Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-06
HE HAS SKIPPED
THE CASHIER GETS OFF WITH
$4,000.
EXCITEMENT AMONG MEMBERS.
Some Have Lost Their Salaries Since
March IA Woman at the Bot.
tom of the Case-NO Clue
TO His Whereabouts.
Special to the THINKS.

at arms, Ledom, has disappeared
with from $7O,O to 100000 in cash,
most of which was drawn from the
treasury last Saturday to pay salaries
of members. There is no clue to his
whereabouts. q curious feature Of
the case is that the government has
the receipts of all the members for the
money drawn. The members will
have to look to Silcott's bondsmen
and Sergeant at Arms Leedom for the
money. Some have lost their full
salary since March 4. Silcott is I'M
der bonds for $4,000, Ledom being
bonded for the same amount. The
house was in a great state OF excite
ment when the defalcation was an
nounced today. Silcott is an old
man with large family, but it is
stated that there is woman in the
case, with whom he is now supposed
to be in Canada. There is no expec-
tation that he will be caught.
The history of the case. as far as it
can be gathered at present, is as fol-
lows: Silcott was trusted employe
and came here from Ohio and was ap-
pointed by Ledom when that gentle
man assumed office six years ago. He
had good business qualifications and
soon possessed himself of the unlimited
confidence of his superior. Last Satur-
day he notified Ledom that he was
going to New York and would be
back Sunday night. A message was
received from him dated New York,
Monday morning, saying that he had
been detained. but would return that
night. A similar message reached his
wife in this city. AS he did
not appear Tuesday Ledom was fear
full that he had been overtaken by
some accident, but to satisfy rising
suspicion began an investigations
Information that Silcott had drawn
his bank balance deepened these sus-
picions, and inquiry was pursued.
The enormous Office safe could not be
opened at the moment, as Silcott had
the combination, but when entrance
was finally effected it was found that
some $4,000, set apart for the use OF,
the laying teller, was intact. New
inquiry was made at the treasury de
partment, and Ledom was stunned b!
the result. He was informed thav
Silcott had called there Saturday and
had drawn about $4,000 1t was pos
sible for him to draw this large sum
without exciting comment, as he had,
for long time, been charged with the
duty of collecting money with which
the salaries of representatives
are paid. Silcott is under bond
in the sum of $4,000, his
sureties numbering about fifteen per-
sons. This, however, is an indemnity
bond given to the sergeaDt-at-ar
and Ledom, who is himself bonded in
the sum of $4,000, is directly respon-
sible for the shortage. The first news
of the state of affairs came out just
before the house met at noon today,
and there was an exciting scene in
the Office of the sergeant alarms.
Ledom, who was sitting in the rear OF
his office, was surrounded by number
of members of the house, who were
rendering advice of all kinds. The
most practical suggestion was adopted
at once by Ledom, who appeared to
be completely unnerved and unable
to act for himself, and kilograms were
dispatched to his sureties, notifying
them of Silcott's disappearance and
expressing a willingness to cooperate
| fully in every effort to find him and
secure the return of the miss
| ing funds. Outside the bank-like
railing across the room stood another
crowd of members, evidently anxious
for Themselves as well as for Ledom,
as they put many queries az to the
amount of money left in the safe and
the prospect of getting their salaries.
Ledom says that he would have
trusted Silcott with any sum OF
money. He knows his brother well,
and believed that Silcott himself was
entirely trustworthy. So firm was he
in this belief that he had even hest
tated to begin the investigation which
has had such disastrous conclusion.
Fearing that Silcott had been sand
bagged in New York, or had been de-
tanned by some untoward happening,
what to do next he does not yet know,
and is seeking advice. He was just
about to turn over his office to the new
Neglected sergeant st arms, Holmes,
but this event necessarily delays the
transfer.
Ledom says that it was within
Silcott's power to have carried OF not
less than $156.0O0, instead of the
S72, 900 which is missing. 1t was suR-
gested by person standing near that
tn have carried off the balance would
have changed the nature of the crime
from embezzlement to theft. and
thereby have subjected the perpetra
ter to extradition, even in Canada
whittier, it is already rumored, the
missing man has fled. This is on the
theory that Silcott was the custodian
of the money drawn from the treasury
for the payment of salaries, and that
his retention of this money would
constitute simply embezzlement,
while, if he had taken the money IN
the pa, ing teller's drawer Of the safe,
it would have been direct theft. 1t is
stated that Ledom was victimized
once before by the immediate prede,
cessor of Silcott, but to an amount
insignificant in comparison with his
present loss.
Hanged.
By Associated Press.
/ Npm yopK Decemher 6-Harry