Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-13

easeoceo - Albany Pc0tse0ttaRy.
This morning when the grand jury made their
report thcy presented, among other indictments,
one against Cyru p. Benedict for embezzlement
nom Adams Express Co. one count changing the
emoezzlement a s4.4os on the 18th OF December
Lass and q second count OF saosa on February 8
last The Indictment was based on the testimony OF
Richard Stockett Matthews, Augustus A. Bishop,
Joseph q. Harrison, Augustus b. Keener George
W. Moss and Thaddeus W. swank The fact tlst
70 1eiSication had occurred was not made public
Benedict was used IL could be scarcely believed by
those who learned OF H. because OF the high II no.
twenty years or more. When IL Was rumor re
about the court house thar he had made clean
breast OF the AFFAIR and Intended Ca plead guilty
WAS felt by many who knew him Everybody con-
jecturod as TO what had led him 90 commit the
onense.
TRUSTED OFFICIAL
The accused has been a trusted agent OF the
company for over twenty years, and he has for q
long time teen In charge of the branch once OF
the Adams Express Co at the Treasury. He Is y
native or Connecticut and about fifty years OF aye
people with whom he has been brought into bust
ness relations. Heretofore he has been looked
upon as one singularly free from all bad habits,
and considered a strictly moral man. IL Is thought
that the origin OF his fall was dealing In stocks
ME PLEADS GUILTY.
AT 1890 Mr.. Benedict was brought into court,
and the Indictment was read 20 him. He had
brought with him q travelling bag and seemingly
was prepared for the worst After listening at
tentively 10 the reading he pleaded guilty and said
that he had nothing 70 say why sentence should
not be pronounced
The court said that be had learned through the
and had been informed OF facts which called for
clemency. The facts that ne had voluntarily
possible We're commendable, and was TO be consid.
cred In his favor and the further fact that he had
taken this course would not be forgotten. A sen.
tence OF three years and half At the Albany
county penitentiary wasimposed
THE INVESTIGATION.
There were several OF the officers OF the express
company In court. From what could be learned n
appears that Tor some time past the accounts from
the Treasury branch were wrong, and an investi.
CATION was made. 1t WAS then discovered thai
there was a shortage, and about O month since
Benedict LETT the once, and another agent took his
place. MT Benedict, when confronted with tins
ngureS, admitted his guilt, and turned over wha'
property he had He spent some time In the mar
shais ofiice liking up some business matters Hs
70 Say 1or ns snS
be helped; II II gone"
PARTICULARS OF HIS DOWNFALL
Mr. Geo. w. Moss, who Is in charge OF the Adam.
Express Co. q ONCE here, said 70 STAB reporter
"Mr Benedict has been q trusted employe OF tall
company for q number Of years holding respcnsi
bic position In the Treasury, handling large sum,
OF money daily, Tor which the company was liable
| and never before went wrong. He loaned to
banker money, In small sums at the beginning
from time 60 time until the loan became 50 larg,
that II was necessary 20 cover IL up, and 70 90 q
| led TO his DOWNFALL He took the company funds
but none belonging TO the Government, In the OF
nee which he occupied. We are not awar
that his entertainments exceeded the amounts
| for which he was indicted, AGO But no matter
what the sum is, IL has always been the policy o
the Adams Express Co. never 10 permit a thief OF
one who committed depreciation upon II 10 get
away from II II money or tact could bring him Il
| the bar.
In Mr.. Benedict's cases we have no hesitation In
saying that when he went away we thought he
was out OF his head on account OF overwork Ht
returned voluntarily and gave himself up TO US
and now the punishment follows the crime. moth.
withstanding the length OF time lac has been In
our service
WHAT Is SAID AT THE TREASURY.
The Treasury Department officials, to whom
the subject OF Mr.. Benedicts downfall was told
this afternoon, expressed surprise and regret. lie
was regarded an honest man, OF whom every
one thought very highly. About uonth ago lie
suddenly LEFT his ONCE and disappeared The story
New York on account OF his health, and he looked
as though he might be III. On his arrival at New
York pny aician told him, the story goes, that II
he wanie1 10 live he must leave the country, and
all OF his Washington friends understood that he
had sailed for Europe.
shortly after his departure a change occurred In
| the Treasury ag ncy that al that time caused nc
comment A number OF new clerks were put into oDs
OF the storeroonis OF the agency, which was ttet
up for them. The new agent announced that the,
were the clerks OF the auditing Office OF the com
pany. which had been moved over from Ealu
more.
"Benedictm exclaimed one Official to THE srlI
reporter, "Oh you must be MISTAKENLY must IN
| some other man. Why, should Us soon suspect
myself OF such thing Is him.
This was the ge1erai sentiment Throughout tn,