Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-12-06
A NICE DEMOCRATIC OFFICE
HOLDER sKiPs. ~.
Edward silcott. the House Of lsepreson.
tatives' Cashier, u Defaul.er-Me,n-
bers' Money Also T.ken
by Him.

ernment money and $40, 600 Of the private
iuhdB Of serpesnt-at- arms Lee1on A
number of the members of the House keep
private accounts with the sergeant-at-
arms, he doing general banking bust
ness, aud 1t Is said that considerable
sum OF money has been taken from these
deposits. II is not another case of "a
good man gone wrong" but "re of man
with somewhat shady repi !lt!on being
trusted altogether too much.
Silcott Is q man of good address, and
thus won the confidence of the members
OF the House, but he was a well-known
irequenter OF pool rooms, houses OF i'll.
repute and race tracks, and was known
to wager large sums OF money. He had
wife and family iu this city, and yet
was living with disreputable woman
named Louisa Barrett. Un this woman
he lavished all sorts of luxuries, and she
is said to have been the principal cause OF
his disgrace. The Barrett woman cannot
be found to-day, and 1t is believed that
she Is with Sicott. She is a French
Canadian aud has been living in Wash
ington To- tHrce years. Silc0tt recently
took Der from the house where they had
met and established her In very respect.
able locality.
WHO LOSES THE MorgY,
The S72,000 of Government money
| which the cashier stole was for the pay
OF salaries OF members of the House.
they Sign receipts in advance, which
they give to the Sergeant at arms, and he
| on those vouchers collects the money
from the Treasurer. The Treasury Off
clals hold that these receipts relieve the
Government from any responsibility of
the lose, as the Sergeant-at-arms acts as
the agent of tho members who Sign the
receipt. Tho men who have lost their
money take quite different view. Some
OF the lawyer members of the House,
esp cially those who have drawn ali
tier salary, hold that in signing the GER
tlhcatts the members have given re.
ceipt to the Treasury and released the
Government from liability, In which case
they must 10 k TO Mr.. Leedom or hie
suretles Tor their money. Others, the
great majority, who have rot drawn
thclr November salary, hold that
as the certlficates were sigred and pre-.
sented before December 8, when the
salaries were due, the Treasury must
have taken notice OF that fact and could
not legally have paid the ce.tidc ates.
o hers again contend that the sergeant.
alarms Is a Government officer and that
The loss must fall OH tue public Treasury.
There is some doubt about the passu ge
OF any bill TO that effect, s. 1t is ueees-
sary to do so in order to save the men,
bers from loss. But so far as the private
accounts of mem bers with the Sergeant
alarms have suffered there will be no
means Of redress.
HOW THE THING WAS DISCOVERED.
silcott was trusted employe, who
came here from Ohio, and was appointed
by Mr.. Leedom when that gentleman as
sumed Office six years ago. His good
business qualifications soon gained him
the unlimited confidence of his superior,
Last Saturday ho notified Mr.. Leedom
that he was going to New York aud
would be back Sunday uight. A mes.
sage was received from him dated New
York, Monday morning, saying that he
had been detained, but would return
that night. A similar message reached
his vile, 10 this city. AS he did not ap-
pear Tuesday, Mr.. Leedom was fearful
that he had been overtaken by some ac
cident, but to satisfy rising suspicious
began an investigation. The iniorma.
tion that Silcott had drawn his bank
balance deepened these suspicious and
the inquiry was pursued.
The enormous office safe could not be
opened at the moment, as Slcott had the
onDlpaticn, but when an entrance was
finally effected 1t was found th,t some
S5O, 900 set apart for the use of the paying
teller was Intact. This, though In the
same ea!e, was protected by separate
door and lock. The next inquiry was
made at the Treasury Department, and
Mr.. Leedom was stunned by the result.
He was informed that silcott had called
there several days last week and had
drawn large sums. The payments were
S36,60S on Wednesday, $50. .206. 20 OH
Friday, and ;60. .627.iS on Saturday,
total OF Sl33 .442.lS. Considerable having
been paid out to members and for current
expenses, the exact balance missing is
1850 96.
ANNOUNCED IN THE HOUSE.
A. soon as the House was called to or.
DER the Speaker laid before 1t the follow
ing communication for Mr. Leedon
regret to report that c. b. Siicott.
lato ca'lier Of the Office OF the
Sergeant alarms, has departed from
this city without settling his ac-
counts, and | have been unable TO
as iertain his whereabouts: aud there is q
deficiency in the cash OF the office. In
view OF these circumstances l resptct-
fully request an immediate Investigation
of my accounts, under such action as
the House ot Representatives may take
in the premises.
Mr.. Adams, oil Illinois, offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was uuanl-
mously adopted:
WHEREAS, J. Z. Leedom, late Sergeant.
alarms OF the House, has reported to the
House that G. E. Silcott, cashier of the
office of tho Sergeant-at-arms, has de-
par Cd from the city without settling his
accounts and his whereabouts are uu-
known, and that there Is q deficiency in
cash in said office of about SO 900.
lie. olved, That a select committee be
appointed by the Speaker to examine the
accounts OF said office and report there
on TO the House.
The committee, which has authority to
adm mister oaths aud to report in whole
or in part at any time, was appointed by
the Speaker rs iollOws: Messrs. Adams,
Stewart, Vermont; Payne, Reed. Iowa;
Holman, Blount aud Hemphill. They
Will met to morrow.
Tie United States Treasurer has re.
peatedy called attention, in his annual
reports, to the Necessity for the appoint
meut of n suitable diSburslng officer by
the House for the handling of It's funus,
and some heed IS now likey to be paid TO
the Recommendations.
Silcotts SOD, young man who had
rec ntly married, is employed in the
d icument I'm OF the House. lie was at
tbs work as usual this morning ~hgn in.