession
we are just finishing the count of his money. He
drew at savannah $500, and the amount he has
turned over is $3.50. He is now about to draw his
salary ts250) for December which he had not
touched That will bring the amount to 81. 400, and
nockef mos lehG % VINO VINO came with him has In his
gooo the whole amount. SO you see there
was not so much abscondng and defaulting as was
caused by Christmas spree. II he had intended
aOsconolng he could have taken much larger
amount with him. He had over 5000 to his credit
IN savannah and over 81, GOO in New York, with his
months salary still due. AS 1t was, he had simply
Drawn the amount necessary to make his monthly
payments at st. Augustine"
PAYMAsTER sNYTH TELLS HIS STORY TO STAB
REPORTER.
few moments later THE STAR reporter was
conversing with Major Smyth. He found him a
well appearing young man, about thirty years OF
age, OF medium height. with dark hair, neatly
brushed, clear, rudy complexion, dark eyes, and
dressed In well made suit. ON his upper lip was
q 0arK muStache, only about week old, and in his
scarf ne wore a college society pin. TO the re-
pOTtcT ue COiO CQ6 following story:
II got to drinking in Savannah, and when drew
tne money to make my st. Augustine payments
didn't know what was doing. The fact Is dom;
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 teegraphed my pay clerk at
Dly could get there and fix matters all right. He
replied that it would be best fer me to report to
tne paymaster general in Washington. 1 followed
MS advice and here am."'
.sHow about the story that Won were seen r,dno
In hack last Tuesday with your mustache shaved
cH, as II TO prevent identfcation?" asked the re-
porter
THAT was ridiculous" was the reply, "for it is
WelI-known among my friends IN Savannah that
shaved my mustache before Christmas, that
might give 1t q fresh start"
WHAT WILL BIZ DONE ABOUT IT.
The reporter learned that there no longer was
any suspicion in the minds OF army officials of any
intention to defraud on the part of Paymaster
Smyth, and his financial matters were settled In
manner satisfactory to the accounting officers
PaymaSter General Rochester at once reported ia
the Secretary OF War the facts In the case. 1t is
question yet TO be decided whether any Official no.
tice VIII be taken OF Paymaster Smyth's erratiC
VIII be worked in his behalf. On account of his
family, 1t is thought that the matter will be over
looked, possible. II he is court-martaled, Il Will
De iOr conduct unbecOming an officer and gentle
man. subsequently THs STAR reporter asked the
Secretary OF War what would be done about the
matter He replied that it was rather premature
10 discuss that phase He had but Just learned he
said, the circumstances in the case. The man had
turned up OF his own accord and Strengthened out
his financial affairs He desired TO deliberate upon
th.1 matter before deciding what action should be
TAKEN For the present everything is right he
said, and nothing is necessary to be done immedi-
ately.
1T IS ASSUMED
that the Secretary of War will at present only de-
eide whether Paymaster Smyth shall be placed
under arrest at once, and his movements confined
to the limits Of Washington or whether he shall be
allowed to visit his home in Albany pending future
action by the War department. 1t is the expressed
opinion OF prominent army officers that the only
alternative left Paymaser Smyth Is to hand In hts
resignation; that while he may not have been
guilty OF intent to commit fraud yet he has shown
himself untitled to have the care OF public funds
They say that II he does not resign he will undoubt-
edly be court-martialed
DISPATCH PROM MAJOR sMYTH'S CLERK.
Paymaster General Rochester said last night
that he had received a dispatch from the
clerk at Major Smyth's Office stating tha,
Major Smyth drew $500 from the Mer.
chants National bank of Savannah on Mon
day, and had not been TO the Office since but had
been seen on Tuesday with his mustache shaved
on riding in carriage on which was q new and
cheap-lOOking trunk. and that It was supposed ne
had left the city by southern train and had gone
to Florida General Rochester said that Colonel
carey, OF the paymaster generals ofI1ce, had been
directed to go to Savannah to take charge OF the
Office and papers there. Major Smyth has been In
years, and until last February was stationed In
Montana, but was transferred at that time to Sa-
vannah. He is about 30 years OF age and is un.
married,