The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-02
YOUNG'S EMBEzZLEMENT.
Details of the Trouble in the TWEEN
tieth Kansas Volunteers.

t1eth Kansas Volunteers.
The San Francisco Evening Post
| gives the following account of the arrest
of Quartermaster Sergeant Young of
the Twentieth Kansas for embezzIng
army supplies. Young was Col Fred
F'unston's lecture manager:
Quartermaster Sergeant James A.
Young Of the Twentieth Kansas regi-
ment has been ordered under arrest by
Colonel Funston for embezzling govern
ment property.
Young admits his guilt and pleads as
a defense that he did nothing more
than every other commissary officer at
Camp Merritt is doing.
This afternoon, by orders of General
Miller, he was taken to the Preside,
where he will remain in confinement
until he can be tried by court martial.
Colonel Funston will prefer charges
against him either this evening or to-
morrow, and it is believed that Young
will be tried by the court martial now
sitting at brigade headquarters.
Young was given charge of the COM
miSsary supplies during the illness of
Lieutenant Green, the regimental COM
miSSary officer, who is confined at the
French hospital Young took advan-
tage of his position to appropriate sup
plies, which he sold to local grOcers- In
some cases he received cash and in
others he exchanged the stores for to-
bacco, which he sold to the men Of the
regiment.
He became too bold, however, and his
InleNlnS was discovered Wnen ne sou
seven barrels of vinegar to a local deal
er, who hauled them away from the
commissary in broad daylight.
The detection of such OffenSeS is very
difficult owing to the regulations which
permit the men to sell their rations.
The government supplies each man so
many pounds of bacon, flour, beans,
etc, and the quartermaster sergeant
gives his receipt. That ends the trans
action so far as the government is con-
cerned and the men can do what they
please with their ratiOns. The allow
ance is more than they require, and
careful quartermaster can save a large
amount of supplies for the men of his
company. These accumulate and are
either sold or exchanged for dellcacies,
the company getting the benefit. Ever
since the camp was established in this
city local dealers have been able to
purchase large quantities of baking
powder, flour, bacon, etc, at less than
the market price. The QuartermaSter
counted to their companies for the pro-
ceeds. The transactions were perfectly
regular, but excited great deal of
comment among those unacqua1nted
with army regulations.
The purchaser, however, never knows
whether the officer has a right to sell
or whether he accounts to the company
for the proceeds, so a dishonest quarter
opportunity to steal.
Young, as acting cOmmissary officer,
Eeceived the regimental stores of the
Twentieth Kansas and issued them to
the quarterma SterS Of the different
companies. He had no right to sell
them but he represented that he did,
and dealers bought in good faith. His
statement that he did only what every
other commissary officer is doing has
aroused quite a storm of indignation.
Major Diggler, in command of the
Minnesota and Colorado recruits, who
went aboard the transport st. Paul to-
day, said:
Young is gol-darned liar if he
makes that statement, and you can say
I said so. There has been no complaint
among my men. They have had all they
wanted to eat, and the quartermaster
sergeants have performed their duties
honestly and efficiently"
Colonel w G. Smith of the Tennessee
regiment secuted the idea that an in
vestigation of the cOmmissary depart
ment of his regiment was necessary
Il have not only kept close personal
watch over the stores of my regiment,
but have instructed my officers to do
likewise, and everything is as straight
as a string. Some complaints from the
men have reached me of insufficient
food, but when investigated it was
found in each case to be due to the
careIessness or waste of the quarter
master or cook. The government sup
plies more than the men require, and
they know this. They are watchful of
their rights and will not permit the
cuartermaster to profit at their ex-
pense even if he desired to.
Il am perfectly satisfied with the
handling of the regimental stores, and,
consequently have no reason to make
any investigation"
Colonel Lopez of the Fifty-f1rst Iowa
has nothing but praise for the manner
in which the stores of his regiment are
handled. He has given the matter his
personal attention and declares that his
men are both honest and efficient
Il do not concern myself with duties
Of my superiors or interiors" said
Brigadier General King. I nave no
doubt that the regimental commanders
will do their duty, and if they consider
any investigation of their cOmmissaries
necessary they will be inaugurated-
Colonel Funston of the Twentieth
Kansas says that he knows of no
wrongdoing on the part of any officer IN
his regiment other than Young, and
does not believe there has been any lie
has had a great deal of trouble with
the books of Lieutenant Lafayette
Smith. the commissary officer who re-
signed but the wretched condition OF
his accounts is due to incompetency
and carelessness and not dishonesty
board of survey appointed by General
King is now at work Strengthening
them out.