Evening star., 1901-06-13
Gen. Shafter Thinks Soldiers Sold
Their Clothes to Dealers
FIRM ARRESTED In FRISCO
He Points Out How They Could
Get the Supplies.
NO LOSS TO GOVERNMENT

the alleged extensive frauds in disposing
OF military supplies supposed to have been
stolen, General Shafter said:
am OF the opinion that the goods
found by the police were purchased from
the soldiers passing in and out of this
port More than 10000 men have passed
through this port during the war. If one
man in every ten of these soldiers sold to
dealers a pair of shoes 600 pairs would thus
De placed IN the hands of outsiders The
same rule applies to shirts and blankets
Notwithstanding the fact that those
having government property wrongfuly in
their possession can be prosecuted on a
charge of felony and given a sentence of
from one to five years confinement, there
are plenty Of men willing to take the
chance. The goods are first-class and can
be purchased from the soldiers at a ridicu-
louSly low figure
Soldiers can be prevented from selling
the stuff In disposing of it they leave
themselves short. The officer who issues
10 man inquiries as to the quantity of
good ne has in his possession. If the Of
ncer thinks he is amply supplied he refuses
TO issue the goods the soldier asks for In
this manner the enlisted man is prevented
from drawing more than he needs.
Exposing Petty Thieving.
In my opinion the police and federal au-
thorltles are exposing a system of petty
thieving Owing to the large number of
men these petty dealers have had oppor-
tunity to deal with their thievery has
grown to larger proportions than it other
wise would
The military authorities have now moth
ing to do with the affair other than the
seizure of government goods found in the
possession of civilians, the possession of
which cannot be satisfactorily accounted
ha datn t;<,, Il
dealers rests with the civil and federal au-.
thorities, and l hope they make a success
of It,
so far as crookedness existing among
army ofhcers is concerned, candidy, l do
not believe there is any
The published statement to the effect
that a large quantity of army supplies has
been found in certain warehouse. the To-
cation of which was not given, has not as
yet been substantiated by any subsequent
developments"
Thinks Government Was Robbed
Capt Seymour Of the local detective
force, who Is assisting the federal grand
jury, said: The government has unaues-
t!onaply been robbed for a long time past,
and 1 believe the amount of the losses sus-
tanned by Uncle Sam through the treach-
cry and dishonesty of some of his army
officers and others will reach into the hun
dreds of thousands of dollars"
For months past the various stores about
the city have been exhibiting signs, Gov
ernment goods for sale here" and adyer-
tisements have even been placed in the
daily newspapers.
AS late as this morning the following ad
Vertisement appeared:
WANTED-10 600 men to wear government
shoes. 81 pair.
Inspector Maus and a number of local
detectives began some days ago the inves-
tigation which resulted in the arrest Of
Abrams and his son George for buyine
and selling government supplies. Their ex-
animation has been set for next Tuesday
afternoon. Their bail was fixed at $1,000.
Both Abrams and his son deny the charge
but a secondhand dealer Jacob Stevler,
stated that Abrams sold him twenty pairs
of army shoes.
Three big wagon loads of goods have al
ready 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..
Other Frauds Suspected.
From statement made recently 1t would
appear that the frauds were not confined
to clothing and shoes alone. 1t was stated
that upon an investigation of the supplies
furnished for the army horses it was found
that the 'rake-off' some people secured
amounted to 100000 pounds of grain. The
army officials are now making every ef-
fort to learn who profited by this extensive
fraud.
Late yesterday afternoon Capt Seymour
stated that the government officers had
discovered large quantities of goods stolen
from the government. The goods were
stored in warehouse south of Market
street The property consisted of all kinds
or military supplies. Capt. Seymour would
not give the address Of the warehouse