The morning times., 1896-01-24
WAS 1 Bad BO0KKEEPER
Why John Clyde Sullivan Was
Dismissed from the Navy.
HE WAS NOT DISHONEST
Senate Has just Passed n Bill Author
izing His Being Placed on the Active
List Again-Every Cent of the Al
legged Embezzlement Accounted For.
The Report.

Bad bookkeeping alone has caused the
downfall OF cue naval paymaster.
This, at least, is the honest belief OF
Senator Perkins of California, and he
has succeeded in making his colleagues
think the same way. For the Senate, at
his instance, has just passed bill author
izing the President to place John Clyde
Sullivan at tine foot of the grade OF pay
masters of the navy.
Mr.. sullivan was cou rt-martialed in
1888, found guilty OF rendering false
and fraudulent returns and of embezZling
the public money. On January 81, 1884,
the President approved the findings of the
court dIsmissiDg him from the navy.
The mother and brother of Mr.. Sullivan
are residents of this city, and the ex-
paymaster himself has been here for the
past eighteen mouths trying to get great
wrong righted. For he has accounted for
every cent he was charged with embezzling
and produced the proof.
49, A STRANGE STORY
Senator Perkins says the story is
strange one. When he was first spoken
to he said there was nothing in the claims
of Innocence. He knew personally some
or the Officers who were members or The
court-martial and felt sure of their judg-
meDt. Then Sullivan had had the benefit
of shrewd lawyer in his defense.
But he was induced TO look into the case
md entered on IL most thoroughly yprejudiced
against the paymaster. As Il business man
he went into the matter. and found that a
great wrong had been done Mr.. Sullivan.
Not satisfied with himself in the matter,
Mr.. Perkins asked that Mr. Mcmillan be
added to the committee. Mr. Mcmillan
listened TO the Californian's story and then
insisted something must be wrong. There
was another side TO The story.
So he went up and saw the Secretary of
the Navy. and came back loaded. Il told
told you SO, Perkins, he said. But Mr.
Perkins woaidn't nave it that way He got
Mr.. Mcmillan to go through the case with
him. and both think the same way now
The amount charged that Mr.. Sullivan
embezzled was placed at $6,279.O9. II
has been held by the officials that this
amount was afterward made good by his
friends. But Mr.. Perkins has proved the
disposition of every cent, and as testimony
offers checks now in tne custody OF the
Navy Department.
of reports made by the paymastcrs to the
Navy and Treasury Departments The first
is rendered at the close of each month. 1t
purports to give the expenditures and re-
ceipts and the disbursements of clothing
and small stores. But such reports are
not accompanied with vouchers
The other report is ma de quarterly and
must be accompa nied by all receipts ard
vouchers. A complete statement cf TIE
small stores must come with it. It il in
getting these reports mixed up that the
charges were seemingly proved Mr. sulli-
van was in the habit of not accounting for
purchases made i'll a certain month, though
check for their payment was given. lie
would lump all these in the quarterly Ie-
port.
WHAT THE COMMITTEE FOUND
After a thorough examination the com-
mittee fluids that Mr.. Sullivan was "arcl'ss
in keeping his accounts, but not dishonest.
They close their report by saying:
.The committee unhesitatingly state that
they give some weight in determining he
pruba bilities of the innocence of the az
cused Ia his long and honorable career in
the service of his country. He entered The
Army during the late war of the rebellion
as q drummer boy at the age of twelve
years. He served throughout the war. and
upon the recommendation of a number OF
eminent soldiers, who knew Of his most
creditable services in the Army, he was
appointed by President Grant an assistant
paymaster in the Navy, and served in that
office for more Ihan twenty-three years.
During that time he disbursed more than
81 10000 OF money. and the Treasury
Department passed all his accounts with
out question. Up TO the time of the court
martial In question no breath of defama-
tion had touched his high character for
honor and honesty. 1t will be a sad day
for the republic when such reputation
counts for nothing in meeting charges OF
crime"