The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-06

| reCtly responsible for the shortage, The
first news OF the state OF affairs came out
Just before the House met at noon to-day
and there was an exciting scene In the
office OF the Sergeant'at.Arms,
Mr.. Leedom, who was sitting In the
rear Of his office, was surrounded by q
number Of membsrs Of the House who
were rendering advice Of all kinds, The
most practical suggestion was accepted
at once by Mr., l.e0dOm, who appeared 70
be completely upneryed and unable to
act for himself, aud kilograms we're dls'
patched 10 his surelles notifying them
Of silcott's disappearance, and express
Ing q willingness TO cooperate fully In
every effort TO find hlm and secure the
return Of the missing funds. Outside the
bank.like railing across the room stood
another crowd Of members, evidently
anxious for themselves, as well as for
Mr., Leedom, as they put many queries
as 10 the amount OF money left In the
safe and the prospects Of getting their
salaries,
NIGHT HAVE TAKEN MORE.
Mr.. Leedom says that he would have
trusted sllcott with any sum Of money,
He knew his brother well, and believed
that sIlcott himself was entirely trust.
worthy. So firm wes he in his belief
that he had even hesitated to begin the
investigation which has had such a dis
astrous conclusion, fearing that SilCott
had been sand'bagged in New York or
had been detained by some untoWard
happening.
What 10 do next Iie does not yet know,
and Is seeking advice, He was Just
about to turn over his Office to the newly
elected, sergeant.at.Arms, Mr.. Holmes,
but this event necessarily delays the
transfer,
Mr.. Leedom says that II was within
Silcott's power to have carried of not
less than $l56, 900 instead Of the $72, 900,
which Is missing. II was suggested by
person ttanding near that to have car.
ried OFF the balance would have changed
the nature OF the crime from Gtnbrzzle'
ment to theft and have subjected the
perpetrator to extRdition, even In
Canada, whicher, II Is already rumored,
the missing man has fled, This Is on
the theory that Silcott was the custodian
OF tue money drawn from the Treasury
for the payment OF salaries and that his
retention OF this money would consti-
tute simply embezzlement, while II he
had taken the money 10 the paying
teller's drawer OF the sEte 1t would be
theft. II Is stated that Mr.. Leedom was
viCtimized once before by the prede'
cessor Of Silcott, but to an amount In
significant In comparison with his pres
ent loss.
PLAYED FAST AND LOOSE.
During the afternoon the employees in
the sergeantat.Arms' office, were busy
going over the book accounts. A state
ment secured from the Treasury shows
that last week, Slcott, IN three days
drew Sl33,442 from the Department.
The payments were us follows: Novem-
her II, $SS.60S; November 20, $Ss, ,20G;
November 80, SCOOPS; total Sl3S,442.
Out Of this total q considerable sun was
paid out to members, soMO money was
turned over to the paying teller To meet
current needs aud tue exact balance
missing, according to the books, is
$7l, $50.
But a number Of Representatives were
in the habit OF keeping individual de.
posits with the Sergeat.at'Arms, and, in
fact, general banking business was
done In the office on d small scale. What
these losses are has not yet been aacer-
tanned. Inquiry at some ot the banks
this afternoon develops the fact that Sill.
colt paid $40, 600 in notes ut the National
Metropolitan Bank Saturday. There are
also rumors that he overlrew his ac-
count elsewhere, but with their custom
ary reserve the banks fall to say my.
thing in confirmation.
A RASH LIVER
The heavy total OF notes pill, above
referred TO, goes to confirm stories that
arc aaoat Of extraordinary living aud
rash speculation by the daiAulter. Later
information is 10 the effect that the pay.
ing teller's funds, although in che same
safe where SilCOtt kept his money, were
protected by separate lock aud steel
door, which may explain their preserva'
tiou.
Mr.. Leedom isreporLcd as having said
that he could raise about $50 900, which
would leave a deficit OF S4D,SBO to be
made good by his bondsmen. 1t up
pears that the United States Treasurer
has repeatedly called attention In his
annual reports TO the necessity for the
appointment OF a suitable dlsburSing
ollcer by the House for tue handling OF
It's fund.-, ,and some heed Is now likely 10
be paid tO these recommendations.
The committee appointed to-day TO
look into the deialCition will meet to-
morrow and begin It's investigation.