The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-07
HIS ACCOUNTS SHORT
Concluded from FRS. Page)


money order department for almost two
years.
Investigation by the Judge ELECTED an
admission from Mr.. Degge that his &C
counts were short, and also 1 believe an
offer to secure the Judge against loss
All collateral rendered by Mr.. Degge,
however. was made for the benefit of all
} bondsmen alike.
/ This collateral consisted OF his house
and lot on Duke street extended. with
| all household furniture: about thirty
acres of land in Norfolk county; mort
gage of $500 on the Dispatch newspa-
| per. and small note. On the town
house there is mortgage OF some SO, $780,
l do not anticipate that we will lose
more than 1900 or 81 500 after this prop
erty IS realized upon
SHORTAGE SETTLED.
I'VE have settled with the inspector
to the fun amount he demanded. IS $40,
and hold his receipt therefor. The mon
ey was paid over to Mr.. Clum at noon
to-day. each bondsman drawing his IN
dividual check for an equal portion of
the shortage. There may yet be differ
ence or $50 or s1G0 one way or the other.
The amount paid. however will closely
approximate the actual shortage.
EXCEPTIONAL CASE.
"1nspeator Clum says that the short
age is III: largest he has discovered In
MS SIN years experience In The depart
ment. He told me that every cent which
could be SO aiken had been used by thu.
Postmaster.
SHOULD HANDLE THE MONEY
II Wen: on the bond of Mr.. Degge
with the distinct understanding that all
the cash should be handled by Assistant
postmaster Henry. In fact Judge
Spaidins recently called on both officials
ana called their attention 10 the fact
mat such was the agreement.
If!ce, to prosecute Mr.. Degge, and
nave informed Mr.. Clum that any prose
cut on by the government will be wholly
without our consent. We have also sig
n'hed our desire that he shall be retained
IN Office If possible. We have not signed
formal petition. however"
Il nave taken charge of the office IN
tne interest OF the bondsmen. NY bus
ness xiii not admit of my giving fun
attention 70 1t fer any length of time.
and desired my son, Mr.. Harry II.
Trice TO take It. but he declined 10 do
SO for business reasons"
WOULD ACCEPT THE OFFICE
o, Mr.; Trlce subsequently, said that in the
event the Office Is rendered him by the
| ires dent he VIII accept ii. lie did not
ne SAID, seek the position, bu: accepted
IL Tor the protection of tie bondsnen.
MIR. DEGGE'S STATEMENT.
| had rather not say anything about
H. put suppose n statement Is neces-
| saryT said Mr.. DegEe when seen i'm his
once Yesterday. IL can simply say that
as postmaster am responsible for
everything in the office and for every
| cent thal goes through It, The short
| age has been made good. The Govern
| ihehl VIII not lose n cent. My bonds
men VIII not lose cent. have turned
| over tn them fun collateral. II ia sun,
clent 10 cover every dollar
! L cont know to Saya NV Ito y.ba,o
the money has gone. Every one knows
am not drinking man and do no;
gamble don't know where n Gamb-
ing house In the city Is. simply can
no NOT d aeeoun, for 1t. 1t Is gone. there Is
no denying that. l know It looks
strange, l can see now that there are
many things Should have done that
dld not do and things that | did do
that should not have done. a man
can always see these things when II is
all over.
have not intended to wrong any
body. You can see that. knew the
| once was to be Inspected shortly
could nave made my property over to
| my wife. taken a considerable sum from
me ONCE ana left the city at any time
| ieaNins my oondsmen TO shuttle for
themselves had | been so inclined. Bv
DONG so ] would have been several
| thousand dollars 10 the good and would
nave been saved the humiliation Of
| iaVihS inc people here. But | did not do
ms: went 10 NY attorney, Judge
Spaiding, who 10 also one of my heay-
lest suEeties, and laid the whole mat
ter before him. have heard il said
.hat oiferei t. secure Judge Spall-
| ing 10 the Gctr!lrent OF the other bonds
men. rms Is entirely false. | went 10
| the Judge as my attorney and chief
surety. told him all about the shortage
ARD asked his advice as TO what should
Se uone, suggesting no special prefer
*nce IT is true | did OFFER TO secure
judge Spalding for $500 debt. but
ms was a personal matter entirely out
SIDE or the bond and having no con-
nection with It,
me appointment of Mr. Trice and of
Mt. Long as postmaster and assistant
postmaster Is temporary ARRANGEMENT
MADE by the hondsmen for tie
emergency unit! everything has been IN
VestiSated and cleared up II was the
I best measure To take and a necessary
one. What the action of the Govern
ment VIII be | do not know. Every
one OF my bondsmen have signed \
paper Tor the cons.dera lion of the an
thorities saying that they were I'M
unwilling 10 prosecute and that such ac-
ton would be without their consent.
and that they would be glad for my re-
tention as postmaster If such a thing be
possible. AT present all papers are
signed w: w. Desge. postmaster, per
W. Fl. II. Trice. surety
My bondsmen and all nv friend
nave stuck by me and II is gratifying IN
me. more so that l can tell YOU. Es
pecialy have the boys In the Office. with
but one exception. expressed themselves
| kindly to me. and said fhav y.ara ,.a,.,