The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-07
SILCOTTS SLICK STEAL.
1T LOOKS AS II NOBODY CAN BE
HELD REsPONsIBLR.

The Facts Developed by the Investi-
CATION Nest Unsatisfactory to the
Members Whose Salaries Are Miss
ing-Au the Bondsmen May Escape
Eaving Anything TO Pay.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The special CON-
rnittee charged with the investigation of
the account of the Office Of the sergeant-at-
arms met in the room of the house commit
tee on public lands at 1880 O'clock this
morning. After formally organizing the
committee went into secret session, in order
TO map out plan of procedure. At the
end of half an hour word was sent to
Sarpeant-at-Arms Leedom that the com
mittee desired his presence. Mr.. Leedom,
accompanied by ex-Congressman Phil
Thompson, whom he has retained as counsel.
responded, but Mr.. Thompson was denied
admission. Mr. Leedom has made another
searching examination of the books OF his
office, and places the amount of the defal-
cation at 1000.
Mr. Leedom's examination was confined
TO an investigation of the manner in which
business has been transacted in his office in
its various ramifcations with the treasury,
national banks and representatives It
lasted nearly an hour, and he was followed
on the stand by j. w. Whelpley, assistant
United States treasurer. He testified as to
the mode in which drafts Of the sergeant
of-arms of the House are presented and
paid at the department. After hearing
MIR. Whelpley's statement the committee
made an investigation into the legal aspect
of the case, with a result most unsatis-
factory to the members whose salaries are
in arrears. Although the matter is still an
as of fha
inquiry thus far, that the responsibility for
the loss cannot be located.
LEEDoM's BogDsMEN MAY BE ALL RIGHT.
As the bond of the sergeant-aS-armsw was
given to cover the performance of his Off
cial duties, it cannot be seen how his bonds
men can be held for any loss incurred by
him, acting as disbursing officer without
any authority, or how his private property
could be touched. Silcott's bond might
possibly be held good, but even this is
doubtful. Much depends upon its phrase.
ology, and then, as it was given to assure
Mr. Leedom against loss it must be made
apparent that the officer has sustained a
personal loss before the bondsmen could be
called upon. Altogether, the situation is dis
tresSing to those members who at first
had no doubt that they would promptly
recover their missing salaries. Having ex-
hausted the knowledge of the treasury Off
Office of the seargeant-at-arms, and, turning
out everybody not connected withithe office,
began au examination of the formidable
array of books and accounts. In this work
they were assisted by treasury experts, and
all day tomorrow will probably be occu-
pied in this examination.
DETECTIVES AT WORK.
Mr.. Leedom has put the detectives at
work upon Silcott's case, and they are SO
far without clew. but are operating upon
the theory that Silcott went to Canada
where he would be safe from extraction.
Some of them were disposed at FIRST to take
the theory that he went west, but that was
abandoned very quickly. There is, of
course, possibility that heis still in this
country, but it is nothing but a possibility
However, it is upon this that the detectives
are proceeding.
LEEDOM'S BOND EXPIRED.
1t is now stated, according to the terms
of Mr.. Leedom's bond, it is limited to the
Fiftieth congress, and so can't be collected.
Mr.. Leedom himself has nothing to satisfy
the Indebtedness with. Silcott having
taken even his ready cash. But
Silcott's bond to Mr.. Leedom is a
continuing one apparently, and
so may be collected. 1t appears now, from
the statement made to-day, that the amount
of government money which Silcott
OOOk WIFI llUl WAS SOO,OOU, uo having uSeu
the balance of the $72, 900 in paying notes,
which he had forged, and had discounted at
the National Metropolitan Bank. He
had forged the names Of congressman
on the note and was aware that forgery
was an extraditable offense in Canada
under our treaty with Great Britain. He
was careful rascal, and kept just within
the law.
PAIGE OWED HIM NOTHING.
Ex-Congressman David r. Paige of Ohio,
bondsman for Mr.. Lesdom, emphatically
denies a statement which has gained some
currency, that he was indebted to Silcott.
the defaulting employee of the sergeant-at-
arms office. He says that he owes Silcott
no money Whatever. Representative Ad-
ans, chairman of the investigation commit
tee, says that no evidence of Mr.. Paige's
indebtedness to Silcott has been brought to
light. Mr. Adams says that the story that
Silcott had gone to New York to collect
money Of Mr.. Paige is doubtless one OF
SllcOtt's lies invented to gain time.