The evening times., 1897-08-30
|MR. ARRMGIDM's TRIAL
His Friends Say His Offense Was
Bad Bookkeeping.
ONLY THAT MAY BE PROVED
Gossip About the Case at the Post
office Departmeot-Three High
Officials Confer, Look Wise aud
Say Nothing How the Alleged Ens-
bezzieinent Was Discovered.

There is no disposition ON the part OF the
officials of the Pesteffioe Department to
discuss the case of Inspector Arlington,
who was arrested Saturday on the charge
of embezzlement. He has made good the
alleged shortage, with the exception Of an
insignificant sum, which he claims the
Government owes him.
II is not probable that tbe Government
will fail to press the prosecution OF Mr..
Arlington. The laws relating u the eIii-
beZzlenIent Of Government funds are eX-
eeedngly strict, and Mr.. Arlington has
spent so much of his life in enforcing
these laws that he is well aware of this
fact, and will govern himself accordingly.
The alleged shortage was discovered
when Inspector HamIett succeeded to the
position of inspector III chief, vice Chief
Wheeler, reduced 10 the field. AT first
one or two instances of failure to find where
Inspector Arlington had deposited money
collected on account of mail depreda tions,
aroused suspicion. There was conference
between Inspector in Chief Hamlet ana
Acting Assisiant Attorney General Barrett,
with the result that Gne Of the detectives
OF the central detective bureau of Washing
ton was employed To shadow Mr. Arlington
Meantime, the examination OF his accounts
went On, and when the Department felt
that it had sufficient evidence On which
20 prosecute, Assistant Attorney General
BIrrett and Inspector III Charge Smith
held CONSULTATION with Assistant District
Attorney Taggart, and the arrest of Mr..
Arlington followed.
OF course, the department officials VIII
not make clear just how strong a case they
have against the accused, and will as
rule make this reply, IF We did not be
lieve that We have case against Mr.. Ar
ringtOn, We would not prosecute"
Mr. Arlington hasa host Of friends at the
department among the minor officials VIE
refuse TO believe him guilty of wrong.
Ore of these peoplestaied the case thus
at is Just q bad case OF bookkeeping.
The accounts proba bly, W ere found to be a
little tangled, hence the suspicion and next
the arrest / am convinced that AIR. Ar
riEston felt that his accounts were all
right, and that he had not misapplied any
OF the moneys collected by him, because
lie knew That he was iniinminent dangerOf
reduction from the inspector IL charge,
to inspector in the field. He was a Defno-
crat, anG various other changes OF this
character had been going on all around
him since I'll advent of { his Administration.
He must have known that he would he re-
duced.
The pay OF an inspector in charge Is
81, SEQ a year and that OF an inspector in
the field is 81 l,GO0 with per diem allow
ance or 81 At the end OF the year there
is not much difference in the pay, only the
field man has 10 travel, while the man
In charge remains in Washington. The
position OF the inspector in charge is a
softer berth and is usually filled by the
Adninis. r;.tion's friends, VI bile the fIIenGs
VI some other A Administration-if no charge
is brought against thein-are forced cut
into the field. Mr.. Arlington knew that
this change was coming, and if his accounts
were not all right he would have made them
50, because since the accusation was made
as ainst him he has demonstrated his
a'ility to cover in the shortage laid against
him
Another minor officer of the department
sai1: Il do not believe that Arlington Is
guilty Of embeZZlement. He is a Southern
man and very few OF tilose fellows, hon
est Though they De, ; eern 10 nandie thelr
books In good, clear, Yankee fashion
Some moneys were collected on account of
and Mr. Arlington delayed
in turning in the funds. 1t may have been
that IL was desirable to hold up tae
depreciation returns for some time, as
frequently happens in the depredations
division and that the investigation OF
AIrington's accounts was begun at just
that unfortunate time
Inspector in Chief HamIett when asked
tins morning as o the status OF the AIRING
ton case replied: Just about the same:
The Times has already state the case ac-
curately and quite thoroughly
This official and Acting Assistant Attor-
ney General Barrett had several Confer
ences with Postmaster General Gary dur
ing the day, but these gentlemen were
dumb n . IN he nature oft he talks