The Indianapolis journal., 1897-03-04
ROBBED THE GOVERNMENT.
Flight and Capture of John COrwine,
a NnNN PnN ma ster.

NEW YORK. March 3.-Paymaster John
Corwine. u. S. N, stationed at Newport
l.. L., has absconded. This statement is
made on the authority of a dispatch from
the Navy Department at Washington. Yes
teryday afternoon Paymaster Corwine
cashed a check for s.. 900 and then left New
port. An investigation of his accounts shows
that he is between 5000 and $4,000 short
exclusive of the amount of yesterdays
check. Commodore r. r. Wallace the conf
mandant of the Newport naval station, tel
egraphed the Navy Department to-day of
Corwine's disappearance and the facts con-
corning his accounts. Secretary Herbert at
once telegraphed instructions to the sub
treasury at Boston and to the treasury at
Washington 10 stop payment on checks
signed by Corwine, and also wired to police
authorities TO try to intercept him.
Corwine stands No. 23 on the list of pay
masters, and has the relative rank of lieu
tenant. He was appointed as assistant pay
master from Ohio March 3. 1879, by Presi-
dent Hayes. He became a passed assistant
paymnaaster Noy. z. los3 and paymaster Jan.
months sea service. His last cruise ex-
pired in November, 1896, and on the 18th of
thst month he was assigned to duty at the
naval station at Newport.
A dispatch from Chicago asys Corwine
was arrested in that city this evening.
When arrested" the dispatch says. he
the government of $4,000 during the time
that he held the position of paymaster lie
could offer no excuse for his pecula tions
Corwine has held the position of paymas-
ter FOR two years. He is forty-two years
old. married. and in Newport had access
to the best society and bore TIE reputation
OF being sober and attentive To his duties
Government officials began inquiring into
his methods OF discharging his duties sew
eral mCnths ago. They We're bringing mai
ters TO a climax. when Corwine suddenly
10
according 10 his confession, where he pre-
Sented a check fer 5000 10 the Union Ma
tional Bank. The check was on the Navy
Department. but Corwine was recognized
as the paymaster by the cashier and the
money was turned over TO him without
any inquiry. corwine then went to Rrook-
lyn. he says. and there met his wife. lie
gave her 5000 of the amount he had So
cured. so he claims, and then bade her
goodbye, saying that he was going To
make long trip. From Brooklyn Cor
wine went to New York city. where he
boarded a Michigan Central train for Chi
cago. In a grip that Corwine carried the
police found nearly 5000 I'm money In his
confession Corwine said his first defalca-
tion was committed several years ago and
said he was not To blame for it. He said
clerk had conhdenced him out of the
money. Corwine said he was at first in
clined to have the clerk arrested but the
clerk broke down and announced that dur
ing the time he had been employed in the
paymasters office he had made way with
$500 Corwine SAYS he set about trying
embeZZled 5000 His next defalCation MAS
several days ago. when he took the check
for $1,000, and nnaliy went to Boston with
IL. CorWine refused 10 tell the name or
the clerk whom he implicated i'm the en-
bezzlement and he told such wild stories of
his dealings with the clerk that the police
believe the latter in no way concerned in
the crime. Corwine declares he is willing to-
return to Newport without requisition-
papers.