Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-12-11
a Wall AT WASHINGTON.

Wall AZ WASHING ToN.
I Consressmen Lose Their salaries Through,
the DecamplnE Of silcott. the Cashier TO
I ne serRcant-at-Arm Runs Away
WIN Win = bout 1000 OF the Funds for the
ayncnt Of the Wages OF tho States
81 men. 81 81 ~
WAsHINGTON, Dec. g. From present
appearances Edward Silcott, cashier Of
tho Sergeant-at-Arms Of the House Of
I Representatives, has fed, carrying of
about $75, 900 Of the funds entrusted to
his care. The history OF the case, as far
as y can be gathered at present, is as
follows:
silcott was trusted employe who
came here from Ohio, and was appoint
ed by Mr.. Leedom when that gentle
man assumed Office six years ago. He
had good business qualifications.
and soon possessed himself of the
unlimited confidence of his SUI
perior.
The Congressman are paid by the Ser
geant-at-Arms, who conducts his BUSH
ness something after the fashion Of a
bank. The members sign monthly re-
ceipts for their pay and send them to
the Sergeant-at-Arms, who in turn
visits the Treasury, draws the
money, and carries it to the credit
OF the individual Congressman. Some
times 1t is drawn and in many in
stances 1t is left in the office of the
sergeant-at-Arms subject to check.
Silcott, the trusted employee, invariably
carried the certificates to the Treasury
and procured the money on them. He
drew in all ELSA, 900 last week and about
$4,000 OF the amount has been dis
bursed. The remainder, $72, 900 at the
least, and Silcott are not to be found.
Silcott left here Saturday night osten-
sibly to go to New York and has not
been heard from since.
Some of the Congressman will miss
the gentleman because their money is
gone. The $72, 900 in nowise represents
the full defalcation, because there
are large credits, as shown bv
the books, and no money with
which TO meet them, Mr.. Randall is
left to the extent of $500, Rife, of
Pennsylvania, is out $4,000, j. D. lay
lor 5000, Boutelle, of Maine, 81, 500,
Tom Bayne $1,000, Butterworth 5000,
Hermann 50, 500 and Major Picker $2,-
300. The chances are that all this
money will be reappropriated by Con.
gress in some way or other.
SllcOtt Is under bonds in the sum of
$1,000, his sureties numbering about
fifteen persons. This is, however, an
indemnity bond given to the Sergeant
alarms, and Mr.. Leedom, who is HIM
self bonded in the sum of $50, 900. is
directly responsible for the shortage.
Mr.. Leedom says that he wo' Id have
trusted Silcott with any sum of money.
What to do next he does not know, and
is seeking advice. He vas just about to
turn over his office to the newly-elected
S"rgeant-at-Arms, Mr.. Holmes, but this
event necessarily delays the transfer.
Mr.. Leedom says that it was within
Sllcott's power to have carried off not
less than $3.50, 900, instead of the $4,000
which is missing. 1t was suggested by a
person standing near that to have carried
off the balance would have changed the
nature Of the crime from embezzlement
to theft, and subject the perpetrator to
extradition, even in Canada, whittier, it
is already rumored, the missing man
has fled. This is on the theory that
Silcott was the custodian of the
money drawn from the treasury for the
payment Of salaries, and that his reten-
ton of this motley would constitute
simply embezzlement, while if he had
taken the money in the paying-tellers
drawer of the safe it would have been
direct theft.
1t is stated that Mr.. Leedom was VIC
timizcd once before by the immediate
predecessor of Silcott, but to an amount
insignificant in comparison with his
present loss. =
The House was informed of Silcott's
defalcation at the morning session in
communication from Mr.. Leedom, and a
committee was appointed to examine
the accounts OF the office of the Sergeant
alarms as follows: Messrs. Adams,
Stewart. Payne, Reed Gay, Holman,
Blount and Hemphill.
The committee met but did little or
nothing beyond etfecting an organiza-
ton and mapping out a plan of investi-
cation. Enough is known to warrant
the statement that the shortage will not
be less than SIS, 900, and the discovery
has been made that Mr.. Leedom, late
Sergeant-at-Armso of the House, has not
balanced his books and counted his cash
in the six years he has been in Office. ~
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