Evening journal., 1889-12-06
SILCOTT is IN CANADA.
The Cashier of the Last House
a Heavy Defaulter.
THERE Is A WOMAN IN THE CASE.

THERE is A WOMAN IN THE CASE.
The House of Representatives Startled
by an sse. 900 Embesziement--c Cashier
siIcott Flies with Government funds
and woman-washlngton News.
WASHINGTON, Dec. &C r. silcott, cash
Ter of the sergeantat-arm's Office OF the last
congress, Is an embozzler in the amount OF
about S., 900, $4,000 Of which is govern
ment money. He has a bond on file for
$50 600 with good securities, so the govern
ment will not suffer 80 severely as individ-
uals The chief sufferer will be the sergeant
alarms Of the last house.. p. I.eedom-
who loses $4,000 cash, and Is held RESPONSE
BILE for the shortage Of silcott above the
amount which may be recovered from his
bondsmen. Silcott Is supposed 10 be ia
Canada The announcement Of the defalca-
tion created a sensation in the house silcott
was well known 70 at least 100 Of the old
members
IL Was Great shock.
He was, to all appearance, a man OF good
habits, steady and trustworthy. Among bis
people In Ohio be had borne good reputa-
tion. It was as though the sergeant-at- arms
had accused one Of their own members OF
embezzlement when the house listened to the
announcement that there was shortage In
Siloott's accounts.
"All of this money has been drawn since
Wednesday, Leedom said to a reporter.
I'VE did not suspect anything wrong until
half-past Wednesday afternoon . he con-
tinued, 'and We had no absolute knowledge
Of the extent Of the defalcation until Thurs
/ day, just before made the report OF IL 10
the house. Sileott went to New York Satur-
day, telling me that he bad to collect some
money. We never suspected the truth until
his absence became prolonged and until we
had gone to the treasury as a last resort,
hoping that he had not drawn the money.
There we found that he had drawn 1888. coo
| since wednesday, apparently with the inten-
tion Of carrying itaway. Then determined
10 report the matter Immediately to the
house and await It's action The shortage IS
$7l, 500. l had $40, 600 Ia the safe and silcott
had a like amount up TO Saturday That is
all gone. | suppose Silcott has it with him
IN Canada
The Defaulter's History.
Silcott came from Youngstown, O., where
he was merchant for many years His
bond is for SO, 900, and his bondsmen. fifteen
in number, are all residents Of Ohio and Vi.
cinity where he lived The only names
which Mr. Leedom could remember among
them were those Of w. a. Blair, William
Mccormick, ]. T. Wilson, r. H. Ellison and
Samuel brennan. The bond is in Mr.. Lee
doms private safe out west Mr. Leedom
says that the bondsmen are all good men,
In answer 10 question about Sileottis habits
Mr.. Leedom said; ''He seemed TO have nc
more tnan the ordinary mans share OF vices
He was one Of the mos. economical men
have ever known used TO quarrel witt
him about his wearing such cheap clothing. 4
Silcott has been cashier for about six years
He handled about s5,000000 year. Silcott
has married son and two little daughters.
His Son Faints at the News.
Sncotts son. a young man who had re-
Gently married, is employed In the docti-
ment room Of the house He was at his
work as usual when informed Of his fathers
disappearance. The announcement was the
first intimation that Silcott had that any.
thing was wrong with his father, and the
effect ON him startled his fellow clerks. He
fell to the fioor in faint and then was at
tackled with fit, from which he did not re-
cover for some time
The News In the House.
The letter from -Sergeaut-at- Arms Lee
dom to Speaker Reed informing him Of the
Silcott defalcation was not received with
any manifestations Of feeling beyond COM
plete surprise when laid before the house
The members seemed thunderstruck, and
not a sound was heard while the clerk read
4 Mr.. Leedom's communication and the reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Adams that an inves-
tigating committee be appointed which fol-
lowed. IL was known that Silcott was
spending larger amount Of mopey than he
could afford to spend on the salary he re-
ceiyed, but this was explained in the minds
Of those who thought anything about the
matter by the belief that Silcott's horse rae.
ing ventures had been successful He was
frequenter Of race tracks and pool rooms,
and had gained a reputation as a heavy
better.
A Woman In the Case.
| Although Silcott's family are in this city
he did not seem to make any effort 70 dis
guise bis relations with a woman known as
Louise Barrett, whom he had met at
house Of i'll fame here. On this woman he
lavished all sorts Of luxuries, and she is be-
lieyed to have been the principal cause Of
i taA1 hA1tfANtt AAc DnIItIL woman cannot
be found, and it is believed that she is with
Silcott. She is a French Canadian. and has
been living in Washington for three years.
Silcott recently took her from the house Of
i'll fame where they had met and estab-
lished her in a very respectable locality
There is much doubt as TO whether or not
Silcott's offense is an extraditable one. Most
Of the members incline to the belief that
Silcott is safe from arrest If he has sue
ceeded in getting to Canada They think
the crime can only be called breach Of
trust or defalcation, and this is not covered
IN the laws regarding extraditions between
the United States and other countries. II
it is shown, however, that Silcott commit
ted theft he may be extradited Silcott's
accounts at the city banks are oyerdrawn.
and it is said large amount Of his paper is
out.
Other Employees Are Watched.
Some Of the statements Of Mr.. Leedom are
peculiar. He stated very positively in the
morning to reporter that Silcott had not
been in this city since Saturday last, yet a
we'll known newspaper correspondent makes
ths positive statement that he saw Silcott in
the lobby Of one Of the hotels Tuesday even
ing. Until the house committee has con-
cluded the investigation Of the defaleation
suspicion will not be removed from several
employees Of the house who are now being
watched.