Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-13
THE SILCOTT FORGERIEs.
Investigation by the Grand Jury
Names Of the Witnesses Sworn Today.

The case of c. E. Silcott, the defaulting
cashier OF the Office Of the sergeant-at-arms
Of the House of Representatives, is now before
the grand jury and a number Of witnesses
have answered subpenas issued in the case of
United States against John Doc" and were
today, after talk with the district attorney,
shown to the grand jury room.
The witnesses sworn today were E. b. Con-
ger, W. J. Stone, C. P. Wickham, T. II. Paynter.
J. H. Green, J. H. Goodnight, r. Balock, r.
H. NJ. Davidson, A. c. Thompson, H. A.
Herbert, c. F. Crisp, L. W. Moore and F. R.
Wallace, the last named of the National Metro
politan bank, who had with him the discount
book of the bank.
NO TRACE OF sILCorr DISCOVERED.
As far as can be learned no trace has yet
been found of the present whereabouts of the
photographs and descriptive data have
been received at the Office of the
sergeant-at-arms from detectives in Canada
but so far as known they are made with a view
to enabling the detectives to identify the fugi-
tive in case he is discovered
The special House committee did not meet
today, but tomorrow it will begin formal in
quiry intended to demonstrate who is RESPONSE
BILE for the lost money.
MR.. ADAMS DENIES.
MIR. Adams, chairman of the special investi-
eating committee, denies most emphatically
the statement in the New York Herald
accredited to him to the effect that
Mr.. Leedom had discovered Slcott's
forgeries some time ago, and had concealed IL Q
fact. MIR. Adams said to STAR reporter today
that the committee had discovered no evidence.
directly or indirectly, indicating such state
OF affairs and that testimony was lacking which
would in any way incriminate Mr.. Leedom.
QUEER BUSINESS METHODS.
There was very general discussion of the
Silcott defalcation at the Capitol today in the
light of the report of the special committee in
vestigating the shortage. The report calls at
tention to the fact that system of discount
ing members pay has been in practice at the
sergeant-at-arms office, and that 1.-The amount
of discount received by Mr.. LeedOm from the
4th Of September, 1888. down to the 9th of De-
cember, 1885, was 81 ,859 80 as appears from tie
books kept by Mr.. Silcott. 1t also appears
from the evidence that not all OF the discounts
were entered upon this book.
1t is claimed by Mr.. Leedom that some of
these discounts were made from his present
funds deposited in the safe, but the committee
find that i'll several instances where notes were
discounted the money was taken from the gov
eminent fund and paid over the counter by the
paying teller, and that in general the amount
OF the note less the discount was placed to the
credit OF the maker in his account and the
amount Of the discount appropriated by Mr..
Leedom.
The report also states that there appears
among the assets the individual check of j. P.
Leedom for $1,000. ON which there has been
paid the sum of $3.50 and the balance Of $3.50 is
unpaid. which was made by Mr.. Leedom and de-
posted with the cash in the safe
i'll his Office for $1,000 drawn by him
out of the moneys drawn from the Treasury for
the payment Of salaries of members. Mr.. Lee
dom has stated that he was ready to pay the
balance (SS5O) and take up the check. There
appeared attached to this check bond OF the
Trenton watch company for $1,000. The COM
mittee are informed that this was attached TO
the check ON Wednesday, December 4.