The National tribune., 1901-01-03
A LAMENTABLE TRAGEDY.
A Veteran Clerk Kills the Chief Whom He
Thought Had Grieyously Wronged Him,
and Then HIMSELF

| A leader among the spirited. manly
boys of Steubenville, o., in 1861, was
Samuel Mcdonald, q fine-looking, gener
ous-hearted, brave, lovable fellow, the sou
of honor, and the companion of the Nc
! Cook boys and others of that stamp. He
was among the very first to enlist at the
| firing upon Fort Sumter, and was one
| of those that helped to make the fame OF
| the I'd Ohio, but he had his right hand
| shattered by musket ball, received q
! commission in the Veteran Reserve Corps
and was Il Second Lieutenant IN the 10Th
| V. r. G.. when the war closed. Then he
| was given an appointment III the Treas
| ury Department, made most excellent
| clerk, and was promoted to the position
of Disbursing Officer of the Second Aud
itor's office. He held this for many years,
and there was 10 better or more efficient
employee in the Governments service. He
was universally liked by his SuperiOrs and
subOrdinates, and popular with wide
circle outside of office. He was true to all
his relations in life, and supported and
educated two brothers, one of whom is
now a popular singer with the BOstonlans,
and the other a successful engineer, and
a sister who is happily married.
Things went on as well with him as
with any Government employee, until
Mr.. +. III. Morris, of Cleveland, o., was
appointed Second Auditor. Mr.. Morris
was q man, of whom there have been
many in official life, as well as elsewhere,
who mistake harsbness and suspicion for
discipline, and who are eaten up with
desire to make n record" without much
nicely as to the means of doing it. lie
had previously been Third Auditor, where
he succeeded in making himself very I'M
popular, but made n showing of a great
amount of work done, though it is claimed
that a large amount of this had to be
the Second Auditors office, and again
there were proclamations of the amount
accomplished, and again it was alleged
that this was done by skimming over and
taking the easier cases, and leaving the
others to gather dust, and be handled by
some future Auditor. The claims arising
out of the recent Spanish war were taken
up and disposed Of, to the neglect Of those
of the rebellion. On the strength of this
showing he made an unsuccessful effort
to be appointed Superintendent of the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing. His
manners toward the clerks were such as
caused him to be cordially disliked by
every man in the office.
From the first he seemed to take a dis
like to Mcdonald, and wanted to get rid
of him. He, discovered that Mcdonald
was i'll the habit OF, making advances to
the clerks, against payday, and putting
slips among his cash to represent these.
Morris went to Mcdonald, represented
that he was in temporary need of 500,
got the amount, and then reported Nc
Donald to the Secretary. Finally, when
Mcdonald went on to Philadelphia to at
tend the National Encampment, Morris
caused an examination of his safe and ac-
counts. When Mcdonald returned he was
confronted with the charge that his &C
counts were $1,000 short, of which $500
was represented by these slips. McDon-
sid was dumfouuded at the disappear
ance of the remaining 5000, and finally
said that he must have left the safe door
open and somebody stolen it. Upon this
n charge of rcarelessness in leaving his
safe door open was preferred against him.
He made the 5000 good, but was removed
from his position, and subsequently given
a clerkship in the Sixth Auditors Office
at 81 400 n year. Subsequently it was
claimed that the 5000 was found and re-
turned to him. Mcdonald brooded much
over the charge of shortage in his ac-
counts" which was very CALLING to SEN
sitive man, after n lifetime of absolute
honesty and correctness. He also believed
that Morris was still pursuing him. This
SO wrought upon him that he decided to
make an end to both Morris and himself.
He prepared very carefully for this. He
went around, paid up all his small debts,
visited a number OF his friends, closed his
accounts with the Government, provided
himself with a revolver, and on the af-
ternOon Of Monday, Dec. %, entered Aud
itOr MOrris's private office. What passed
between the two is not exactly known.
Mcdonald drew his revolver and fired.
Morris tried to escape into the next room,
but Mcdonald caught him, forced him
back, and fired two more shots, which