Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-06
STORY OF THE THEFT.
sncott a Trusted OmOsr-His Superior Is
Ruined.

sncOtt q Trusted Omosr-His Superior Is
Ruined.
WASHINGTON. d. O., December o.
Edward SicOtt, cashier OF the Sergeant-st-
Arms Of the House Of Representatives, has
lied, carrying of about ST.. COO entrusted
to his care. The history of the case as far
a. it can be gathered at present is as fol-
lowe: SilcOtt was a trusted employe who
came here from Ohio, and was appointed
BY Mr.. Leedom, when that gentlemen as
sumed office six years sgO. He had good
business qualifications, and soon possessed
himself of the unlimited confidence of his
superior. Last Saturday he notified Mr..
LeedOm that he was going 10 New York,
and would be back Sunday night. A
message was received tcom him dated New
York, Monday morning, stating that be
had been detained bat would return that
night. A similar message reached his
wife in this city.
Nh. LEEDOM's SUSPICIOUS.
As be did not appear Tuesday, Mr.. Lee
dom was fearful that be had been over
taken by some accident, bat to satisfy
the rising suspicious, began IN investiga-
tiOn. The information that SilcOtt had
drawn his bank Balance deepened these
suspiciOns and the inquiry was pursued
The enormous Office safe could not be
opened at the moment, as Silcott had the
combination, but when the entrance was
finally effected, it was found that some
$50. 600 set apart for the use Of the paying
teller was intact The next inquiry was
made at the Treasury Department, and
Mr.. Lsedom YVES stunned at the result
| He was informed that SlcOtt had called
/ there Saturday and had drawn about S72.
| 600 Il was possible for him to draw this
/ large sum without exciting commeat, az
he had for long time been charged with
/ the duty Of collecting the money with
which the salaries Of the representatives
are paid.
silcott is under bonds in the sum Of
S5O, GOO, bis sureiies numbering about ft-
teen persons. This is, however, an in
demnity bond given to the Sergeant-at-
Arms, and Mr.. Leedom. who is himself
bonded in the sum of S50,OOO, is directly
responsible for the shortsge.
VERY sHREwD THIRF.
Mr.. Leedom says that it was within Sill
cott's power to have carried off not less
than $50, 600 instead Of S72 600, which is
missing. Il was suggested by person
standing near that 10 have carried of the
balance would have changed the nature Of
the crime from embtzzlement to theft, and
have subjected the perpetratOr to extradi-
tion, even in Canada, whittier, it Is already
rumOred the missing man has fled. This
is on the theory that Sllcott was the custo-
dian Of the money drawn from the Treas
ury tJr the payment Of salaries and that
his retention Of this money would cOnsti-
tute simply embezzlement, while if be had
taken the money in the paying teller's
drawer OF the safe it would be theft II is
stated that Mr.. Leedom Was victimized
once before By the predecessor of Silcott,
/ bat TO an amount Insignificant in compar-
isOn with his present loss.
sLCoTT's EXACT sTEALIEes.
/ During the afternoon the employees in the
| in the Sergeant-at-arms' Office, were busy
going over the book accounts. A state
ment secured from the Treasury shows that
last week, Sicott in three days drew
/ Si33,442 from the department. OIt
of this total considerable sum
was paid out to members, some money was
turned over to the paying teller to meet
current needs, and the exact balance miss
ing according to the books, is 67l, $50. Bot
a number OF representatives were in the
habit Of keeping individual deposits with
the Serg and, in fact gen
eral banking business WAS done in the Of
fee on a small scale. What these losses
are has not yet been ascertained.
LEEDOM IS RUINED.
Mr.. Lssdom is reported as having said
that he could raise about S22, 900, which
would leave deficit Of $40, 500 TO be made
good BY his bOndsmen. Ii appears that
the u. S. Treasurer has repeatedly called
attention in his annual reports TO the
necessity for the appointment Of
a suitable disbursing officer by the
House for the handling of its funds and
some heed is now likely to be paid to these
recommendations The committee aP-
pointed to-day to look into the defalcation
will meet tomorrow and begin its invesli-
cation.
sILCOTT LIVED FAST.
Silcott came here from Youngstown,
Ohio. aud bad the reputation of playing
the races and spending money freely.
Several members of Congress used the
sergeant-at- Arms office as q banking estab
lishment, and kept large deposits. Rife,
of Pennsylvania, had $4,000 on deposit;
BAyne, of Pennsylvanis, $1,000; ]. d.
Taylor, Of Ohio, IS, 600, and Butterwortb,
$500. Many Of the Congressman lose
heavily in salaries not drawn. The real
name Of Sileott's female companion Is
said to be Louise Thiebault. She
is French. Canadian, and 1t
is believed Silcott has fled with her to
Canada. If this is true the defalcation
will have powerful influence in advanc-
ing a new extraditiOn law with Canada.