Sunday Washington globe., 1902-06-22

Rechtin?
About a week previous to the discovery
of the shortage in Henry Rechtiu s accounts
as disbursing officer Of the Department Of
Justice, Comrade Jack Cook the famous boy
cannoneer Of Gettysburg and Antietam. and
the editor Of the GLOBE made call at that
department to see their friend and acquaiu
tance of almost forty years, the unfortunate
Henry Rechtin
The GLOBE editor had not seen Mr.. Rech-
tin since 1873 when we left Cincinnati for
Columbus with Governor Bishop as state
printer but on entering his Office with Cone
rade Cook we instantly recognized each
other and mutual good wishes we're ex-
changed Both Comrade Cook and the
editor having some business to transact
with the disbursiug clerk and their old
friend William Il. Pugh formerly high
official under Cleveland's administration
and brother Of the late Senator Pugh Of
Ohio. was called in to witness our sigma
lures in the legal paper drawn up.
Thus four old Cincinnatians having met
together we discussed various matters
among others the fact that MI Rechtiu held
over under the Mckinley and Roosevelt ad-
ministrations purely on his merit on which
fact he was heartily congratulated by all
three. Mr. Rechtin outlined the duties Of
his position in very interesting manner,
stating among other things that he paid
every official OF the Department of Justice
from the Supreme Court judges to the
deputy marshal in Texas who refused any
salary and was serving Uncle Sam for
nothing on account of the experience the
position gave him.
Mr.. Rechtin, however, explained that
Uncle Sam acceUts nobody s services gratis
and hence the deputy marshal was paid
salary Of one dollar per annum which he
had so far failed to draw. He stated that
his disbursements averaged over three
million dollars per annum and so perfect
was the system in the disbursing depart
ment that he had yet to find an error ex-
ceeding a cent
Reference was made by one of the party
to Barrows, the late unfortunate discussing
clerk of the Census Office, and Mr. Rechtiu
commented on the fact that ii required a
determination which should never under
anv condition be violated not to touch
penny of the government funds under ones
care, and that if misfortunes such as illness
or death required it, the officer had better
borrow from the ten per centers than TO
borrow for even a single night dollar from
Uncle Sans treasury.
1t was a subject of comment, the con-
sciousness Of Mr.. Rechtin in swearing the
three to the legal paper referred to- in his
capacity as notary public. He required a
full compliance with the matters set forth
in the paper, such as testifying the number
of years we knew each other and the read
ing of the entire paper to the with esses
swearing to the signature. This was ex-
planned to us by Mr. Cook when we left the
building He said that lit was life habit
of Mr. Rechtin's 20 have everything just so,
and that he was conscientious almost to the
point of being crank.
We came away impressed with the fact
that here was one subordinate officer of the
government holding down a responsible pO-
sition who would never fail in his duty to
Uncle Sam, and that the government money
entrusted to him was as safe as in the vaults
of the treasury itself.
Imagine the surprise which Mr.. Rechtiu
gave his friends, among others the three
mentioned, when on Thursday last he vol
unfairly confessed to Attorney General
Knox that he was .s8 900 short in his ac-
counts and that he had used the money in
fast living. Mr.. Rechtin to his Cincinnati
friends and acquaiutauces, such as those
mentioned, always exhibited a very quiet
and sober exterior, and he was the last man
they would suspect Of fast living or of me-
glecting the duties of his religion which
was supposed to keep him in the straight
road of rectitude and horror.
But Mr. Rechtiu is not telling the truth
when he says that high living caused his
downfall. Neither high living drinking nor
gambling caused his fall He never has
been a drinking man. gambler or sport. He
lived as plain as a mechanic and his income
from salary and notary's fees was about
three thousand dollars per annum. His
father died few years ago and left snug
estate in which Henry shafes. His sisters
run the leading millinery stores in Cinciu-
natl. His mother is still living at So years
Of age and has property. The Rechtin
family, as stated, is highly respected in Ciu-
cinnau. and all its members well to do.
Henry Rechtin is the victim of a woman or
He has fallen before their machi-
aud we would not at all be sur
prsed to learn that he has been ruined by
the enforcement of blackmail His char.
lcter is an exceedingly timid one, he never
wagered a dollar in his life, aud he rarely
ever touched liquor He was the soul Of
honor and a most devoted member Of his
church. His fall has been accomplished by
women, and, as stated, we predict if the
truth becomes known that it will be dis
covered one or more Of the sex not ouly got
All Of Henry's savings but the money he Is
short in his accounts. The fall Of Henry
Rechtin makes us almost lose all faith ia
human nature. He Is the Eastman we would
pick to betray his trust.