Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-02
ARMY PAThASTER MISSING.
Major Snvih's Reported Disappearance Under
Peculiar Circumstances.


Major Sn,vfh's Reported Disappearance Under
Peculiar Circumstances.
a Savannah (Ga.) special says Pay
mastcr-General Rochester, at Washing
ton, was to-day notified Of the disap-
pearancc from Savannah of United States
Amy Paymast9r W. II. Smyth, son
of John +. Smyth, ex-superintendent of
insurance Of the State of New York.
and one of the leaders of the Stalwart
faction in that State. Paymaster Smyth
was transferred from station in Arizona
to Savannah N February last. On ar
rival here he soon became a fayOrite
with the young men of this city, and, it
is said, drifted into somewhat extra
SSgSSst p&m@Ss Sc living. On MNmdsy
morning he drew. as is stated, s., 900 Of
Government money from local bank /;
the same afternoon he packed his effects,
and taking them with him in a carriage
left his boarding place, since which
time, it is reported, he has not been
seen. A search by detectives, it is said,
proved fruitlcss.
A telegram received from General
Rochester this afternoon placed the pay
masters Office in charge of Paymaster
Smyth's clerk. Smyth is reported to
have lost $500 on the presidential elec-
ton. and, in addition, considerable sums
at the gaming-table. His friends are of
the opinion that Inability to make good
his losses prcyed on Smyth to such an
extent that his mind became Temporal
rily unsettled, and that while in that
condition nc vas prompted to take
fight. In what direction he has gone
is unknown. though many incline to the
belief that he has left the country.
Smyth's duties consisted of bi-monthly
visits to the garrisons at st. Augustine,
fla., Augusta, Ga, and the various
engineers offices along the coast, the
aggregate Of the disbursements on the
trip being about $4,000.
[By telegraph TO the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, ID. c., January l.
Unconstitutional Rochester said to-
night that all the information received
here concerning the disappearance and
alleged defalcation of Major w. II.
smyth, paymaster at Savannah, Ca,
was dispatch from the clerk at thai
Office, which came 10 him yesterday,
stating that Major Smyth drew $500
from the Merchants National Bank Of
Savannah on Monday, and had not been
to the Office since, but had been seen on
Tuesday with his moustache shaved of,
riding in a carriage, on which was
new and cheap-looking trunk, and thai
it was supposed he had left the city By
a southern train, and had gone to Flor
ida. General Rochester said that Col
onel Carey, Of the Paymaster-General''
Office, has been directed TO go TO Savan
nah to take charge of the office and pa
pers there, and will leave the city to
night for that purpose. He said als'
that s5, 900 was about the amount o
The Governments funds subject L
Major Smyth's draft in Sayan-
nah, but that about $4,000 more
was subject to his draft in New
York. He did not know whether Ma
jor smyth had drawn this last men
toned sum or not. Major Smyth hai
been in the pay department Of the army
for about two years, and until last Feb
rrary was stationed in Montana, bu
VAS transferred at that time to Sayan
rsh. lie is about thirty years Of az
and unmarried.
General Rochester has notified Gene
raj Hancock, in whose department Sa
sarpah is, Of the disappearance Of Majo
smyth.