Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-20
FRAUD TN THE OFFICE.
L HE INVESTIG ALTON IN THE
SOUTHERN DISTRICT.

COllusion with Deputies and False Re-
turns Unearthed in the Marshals Office
Marshal Wade and the United States
Commissioners Cited to Show Cause
Why They should Not be Removed.
MACON, Feb. 19.-Last night. when
United States Commissioner John r.
Haskins entered the Office of United
States Marshal Wade, of the Southern Dis
trict OF Georgia, and asked for his mail.
he was told that he had none, but that
paper had been left to be served on him.
This was rule nisi forwarded by Judge
Pardee, of the Fifth district, issued at
chambers in New Orleans, directing him
to show cause why he should not be re-
moved from the office of Commissioner.
He lett the office and went home and the
matter was kept secret. 1t involved an
exposure OF swindling operations that
have been'carried on by the Commission
ers of the district for some-
time. The matter dates back
to October, 1888, when the United States
Marshal rendered his resignation. About
this time the Department of Justice had
been attracted by the extraordinary ex-
penses over those of corresponding years.
James W. Nightingale was sent South ia
trlct and by an order issued by the de-
partment he went to Savannah and
made full investigation, showing up the
0fnclals there in a bad light. He then
came to Macon and went through the
same work and submitted his report oiv-
ing the results of his investigation. When
be called on the Macon office he was given
full charge and was shown all the docu-
ments g4en and AM papers. During his
charges against any one. The first lnti-
nation Of the report submitted was the
receipt of letter from Judge Pardee
transmitting copy of the examiners re-
port touching his administration as Com
missioner, and suggesting that he answer
the charges before further action was
taken. A report was prepared to be for
warded during the week, but last night
he was served with a rule nisi directing
him to show cause on the first day of the
May term of the United States Circuit
Court why the order Of the court appoint
Ing him Commissioner should not be re-
scinded and revoked. No reasons were
stated in the examiners report. With
this was served the same rule nisi
on United States Commissioners
of Augusta, Thad. c. stGrgis Of CoinmS- TiS
bus, E. Q. Wade of Savannah and d. T.
Dunn OF Brunswick. The reason assigned
was fraud in their respective offices, col
fusion with the deputies, false returns.
unnecessary fees and frivolous cases.
The developments had shown system of
stealing and fraud that was astonishing
and which it was tried to smother. A Jew
days before the appearance of the rule
nisi the Attorney General issued an order
instructing United States Marshal f. c.
" ade, If he had recOmmissiOned Deputy
MarShals III. j. Clarke and A. s. Whitply
of Macon, w. j. q. Wilcher of Glascock
county, w. Ii. Ursury of Augusta, Joseph
Raley of Warren county, j. q. Harris Of
savannah, and John l.. Cochrane
of Newton, Jasper county, at.
once to revoke their commissions.
The reason assigned was that they had
sworn out warrants for persons for vio-
lating the internal revenue laws, and
making cases for the purposes of getting
fees, the prisoners being wholly innocent.
The matter has developed system of
fraud that has been costing the govern
ment thousands of dollars annually, and
involves high officials of the United
States cOurts