The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-07
postmaster C9gge Behind With The Govern.
IneAi 10 The Amount of $5,S4O.
HE IS SUSPENDED FROM OFFICE
Together with Assistant Postmn>tcr
Henry w. FL. IA. Trice Tcmnorn.
F''5 10 TN The Vacancy -The
Hhorin.c Made Good-S,ntcmeuI
Gi MI. Dcsac.

his accounts with the Governmrni ~
tne extent of $3.50; that he and his as
s'Stani pcssmas .er, General L. NJ Henry.
mac been suspended pending an inyes
tisatiun, the vacancy thus caused beino
!ehporarilv filled by the appointment Of
MI. w. III. II. Tree the well-known
real estate man. as postmaster and MIR
san'eS w; Long as assistant postmaster
vas me hrst information gwen the pub
Tic or the AFFAIR. being put up within
en- hour after the appointment of Mr..
rice ana causing, naturally consId-
eIauie excitement, as the news came in
she nature OF Il complete surprise to the
general public.
FACTS IN THE CASE.
The facts IN The case, as gathered from
united States PostoiIice Inspector I y
Gum who discovered the shortage. and
lows: "' 'o'
The first intimatlon that the autbori-
TIES hau mat anything was wrong was
"neh inspector Clum visited the post-
once on the evening OF December 29th
iaSt. lie then discovered by an inves-
tieation Of the stock that there was A
snHrs,ase. , but nor having the hank book
couia not tell what L amounted 10. The
next morning he resumed his investiEa-
TONS. which revealed the fact that Mr..
DcSge was short in his accounts to the
extent OF $3.50
Mr.. DcgSe came in presently. and ofinr
eNchanSinG greetings with the inspector
SAID he was sorry he had not bean with
Inn when he examined stock Mr.. CHM,
toId nm that II ne desired they cOuld
60 over II together. Mr Derce soyiner
this was nat necessary, Mr.. CIum pro-
Eosed mat they 80 into an examination
OF the finances Of the Office. whereupon
the posin aster told him there would be
shortage, The inspector asked what
the amount of the shortage was and
81 rn 1'o'
LIZ. Cium said that If he had received
.He information the day before It would
nave knocked him down." but knowing
the actual amount himself Mr. Dcrga'S
answer did not startle him. He made
his report 10 the authorities In Wash
inSton with the result that MIR Deage
was suspended yesterday forenoon, also
assistant Postmaster Henry.
MADE IT GOOD.
The postmaster's bondsmen. judge
l:dward Spaldins and Messrs Francis
Hation. G. w. Fentress, W. II. II. Trice
and +. Vance to whom Mr.. Desre had
R!ready made over ali his collateral. met
at the postonice yesterday and made
COCO me shortage each gentleman civ
Ing his Individual cheul. for his proper
t.on of the amount,
The vancies caused ny the suspensiau
eI the postmaster and assistant post
master were then Gled as indicated
uLnNe' the io.ipW!ng communication be-
". II. II Tree ESQ. Norfolk. Va
We. the undersigned bondsmen of "
". Legge. postmaster AZ Norfolk. Va.
h6r'hv notify and direct YOU TO take
cAargc OF the postoiIice at Norfolk. Va
iof ."e hondsmen Till matters concern
Ing the deficiency are fully settled and
w. w. Degge placed in charge again.
Q" ms successor appointed and qualified
ana appoint James w. Long Is your as
n!atant postmaster
EDWARD SPALDlNG.
c w FENTRESS.
FRANCIS IiATTON.
Z. VANCE.
(By Edward SpqlAiue1
The Inspector turned the Office over 10
Mr Tiice at $50 O'Clock yesterday af-
ternoon, the old manaeement beinp
thereby relieved from duty
HOW iT WAS DONE
Mr.. DeCGe went into office in Auru
1SSi, consequent his term does not ay-
pire until Apri. iS9S He began drawing
money from the receipts of the postoCine
about eighteen months ago. drawing on
the returns from the box rents. one OF
the stamp windows and later. as Will he
seen. from the money order department.
IN the case of the first two mentioned.
his system was O make gOOi the short
age OF one month by a transfer from
the receipts Of the next. holding his
statement back until a sufficient amount
had come in 10 enable him to do So
Inns system mad heen worried until
1t was no longer possible 10 use il, the
shortage having become so large that it
could not he concealed. and there was
not enough money IN the ciIice 10 pay
eli the employees.
Matters had reached this crisis when
the inspector came The inspector says
that no one else In the office Is nnan-
c!nily involved in the affair and the sus-
pension Of General Henry was due 10 the
faet that he did not apprise them of the
pos;M aster's methods
MIR. TRIC1's STATEMENT.
Mr.. w IL II. Trice the temporary
postmaster, and one of Mr. Deyge's |
bonrsmen, was in cry ewed and i'm re-
sporse to the reporters queries gave the
following detailed statement. wh.ch Gov
er3 the ground very thoroughly:
Tire dcfal7at.on," SAD lie, covered a
period of fifteen months. and the meth
DDS empoyei TO cover up the SHORTAGES
from month O month were entirely sys
temat.c The trouble was dis4A,ered on
the frat of t7e present month"; Judge
Edward Spaud!ng. to whom some start
ling revelations had been rade con
corning certain $3.50 due b.ll which had