The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-19

Manila, April ia court-martial has
Deen and will meet tomorrow
10 try Lieutenant Frederick Boyer,
who is charged with embezzlement of
commissary stores. Captain Frederick
j. Barrows, of the Thirtieth volunteer
infantry, who was arrested under sim
liar charges. will be tried later.
A civilian named Fletcher, accused
of unlawful conversion of commissary
stores, will be tried by the provost
court tomorrow.
Speaking of the commissary scandals.
a prominent army officer said to the
representative of the Associated Press
that he had every reason to believe that
Colonel Woodruff, head of the subsis-
tence department at Manila, was not
implicated. He said that Colonel
Woodruff was one of the ablest men in
h service and that his honesty was
unquestioned. He asserted that Colo
mel Woodruff was ignorant of the fact
hat Harold NJ. Pitt, manager of Evans
& Co., the army contractors, was leas-
ing him the house in which he lived for
much less rental than Pitt had paid
therefor. Upon discovering this Colo
mel Woodruff Immediately vacated the
house. -
Pitt is alleged to have said that Cap
tain Read, of the commissary depart
ment, deceived Colonel Woodruff, who
thought Captain Read to be thorough
ly honest. The Irregularities in COM
missary matters were first attributed
to Captain Reads unfamiliarity with
commissary work. Colonel Woodruff
wa reluctant TO believe that frauds
were being perpetrated, but the facts
disclosed caused him to give Captain
Read a most severe reprimand and to
begin an investigation which may in
volve, according to the prominent army
officer previously referred to, the ex-
animation of Captain Davis, who was
the depot commissary before Captain
Read, but who was sent home on sick
cave.
Washington, April 16.-Secretary
Root today cabled General Macarthur
for additional information concerning
reports of frauds in Manila. 1t is ex-
pected that a reply will be received to-
morrow. While definite instructions
have not been given General MacArth-
ur heretofore to make a searching n
complete investigation. it is understood
hat the requests for information were
of a character to imply that the de-
partment expected such al investiga-
ton SHOULD be made. Nothing definite
mas Deen received ITOIn GSDSTdl MAJ
Arthur about the alleged frauds, al
though reference has been made to the
investigation i'll cablegramS received.
The first dispatch on the subject from
Genera Macarthur said there had been
eXaggeration in the press reports, but
the persistence with which the reports
have been reiterated and the news dis
patch today giving names and specific
mounts have indicated to the depart
ment officials that perhaps General
Macarthur was not advised fully when
he made his first report. 1t can be
stated that the department intends to
have all the information possible on
the subject and General Macarthur
will be expected to push the trials and
make a complete report of any and all
wrong doing.
Major George B. Davis, whose name
is mentioned in the dispatch from Ma
Mia as being credited upon the books
of Evans & Co., as having received
81. 900, is in washington. To an Associ-
ated Press reporter he would say moth
ing. when asked if he desired to reply
to the assertion. He was called upon
by the war department., however, for
an explanation and to an officer said
that he knew nothing about the mat
ter. He was closely questioned and
said that he never had any money from
the firm of contractors mentioned: had
not borrowed any and could not ex-
plain why there should have been any
charge made. Although he is in this
country on sick leave he will return to
Manila and if the matter is not cleared
Up when he arrives there, will demand
a court of inquiry.
Evans. of the firm of Evans & Co, IS
known to some army officers in Wash
ington. He was in this country a
short time ago and may be in New
York. if he has not returned to Manila
It is not known whether he is an Eng
lishman. an American or a Canadian
He was from Niagara. though from
which side of the river is not known.
At the commiSary department Gen
eraI Weston spoke of his subordinate
Colonel woodruff, III the highest terms
He said:
< Colonel Woodruff always has borne
the highest reputation in the army a:
q splendid officer and thorough hon
est man.. There might be opportunities
for small frauds in a great depot sucl
as that at Manila. but there woul'
have to be collision among the officer
and the sergeant in charge II fraud
were carried on to any great extent
1t depends largely upon the honesty o
the Commissary in charge to proven
any wrong doing. and he would be yer
likely to know if there was anythin
crooked going on in a large way"
Colonel Woodruff has made auuslon
to the arrest of the commiSsary ser
geant in kilograms to General weston
but nothing like a report has bee
made by him.