Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-30
JONES' FALsIFIED PAY ROLLS.
Major Goodies Accounts Suspended at
the Treasury.


the Treasury.
He WILL HAVE TO MAKE GOOD THE e2,600 N.
voLvED IN THE TRANSACTIONS OF HIS PAT
oLERK-MEANwHlE THE uNAvArLNa sxAacl
ron THE BODY OF JONES GOES ON.
II Pay Clerk BENJAMIN A. Jones put in an APP
pearance at Maj. Goodloe's office this afternoon
one Of the first conumdrums which the major
would insist upon having answered would be
''Where are the %, 700?"
In that inquiry is the real cause, il il be-
tieved, of Mr.. Jones' prolonged absence. His
the numerous petty pilferings have been added
up the figures will be very near the sum
mentioned. The investigation of the
pay rolls which have passed through
Mr.. Jones hands during the two years he was
employed by the paymaster was completed yes
terday by Mr.. Owen, an expert accountant in
the fourth auditors Office, and there is now no
reason for anyone asking why Jones disappeared.
Good naturedly reticent over the matter is
Major Goodloe. His first duty in this matter is
he transmitted to Secretary Tracy a state
ment of the fact that the ten days
leave granted Benjamin A. Jones was up
on Thursday last and that Mr. Jones has not
even yet returned to the Office. The report
probably contains brief information as to the
financial hole which MIR. Jones left behind
him.
WHAT THEY SAY AT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
At the Treasury department Auditor Whita-
ker said that the investigation was closed so far
as he was concerned. Jones' manipulations
had given Major Goodloe fictitious credits for
various amounts--in all about S2,600-and to
this extent the majors accounts would be sus-
pended until deposits were made to cover the
overdrawn total.
Tho -, III q l.
falsified the pay rolls was fully described in
Saturdays STAR, and there is now little
question as to Jones criminality. One of the
most interestingly peculiar things in connec-
ton with the fraud Is the fact that the defaulter
had marked with an asterisk in pencil each of
the items which he had raised. The crooked
ness has been going on almost from
the beginning Of Jones connection with the
marine corps pay Office. Previous to his en-
gagement therein he was clerk in the Office of
the commandant at the navy yard. and while
there built up for himself first-class reputa-
ton OF efficiency and integrity.
JONES HABITS
The fact was developed this morning by
STAR reporter that Jones was addicted to
gambling in a minor way. The bar tender ut
Coxen's saloon, opposite the marine barracks,
said it was not an uncommon thing for regu-
lar frequenters Of the house to play cards
and he had frequently seen Jones take hand.
At another saloon it was stated that Jones &C.
casionally played cribbage there, in fact
played there on Christmas night and remarked
before leaving Cat about o'clock), this is the
last game of crib I'll ever play" On being
asked to explain his utterance he modified it
by saying, well, it's the last I'll play tonight
anyhow"
information as to Jones' habits is difficult of
access. The proprietors OF those saloons fire.
quented by him are very unanimously tout"
when q reporter makes inquiry to their
whereabouts and those who are tenn
porarily in charge of the liquors and
the free lunches declare with strange
and loudly accentuated positivenesss that
they we're not on duty either on Christmas
night or on the evening before. In vague
way they remember that there once used to be
Benjamin A. Jones, but beyond that they
never go; their memory fails them at all crit
ical points. Somebody has been telling them
that silence is golden. and they are evidently
engaged in dumb efforts to extract the metal
MRS. JONES THINKS HER HUSBAND DROWNED HIM
SELF.
Mrs. Jones still is firmly fixed in the belief
that her husband has drowned himself. He SO
stated in the note which she received, and the
probabilities are that there was more in that
brief letter than has been made pub
lie. Only two persons besides the man
who wrote 1t have seen that note-Mrs. Jones
and Frank Schwartz. the Anhauser- Busch agent
in this city. Presumably the letter was de-
stroyed. Mr.. Schwartz was not in his Office
today when STAR reporter called, so the rumor
that the note was still in his possession could
not be verified upset.
The hat which was found near the arsenal by
Capt. Bailey of the tug Teuton is in the posses
sion OF Mrs. Jones, and so is the other hat
which 1t was minated had been worn by the
fugitive in his flight while tie other piece of
head gear was left to indicate suicide. Lots of
people are very skeptical as to the suicide
theory
MAN THAT TWO BOYS SAW IN THE WOODS.
No official notice has been received by the
police of alleged wrong doing on the part of
Pay Clerk Jones. His stepson called at police
headquarters this morning to give the police
what he thought was clue to the whereabouts
OF Mr. Jones He told Inspector Swindells that
a boy named Gallagher and a companion were
in the neighborhood of Bennings Friday gun
ming. While passing through the woods thew
saw man with a full beard lying on the
ground. Thinking the man was dead they
were afraid to touch him and went on through
the woods After short time they returned
and the man was still there. Again they left
and later IN the day came across the man again.
This time he was sitting up with his hands to
his head AZ though he was suffering pain. Mr.
Williams, the sIepson, could not tell where
Gallagher was to be found, but promised to
find out something more about it and let the
police know.
STILL SEARCHING THE RIVER FOR JONES BODY.
The police boat was out on the branch yes
terday searching for Mr. Jones body Large
hooks were used and almost every inch of the
branch in that locality was searched without
success and the harbormaster gave up the
search for a bad job. He does not think that
Mr.. Jones body is in the water.
MIR. CresweIl's Resignation.
The directors of the Citizens national bank
have accepted the resignation of Hon. A. j.
Creswell as president of that institution and
adopted resolutions expressing profound re-
greet at the necessity of his action, confidence
in his judgment and management. thanks for
his fidelity andimpartiality aud qualification that
he has consented to remain in the directory.
Before the Ways and Means Committee
The ways and means committee having as
signed today for the hearing of gentlemen in
terested in the chemical industry there was a
large contingent present when the committee
met at 10 o'clock this morning. Mr.. H. Bower
Of Philadelphia desired to retain the 20 per
cent tariff on carbonate of potash President
Armstrong of the Pennsylvania salt COM
pany wanted a duty of d cent per pound
on sulphate of soda instead of the present 20
per cent ad valorem. H. B. Rosengarten of the
Manufacturers club of Philadelphia objected
to the Senate bills provision. and wanted the
rates increased on many articles. Mr.. w. B.
Nlrv n<NTS =