The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-09
SHORT TO HIS UNCLE SAM
Discussing CLERK EWING A
DEBTOR FOR $4,000.

He Has Held the Office Many Years
and Is Well-Known at Washington
No Hint as to Where the Money Has
Gone-Government Officials Reticent
on the Subject.
WASHINGTON, Nav SIT is understood
that Gen. James W Ewing, Disbursing
Clerk of the Department Of Justice, has
been found short in his accounts to the
extent of $1,000 or $1,000.
Gen. Ewing is bonded in the sum OF
$4,000, and Representative Nathan Goff,
Jr., of West Virginia, is one of his sureties.-
Gen. Ewing is a Union soldier Of good
record, and is one of tho best known men in
tho city. He was appointed from West
Virginia, and has been in his present Office
for many years
SLOW TO ACCOUNT.
Some months ago the First Comptroller
OF the Treasury informed tho Attor-
ney General that Gen. Ewing was some
what slow in rendering his accounts, and
said that it might be well to expedite them.
The Attorney General called Gen Ewing's
attention to the matter and instructed
him to be more careful. Gen.
Ewing said he was delayed by lack of the
necessary clerical assistance, but promised
that there should be no further cause for
complaint. tie followed up his statement
by submitting large number Of vouchers
for the Attorney Generals signature which.
he said, he had been unable TO prepare
sooner These was transmitted to the ac-
counting officers and made things all right
for q time
FELL BEHIND AGAIN.
He fell behind again, however, and the
rpI 1nfu -
TO the Attorney General. The latter became
annoyed over the matter and determined
| that 1T should be thoroughly investigated.
| He, therefore, detailed two trusted employ,
to the duty, and instructed them to take i'm
mediate charge of the Office funds, ETC.,
of the disbursing clerk, and TO report to
| him the exact condition of his accounts.
This was several days ago, and the investi-
CATION was completed to-day.
THREE INVESTIGATORS
In the meantime, a clerk in the First
| Comptroller's Office was detailed to exam
inc Gen. Ewing's accounts, as shown by the
records in the office of the accounting off,
| GERS. The three Investigators had a con-
| ference to-day, and it is shown, so it is
stated, that there was discrepancy in the
| accounts of about $4,000 or 50, 600
Attorney General Garland and First
Comptroller Durham were interviewed on
the subject this afternoon. but neither was
| inclined to be very communicative They
| each admitted that Gen. Ewing's accounts
were being investigated, but declined to
state the result until it had been officially
reported by the committees conducting the
investigation.
GARLAND's RETIcENCE.
Attorney General Garland said he had
ordered the investigation as soon as the
necessity for it was brought to his attention.
| Tho fOfnmiftaO hnb ahout 0piehaI thait.
work, he thought, and would probably re-
port to him tomorrow. He had, Of course,
general idea of the state of affairs.
but was not inclined to say much
about it until entirely satisfied that
there was something wrong. He would
say, however, that the interests of the gov
ernment were fully protected in this case
for the reason that the rsnalty bond was
perfectly good for moro than the amount in
dispute between the examiners As for
Gen. Ewing he had always found him ex-
| emplary in character aud proficient in the
business Of his office.
First Comptroller Durham admitted that
Gen. Ewing's accounts were not altogether
straight, but added that even if there was
n shortage of 10000, it was we'll secured
by official bonds. Subsequent inquiry re-
vealed the fact that Gen. Ewing had been
delinquent in rendering his accounts as far
back as 1882, and that over 80, 900 of money,
Sald 10 DC unaccOunbed Tor, belongs TO th0
accounts for 1882, 1888 and 1884.
WHAT EWING HAS TO SAY.
Gen. Ewing says that as soon as the ex-
animation that is now in progress is COM.
pleted it will be found that the government
will lose nothing. The discrepancy, he says,
is due in large measure to the suspehsion
and disallowance of vouchers by the first
Comptroller that had been paid by him ia
good faith and approved by the Attornev
Ganaral