The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1903-12-18
ScATHING REPORT OF INVESTl-
GATORS, MESSRS. CONRAD
AND BONAPARTE.
NUMBER OF PERSONS ARE SCORED
PERRY HEATH, CHARLES EMORY
SMITH AND CAPTAIN CAS-
TIE CRITICISED.

Washington Dec. 1S-"No improper
official act on the part of any public
ofticia, or employe is alleged which
did not occur more than three years
before July II, 1908, and as all possi-
BILE prosecutions are barred we are led
therefore to interpret our instructions
10 report on these matters from a
legal standpoint in a broader sense
than we might otherwise venture to
ascribe to them, and understand that
our views are desired as to the legal
propriety of the official action dis
closed and not merely whether it may
or may not have been criminal"
With this statement Messrs. Conrad
and Bonaparte begin their report on
the charges made by S. w. Tullocn,
formerly cashier of the Washington
city postoffice against the administra-
tion of that Office.
Continuing, the report says the Tul-
loch charges have never been, prop
erly speaking, investigated at all. nor
have the accused officials. particularly
Perry Heath made satisfactory replies
to them. Concerning Heath the report
says
"The reasonable. inference to be
drawn from Mr. Heaths failure
To Meet Fully and Explicitly
accusations which, as Postmaster Gen
eral Payne very justly admonished
him. charged him with many acts of
doubtful propriety added to the facts
appearing from the evidence laid be-
fore us. obliges us TO say that at least
a prma facie case is presented OF
willful and reckless disregard by the
late first assistant postmaster general
OF bligations imposed on him by the
regulations of his own department as
well as by the statutes Of the United
States and We feel il our duty to add
that suspicion of his personal integrity
must be inevitably aroused in our
judgment by an impartial consldera-
tion of the facts submitted 10 US and
of his plainly inadequate explana-
items"
Heath and George w. Beavers are
charged with direct responsibility for
improper appointments and fraudulent
disbursement of funds, both TO them
selves and others. including an allow
ance to George w. Beavers of Sl.14S
''for expenses in assisting special at
torneys in the court of claims" al
lowed by Captain Castle.
Former Postmaster General Smith
and Captain Castle. auditor for the
postoficc department, are accused OF
negligence in failing to put stop TO
these transactions.
Bristow Adds Another Chapter.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Bristow, in addition to the mat
ters made public in his report some
time ago, presents evidence showing
that former Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Heath ordered pneumatic cancel
ing machines installed in the depart
ment without reference to their mer-
its.
Edward s Allen, now clerk at the
Cleveland co. postoffice, testified that
reports he made on the merits OF the
Hampden canceling machines were
not satisfactory TO First Assistant
Postmaster General Heath. and said
that he was plainly advised that ii
was Mr.. Heath's desire that these ma
chimes he installed and the desire OF
Mr.. Beavers land the general that
he do less talking derogatory to the
machine He says he was forewarned
of this by his brother. then chief clerk
to the first assistant postmaster gen
eral, and thereafter. Allen testified. he
simply installed machines and refrain
ed from any comment The machines
proved worthless.
The report says that II. c. Truesdell
Of nghampton. n Y. of the canceling
machine company. told inspectors that
before the order of June 30. 1900, was
given for 100 Doremus canceling ma
chimes, 200 shares t$20,000 WORTH of
the stock of the company was trans
ferred to First Assistant Postmaster
General Heath. Heath promising TO