The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-15
MAY RESULT IN
A COURT MAR R T |. |
Charges Preferred Against Major
George Ruthers, y. S. a.
SOLD GOVERNMENT BACON.
Aud II is Alleged that He and Two
Others Divided the Profits Be
twccn Ti,c,n-Unitcd States Sem
ntor Talinfcrro One OF Party.
SOLD GOVERNMENT BACON.


Charges have been preferred at the War
department against Major George Ruth
ers, United States Army. which II sus-
1aincd by the promised investigation of
The Secretary of War. will probably re-
suit In couri-martial proceedings against
this officer.
Tho charges were flied December sd,
1889. by Jay G. Holland, formerly an
army detective attached TO the Quarter
masters Department. United States Ar
my. He accuses Major Ruthers. while
Depot Quariermasters of the Seventh Ar
my Corps. stationed1nt Jacksonville. Flor.
ida, with uniawfully disposing of 215t0o
pounds of hacon-commissary supplies OF
the United States government-worth ap-
proxtmately S2S. 900.
Holland on December sd. made sub
stantialiy the following sworn statement
TO Secretary Root:
II was a government detective assigned
to duty with the Seventh Army Sorps.
1t Jacksonville, Florida. In September,
1888. the loss Of a number of mules was
reported, and I was instructed by Col
Pond. Chief Quartermaster, to investi-
gate the matter and report to him. was
following UP a clcw in this connection,
which led me to the Windsor Hotel. Jack
scnv11ie. and there 1 saw Major Ruthers,
C. b. Rogers md J. p. Taliaferro now
United States Senator) in close and ear
nest conversation. ! attached no impor-
1ance to this, until my friend, John
Walsh, by name, approached me and
said that ne had overheard part OF the
conversation between the parties named,
winch he thought concerned the crooked
disposition of a quantity of government
Da con. AS 1t was in my line of duty. and
lie 49, 1N,,Gf v,ncE n
learn something OF the mature of the
conference. which was to the effect that
Major Ruthcrs was to deliver to the c.
VI. Rogers Company 215.o00 pounds of ba-
con, the Rogers Company was to dispose
OF It and divide the profits between the
three. ] promptly reported what had
heard 10 Col Pond. who in turn referred
me TO Col. Wood. Chief Commissary Off
Ger of the Corps.
ARROGANT REPLY.
THE latter officer sent me to see Ruth
ers about the matter, and when the sub
5ect OF my business was made known to
him, he admitted that he had condemned
q quantity OF bacon, and with display OF
arrogance, added that the Quartermas
tiers Department had its hands full to
look after its own affairs; he was fully
capable to care for the Commissary De-
7oartment This statement I repeated to
the commanding officer, who was appar-
nelly satisfied with his reply. However.
I was determined to follow the deal 10
q climax. Shortly after my interview
with Ruthers. C. B. Rogers purchased
the schooner Tortugus. commanded by
captain Myers, on which was loadcd tkis
meat. and shipped to Kingston, jamaica,
and other West Indian ports AID sold at
the market price Of fresh bacon. ! made
every effort to ship as one Of he crew
II 1 n,ao
Of the crew, on the return 20 Jacksonville,
AFTER disposition had been made of the
cargo. told me that part Of this very
same meat was fed to the crew while on
the trip, and that II was perfectly whole
some. which disproves any statement
made TO the Department that it had been
condemned and was unfit for human
consumption.
During the time that the Tortugus was
on the trip. I overheard another CONVEX
sation between the same parties at the
OF profits each would derive from the
TRANSACTION.
CHARGES PRBFERRED.
shortly after my suspicious were con-
1irmed: charges were preferred to the
War Department against Major Ruthers.
but nothing was ever heard from the
Department-not even an acknowledge
ment. Therefore, after the charges had
been slumbering in the Department for
several months, 1 determined that would
apprise the War Department of this fla
grant and dishonest abuse q authority
and trust. in person. Accordingly came
to Washington and sought the counsel Of
a we1l-known public man. who, after
hearing my statement, offered to accom-
pany me TO the War Department and
rouch for my standing and credibility of
statement He did go with me to see
General Miles on December 18th. and he
in person handed General Miles chief
aide written specifications Of the charges
here substantially recited. Receiving no
FORMAL acknowledgment from the head
quarters Of the army. on December go
we called on the Secretary Of War. who
assured US that the charges would be
promptly and thoroughly investigated. In
this connection nothing was heard from
the Department until January. 22d, when
the Ad3utant-General of the army wrote
stating that the charges had been re-
ceived and referred TO the Secretary of
War for investigation
To the above statement Jay G. Holland
made artidayit as follows:
'Eity of Washington,
District OF Columbia. rs. Feb. 10, 1890
personally appeared before me. a No
tary Public in and for the DKtrict. afore-
SAID, Jay u. Holland. VINO, being duly
sworn according to the law, deposes and
says. that he is citizen of the State of
Florida. resident Of the city of Jackson
VILE: that during a part Of the war be-
tween the United States and Spain he
WAS special detective OF the Quarter
masters Department Of the United States
army. and that the statement made by
him to the Wa Department. In substance
is the same as that contained in IAN inter
view concerning the unlawful disposition
OF cornrnissary supplies: that the said in
terytew had been submitted to him, and
that the facts therein contained are true
JAY C. HOLLAND.
Witness. my hand and seal, this 10th
day OF February. A. D.. 1900
fSeaD HENRY w. REED,
Notary Public''
According TO the autobiography Of SEN
ntor ]. u. Taliaferro. of Florida, con-
tanned In the Congressional Directory, he
was. and is. Eice-president OF the C.-B.
Rogers Company. of Jacksonville, to
wnicn company reference Is made by
Holland in the above statement
Charter. Granted.
ALEXANDRIA,. VA. Feb. 14.-Special.-
Judge ]. r. M. Norton to-day granted n