Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-05

and S92 600 Mr.. Silcott doubtless anticipates
having pleasant time in her majesty's do
minion. but he apparently had no thought for
his family, for his wife, most estimable lady,
and two little children are left pennies.
Silcott has three children. One of them, who
is about TWENTY-FIVE years of age, is married.
This son is employed in the House document
room, and when he heard of his fathers crime
this morning he fell 10 the floor and was pain
fully convulsed for a long time
Siicott was bonded to the extent Of ESQ., 900
and this bond, which is to the sergeant-at-
arms, Is good in every particular. The bonds
men are rich residents OF Adams county. Ohio,
from which place Silcott came. They are ex-
Representative J. T. Wilson, VIM. Mccormick,
W: A. Blair, R. H. Ellison and r. II. brennan.
Mr.. Leedom was almost distracted by the dis
covery of the defalcation. After having served
three terms in his present position to close his
sort was severe blow to him.
though he was in no way at fault.
The cashier was under $50, 900 bonds, his bonds
men being among the wealthiest and best
known men in Adams county, Ohio, and Lee
dom had known him nearly all his life, regard
ing him as a man of the greatest integrity. The
first suspicion that anything was wrong was
aroused last night, but there was no means of
verifying the suspicion until this morning. 1t
| was found that the money was not in the
| until the Treasury department opened
this morning that Silcott had cashed
| the draft on the Treasury. When this was
ascertained there was no longer any doubt
| that he had absoonded with the money.
| Leedom was in his Office during the entire
day, surrounded by his friends, facing
the disaster as bravely as he could.
The first shock almost Frustrated
! him. His face showed for the mental suffering
he has endured for the past twelve hours,
h,tf hnn ,t,,,t.
| all the questions put to him and taking the
burden of all the responsibility that falls
upon him as the superior officer. Fifty thou
sand dollars of the loss is made good by the
bond of the absconding cashier, and Leedom
| himself is able to cover all the loss without
| reckoning his own bond of S5O,000 but he is
smarting under the disgrace that the affair
puts upon his administration of the Office.
Leedom has the respect and confidence o. the
whole House, and it is not thought that even
the responsibility Of neglect will fix itself upon
him.
WHAT MIR. LEEDoM SAYS
His voice trembled while speaking with
STAR reporter on the subject, and he could
hardly collect his thoughts to make a state
ment. II have never had any reason before to
suspect Mr.. Silcott," he said. HE
left for New York Saturday, stating that he was
going to make some large collections of money.
On his arrival there he telegraphed his wife and
on Monday. We did not think
anything OF his absence until Tuesday morn
ing. When he did not come then the first idea
was that he had been robbed and murdered.
telegraphed to him at New York, but
got no reply. All during Tuesday and
Wednesday were anxious about him, think
ing only of the possibility that he had been
murdered Not until last night did begin to
suspect him of absconding, and the suspicion
was not verified until this morning, when we
found that he had drawn the money from the
Treasury"
1t is rumored at the Capitol that Silcott had
got the better of several local banks by over
drawing accounts which he had with them.
AT THE TREASURY.
On the 9th of November, the day before
Thanksgiving, Silcott presented himself to
United States Cashier True with bunch of
Speakers certificates amounting to $780,
900. These certificates were signed by
Clerk Clark in the absence of Speaker
Carlisle, as well as the members of the
House for whose salaries they were drawn.
SIlcott represented to the cashier that, the next
day being Thanksgiving it was very desirable
that he should have the money on Wednesday,
as there was no balance on which to draw for the
members salaries then due. To accommodate
him the certificates were cashed, although it
is the rule not to pay the sergeant-at-arms any
money before the 30th of the month. On Fri
day, the 29th, he brought up another bundle,
also amounting to $4,000, and on Saturday
larger bundle for $4,000. Thus in three
days he drew $4,000 from the Treas
ury. The United States cashier had no
option but to pay, as the law declares that the
Speakers certificate shall be mandatory. The
certificate, however, is virtual receipt for
money by the Representative who signs it be-
fore he gets his salary. Thus, if there is
deficiency in Leedoms accounts, the
members who have signed certificates for
money that has been stolen have no recourse
to the government, for the United States treas
urer holds their receipts. Silcott has no
official connection with the Treasury, where he
was regarded merely as an agent for Leedom.
THE LIABILITY.
The United States treasurer cannot possibly
be held accountable for such a defalcation, for
he has simply followed the law. If, however,
it is shown that the members names on the
certificates were forged, then he will be
held responsible, just as q bank is the loser
when it cashes check that has been fraudu-
lently drawn. The present system has been in
vogue ever since an officer of the House de-
faulted during the war, and it is acknowledged
by Treasury officials to be cumbersome and
dangerous
The law in the case of disbursements by the
sergeant-at-arms is peculiar in that it absolves
that officer from the scrutiny of accounts by
the ordinary auditing officers of the Treasury,
the auditors or the controllers. There is
scarcely another disbursing agent under the
government who does not look to the con-
trollers for the adjustment of his finances.
The Revised Statutes, As, 50. provide that
SALARIES and mileage of members are paid by
the sergeant-at-arms of the House from adj
vances made by the United States Treasurer,
upon the certificate of the Speaker of the
House; but the treasurer Is responsible for
such payments and the accounts are settled in
his name.
So that the sergeant-at-arms is an unknown
personal quantity to the first controller, who
looks to the treasurer.
|. The bond of Col. Leedom is in the sum of
$50, 900, filed with the first controller, and
signed by G. n. FELTON,, j. N Camden and David
II. Page. This bond is still on file, as the old
sergeant-at-arms has not turned over his Office
to his successor. Cashier Silcott's bond Is
given to Leedom and not to the Treasury de-
partment.
Later information is to the effect that the
paying teller funds, although in the same
safe where Silcott kept his money, we're pro-
tected by separate lock.
Silcott paid S40, 900 in notes at the National
Metropolitan bank Saturday.
Clay Sicott, the eldest son of the cashier
will be remembered as having created quite
sensation about year ago by his elopement
with Miss Phil Stearns of Capitol Hill.
AN INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED IN
THE HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House as soon as
it assembled the following communication from