The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-13
SAN FRANCISCO NOW
GOVERNMENT ROBBERY ON A
LARGE SCALE THERE.
SHAFTER IS INVESTIGATING.
STORES ADVERTISED GOVERNMENT
GOODS FOR SALE.

The Robbery Hns Evidently Been
Going ON for Long Time, and
Seems TO Have Been Apparent TO
Everybody but the Government
0Gicers-LOsses May Reach Hun
dreds of fThousands-Federa Grand
Jury Is Investigating Matters
San Francisco. June 12,-Gen. Shafter
and Col Maus, inspector general of the
department of California. and the federal
grand jury are investigating the many re-
ports of fraud committed in the commits
sary branch of the army service in this
city. That the reports seem to be based
on something more substantial than idle
rumors is evidenced by the disclosures
following the arrest of Lewis Abrams &
Sons, dealers in secondhand clothing.
The extent of the alleged frauds has not
been determined, and there is a diversity
of opinion on the subject.
Capt. Seymour of the local detective
force, who is assisting the federal grand
jury, said to-day:
''rhe government has mquestionably
been robbed for a long time past. and I
believe the amount of the losses sustain
ed by Uncle Sam through the treachery
and dishonesty of some of his army Off
GERS and others, will reach into the hun
dreds of thousands of dollars.
The Federal grand jury has the mat
ter of prosecution in it's hands, and the
secret service men are doing its bidding.
the police merely rendering assistance
when such is found necessary and is
called for. l believe that arrests will be
made, probably by the Federal officers,
that will startle the community
Maj. Gen. Shafter said the matter had
not been fully investigated, but admitted
the thefts of clothing have been going
en-. He claimed there was no shortage IN
any department. however.
For months past the various stores
about the city have been exhibiting signs:
Government Goods for Sale Here" and
advertisements even have been placed in
the daily newspapers.
4 Newspaper Advertisement.
AS late as this morning the following
advertisement appeared:
"WANTED-100 900 men to wear govern
ment shoes. 81 a pair"
Inspector Maus and a number of local
detectives began some days ago the in
vestigation which resulted in the arrest
of Abrams and his son George for buying
and selling government supplies Their
examination has been set for next Tues
day afternoon. Their bail was fixed at
s., 900. Both Abrams and his son deny the
charge, but a second hand dealer, Jacob
Stevler, stated that Abrams sold him
twenty pairs of army shoes.
Three big wagon loads of goods have
already been taken to the hall OF justice,
and in every instance the men from whom
they were seized have admitted buying
the goods from Abrams and his son. From
d statement made to-day it would appear
that the frauds were not confined to
clothing and shoes. 1t was stated that
upon investigation of the supplies fur
nished for the army horses, it was found
that the rake off, some people secured
amounted to 100000 pounds of grain.
Te army officials are now making every
effort to learn who profted by this ex-
tensive fraud.
Late this afternoon Capt Seymour stat
ed that tine government officers had dis
covered large quantities of goods stolen
from the government. The goods were
stored in a warehouse south of Market
street. The property consisted of all kinds
of military supplies. Capt. Seymour would
i i.