The Washington times., 1901-08-18
ULTERIOR PLANS ALLEGED.
Wirepulling Said to Be Back of
Mr.. Shepard's Dismissal.
The Ex-Chief Clerk of the Patent Of
fee Claims His Entire Innocence
of the Charge Made Against Him
missioner Aliens Statement.

The summary dismissal yesterday of
Edward V. Shepard, Chief Clerk of the
Patent Office, because of the alleged dis
appearance of 1895 placed in his custody
on August s, has caused considerable COM
ment among the clerks of the Patent Of
fee. 1t was whispered about that Mr..
Shepard was made the victim of circum-
stances, as several Of the committee
who made the investigation are said to
have expressed an opinion condemning
Mr.. Shepard before he had appeared to
answer the charge that had been prefer
red. IL was also said that several of the
committee of investigation would be in
line of promotion by reason of the chief
clerks removal.
After Mr.. Shepard had been discharged.
F. J. Allen, the Commissioner of Patents,
made the following statement concern
ing the case:
while / was absent on my vacation.
Mr. Moore, the Assistant Commissioner of
Patents. was informed by Mr.. Mortimer,
chief of the mail room, that the latter
had discovered that an old safe in his
office contained some funds which had ac-
cumulated in the Patent Office by reason
OF the fact that after they had been for
warded to the senders they found their
way back TO the Patent Office, because
the senders could not be located. These
funds were contained in envelopes and
bore the names of the persons who should
have received them. The envelopes bore
dates indicating that the moneys had
been accommodating at the Patent Office
for eleven years.
Immediately upon learning that the
funds were in the old safe, Mr.. Moore
called several clerks into his Office and an
enquiry into the matter was begun. The
Acting Commissioner wrote to me advis-
ing me OF the discovery and requesting
that return to Washington. ! came back
here August 8, when Mr.. Moore explained
the situation TO me. On August Z, by my
direction, committee counted the funds
in the safe. and next morning they were
delivered TO Mr.. Shepard the chief clerk.
who was instructed TO turn them over to
+. u. Shoat, financial clerk of the office
AT the close of business on the after
noon of that day the chief clerk reported
that he had delivered The money to Mr.
Shoat. and that the latter had placed II
In his safe. The next evening the COM
mittee that had counted the money the
day before again counted it 1t was
learned that ssyo5 was missing. 1 then
began an investigation in order TO learn
what had become OF the missing funds
and was forced by the character OF the
evidence disclosed to the conclusion that
It had been taken by Mr.. Shepard. 1,
therefore. recommended his dismissal
and he has been discharged"
According to a statement made yester-
day by Mr.. Shepard, the safe with the
envelopes alleged to contain the money
was turned over to him on the morning OF
August by Mr.. Mortimer The latter
said there were envelopes in the safe
and that money was in them, but Cad not
etate the amount Of money nor the num-
Der Of envelopes. The safe. which was an
old fashioned one that locked with a key,
was put In a small room adjoining the
one occupied By the chief clerk Mr.
Shepard stated that he opened the safe
and looked at the contents. He locked II
and placed the key In his desk. Several
times during the day he was out of his
room. he said. and il was possible for
come one to havs tempered with the safe
during the brief pes!od he was absent
in the evening before the office closed
he took the bundle OF envelopes and
turned them over to Mr.. Sloat, the finan-
c1al clerk. and requested him u list them