The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-14
WEBSTER In TROUBLE
Yorktown Paymaster Charged
With ENLIGHTENMENT.
HIS CLERKS STORY OF THE CASE
He Says Webster Took His Money as
Security, but Really to Cover Up
Former Shortage.

Webster. who was al the Port Orchard
naval station in 1894, but who in the spring
Of that year became paymaster Of tha
Yorktown when she stopped at Seattle On
the way . Bering sea. is charged with
embezzleuent. and the probabilities are
that he VIII be ordered home for court
martial The shortage is said TO date from
1924. On November 10 OF that year the
Yorktown sailed from Mare island for
Chinese waters, and two days before sail
ing Webster appointed as his clerk W. j.
Tobin. clark in the department of yards
and docks. But before the appointment
Webster requested Mrs. Catherine Tobsn,
mother OF The clerk. to deposit with him
s.. 500. 800 in gold and sl,oo0 in check
on the Commercial bank of Vallejo, and
in return gave a receipt dated Vallejo,
1874. reading as follows:
Received from Catherine Tobin 800.
on account Of deposit OF W. j. Tobin.
''E. B. WEBSTER"
II is claimed that Webster assured Mrs.
Tobin that she could have the money any
time she desired; she desires 1t now. but
It is not forthcoming.
Clerk Tobin's story of 1t.
At Waller few days ago the Examiner
correspondent interviewed Tobin. who told
how WebEer's clerk. W. o. Came, for
merry of this city, left the Yorktown in
October. 1884. 20 go 10 his home in Boston.
where his brother was dying. and how
Webster offered him the position. He says
Webster e1acted a s. 500 bond, and his
CTobin's) mother, being pleased with the
idea. advanced the money, as both mother
and son had implicit confidence in Web
ster. He continued:
Until subsequently,. i did not learn OF
the shortage on the previous cruise of the
Yorktown 10 Alaska. One day after We
left for China Webster became confden-
tial. telling me he had been raising the
mischief in Alaska and that he was some
$3.50 short: that II was TO secure the pres
ence of this amount Of coin in his safe on
the China station. should examination be
made. that he had exacted the unusual
bond from me. / was most unpleasantiy
surprised. of course, but still did not dis
trust his honor.
when We reached the station was al
most Immediately taken with fever. Dur
ing my connection with the ship Webster
resumed his eXtravagant life ashore,
spending. ! fear, much more than he
ought. on one occasion he took some
money out OF the sack containing my
mothers $500. He had his safe and had
mine. but he had both combinations while
L had only mine. My accounts were under
his dictatian. but his / had no access to,
except as he saw fit to permit. He con-
tinually assured me he would find way
to make up the s., 500 deficit, but / mis-
trusted his ability from his method OF
living.
While ! had the fever I was in the
Shanghai hospital. and resumed my duties
before 1 was we'll. This wretched state,
coupled with a growing disgust and sus-
picion that Webster's manner of life could
only result in trouble and that might be
drawn into it, induced me to tender my
resignation 10 the secretary OF the navy
by cablegram. and IL was Immediately ac-
cepted. When the time came for my de-
parture on the tug down the river 10 the
steamer Webster came over from the club
on the Bund TO see me of. As was sit
ting on my boxes at the Hatoba he made
the remark:
Herbert Orders Investigation.
Well. Billy. l don't think I'll ever be
able to pay back that s., 800 Good-by.'
Il haven't seen or heard from him since.
On my return home l laid the facts before
my mother. and she Immediately put the
matter before Secretary Herbert, who or
dered an investigation, which is probably
over now. Most likely Webster VIII be Or
dered home for court-martial."
The visit OF the Yorktown TO Seattle In
the spring Of 1884 resulted in Webster, then
paymaster at Port Orchard. changing
places with John r. Martin. paynaster OF
the Yorktown. Then came the voyage 10
Boring sea and finally 70 Asiatie waters.
The ASiatIc Meet IL now under heaf al
miral Charles =. Carpenter, who has had
much trouble with the personnel Of his
ships since no assumed command. His fleet
consists Of the Baltimore, Charleston. York
town, Detroit, Concord, Machias, Monocacy
and Petrol Paymaster Smith, of the Con-
cord, was dismissed from the service by a
court-martiai for intoxication. Comman-
der William NJ. Folger, formerly stationed
IN Washington City as the chief OF the
bureau OF ordnance, on account Of con-
t.nualIy having trouble aboard his ship, the
Yorktown, OF which he was commanding
officer. was detached, and is now at his
home in Ohio, and now has come the in
vestlgatlon OF Webster's accounts.
The Trouble with FoIger.
While Folgcr was On the Yorktown he
became unpopular With officers and crew,
and was gwen tho distastoful souhriquet
Of "Jack the Ripper" Webster and Fol
ger locked horns, and the former tri-
umphed Folger had WEBSTER up before
the mast charged with intox'cation. Ad-
miral Carpenter was appealed 10, and he
immediately ordered a court Of inquiry.
which. after hearing evidence, promptly
found Webster not guilty. But the AMI
mostly between Folger and Webster was
not allowed 20 slumbeT. although Folger
has suffered the temporary humiliation Of
being detached from his ship and ordered
home. From present indications some
body viii have sweet revenge.
------------
xRTs. oh