Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27

|
| of $75136S represented an embezze.rsns
| that 1t was first selected the basis fer
| the issuance of the warrant of arrest but
| fortunately this purpose was not carried
! out. and there was chosen instead the item
| of SSOO9 which is believed to have been a
| wholly manufactured voucher. which l
| never saw, with corresponding check
| bearing forged Endorsement. Where
| would stand in the estimation of the pub
| lie today If. with inconsiderate haste, /
had caused WatSons arrest upon this
charge and had afterward been compelled
to acknowledge that l had erred? To ask
| such question. with the roar of the storm
| of undeserved criticism which has beaten
| upon me with such merciless fury still
| ringing in my ears, is to answer IL to the
satisfaction of every fair minded man. wo-
/ man and child in the District of Columbia.
ON the Thursday or Friday night be-
| fore the one on which the investigation
was completed called at the Watson resi-
dence and met Mrs Watson, together with
her father, Gen. Bryant. 1 opened the in
| telview by saying that l had reason to
believe that Watson had been robbing the
District. Mrs. Watson appeared as If ready
| to swoon with the shock of a terrible
| surprise and was supported by her father.
Continuing, 1 stated that 1T was impossible
u tell whether the amount was $4,000.
$4,000 or $4,000, as, although he was in
| attendance at the office, he claimed to be
| unable to throw any light upon the IN
Vestigation, but that 1 was convinced a
| crime had been committed by him. and az
soon as l could establish the fact beyond
| controversy by actual, incontestable fig
| ures l would, as in duty bound, report i'm
medfately to the Commissioners. Mean
| time, l suggested if they We're able and
| willing to make restitution of the stolen
| money which belonged to individual citizens
OF Washington. at thought of whose loss
| l was sorely distressed, / would advise the
| Commissioners to that effect concurrently
with my report upon the ascertained short
| age Mrs. Watson. leaning upon the bosom
| or her father In a state of almost total
| collapse, pleaded with him to make up
| the deficiency, whatever 1t might be- Gen
| Bryant responded that his business affairs
were in such shape that he could not speak
definitely but would do what he could
| provided Watson were not arrested. / told
! him / had no authority to promise any,
| thing, as the matter would rest with the
Commissioners, to whom | must report inn
medlateIy upon the aScertainment of the
|. facts.
Monday night, June 8, at 1O:15 O'clock
as already stated, the experts completed
their work and announced the result: and
on Tuesday morning. June 9, al 10 o. clock
l sought audience with Commissioner Mac
farland for the purpose of reporting the
embeZZlement.
"A prominent citizen was cIoseted with
him in private conference. while with i'll
concealed Impotence, l awaited my turn
to enter.
Finally, l said to Secretary Hibbs:
" I cannot wait. You must interrupt Mr.
mcfarland and tell him my business II
too urgent to be delayed
Before this message could be delivered.
Commissioner Vests messenger appeared
with request for my presence in his Of
fee.
Il repaired thither Immediately and was
met, as / entered, with the remark: One
has to go from home to hear the news
followed by the query: What is this about
Watson?
Il replied: I was just on my way to tell
you, after first acquainting Commissioner
Mcfarland. Watson has robbed the gov
eminent of large amount
Said he: How much: $75,OOO?'
Il rejoined: About that sum, but I
thought it was not known outside of my
office
why, said he 1t is common talk in all
the newspaper offices, and it is strange you
did not tell u.s.
II said: L did not know the facts myself
| until after 10 o'clock last night
1T subsequently developed that Watson.
a day or two before had confessed to his
father. who told his official superior in the
weather bureau, through whom it finally
reached the Commissioners before II was in
my power to make my report to them.
The Auditors Apparent Delay.
Il do not wonder, In a matter of such
great Importance, that the public await
with impatient anxiety my report upon the
embezzlement, but my critics, 1 am sure,
will cease to censure when 1 say that 1
have scarcely had idle hour from the
morning of the fateful 9th of June to that
In which I write. Frequent calls from the
Commissioners for explanation and the
direction of the investigation. which is stiII
going forward, so occupied my time from
early morning until late at night that L
could not enter upon preparation of my
statement until the evening of Friday, the
10Th instant. From that time until the
present moment have labored unremitting-
ly, even to the extent of violating the rule
of lifetime by working from o'clock
IN. to 10 O'Clock pm. on Sunday, the 2lst
instant. Some of the delay is due to the
fact that had intended to present. in COM
plete detail, the figures which were only
summarized in my report of the amount of
the shortage, but find that this will oc-
cupy days. possibly weeks, longer. and 1
must, therefore beg your Indulgence for
Offering now only the history of Watson's
crime with the promise that at the earliest
possible moment full, carefully prepared
and accurate statement of the shortage will
be submitted
The Auditor as Discussing officer.
THE following extract is quoted from
the Washington Post. June IL. 1903:
1T was never before known to Commits
sioner West until the recent developments
that any money whatsoever was handled in
the Office of the auditor. He was of the
impression, like many others that the
auditors Office merely passed vouchers and
accounts and kept lookout upon the ex-
penditures of the various District depart
ments.
This statement has led some to believe
that the funds used for making cash pay
ments through this office were obtained In
some surreptitious or improper manner
without the knowledge of the Commission
ers. This impression is entirely erroneous.
as every dollar expended by the auditor
was advanced upon a regular requisition.
copy of the first one signed by Commits
sioner West following herewith:
"Office of the Auditor,
District of Columbia,
washington, d. c., October 30, 1902.
ITO the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia.
"Gentlemen: have the honor to state
that the sum of 5000 is required for dis
bursement on account of the permit fund.
"A. TWEEDALE
"Acting Auditor. District of Columbia
1.-THE collector, District of Columbia. will
please pay the amount of the above requi-
sition to the auditor. d. c.
H. B. F. MCFARLAND,
'HENRY L. WEST,
Commissioners District of Columbia.
+ Received of the collector, District Of
Continued on Eighth Page.J