Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06
KEMP LEADS DUAL LIFE
Examination of Accounts Shows
Bad State of Affairs.
DISCLOSURE OF SHORTAGE
Amount Of the Defalcation Not Yet
Ascertained.
THE REVELATIONS A SURPRISE
Missing Man Lost on Races and Was
Otherwise Involved-May Have
Committed Suicide.
THE REVELATIONS A SURPRISE

Committed Suicide.
Since the disappearance last Wednesday
of James Arthur Kemp, stated excu-
sively in yesterdays Star Maj Sylvester
has learned some surprising things about
the dual life OF his chief clerk during the
past year or more. The downfall of the
trusted clerk was a severe shock to Maj
Sylvester and other police officials. but
others connected with the department ex-
pressed surprise. They knew he had
been playing the races heavily and that
he had been in the habit of keeping COM
pany with disreputable women, but it was
not until after he had gone away that
they told what they knew about him. Even
when 1t became known that he had gone
It was difficult matter for Maj. Sylvester
to realize that the man who had been SO
closely connected with him for nearly twen-
ty-five years had gone wrong.
1T does not seem possible" said Maj.
Sylvester when he was told of the disap-
pearance of his chief clerk. He was al
ways attentive to his business, and l had
never had any suspicion that he was doing
anything wrong"
1t is declared that the first Maj Sylvester
knew OF the dereliction was when he met
Mrs. Flynn the widow of Policeman Michael
Flynn who committed suicide several weeks
ago. Mrs. Flynn wanted the death benefit
due her, which amounted to SS31, and had
experienced some difficulty in getting it,
On two occasions she had been told by the
chief clerk that all the money had not been
paid in and that she would have to wait.
He finally made an engagement for her to
meet him Wednesday at police headquarters
to get theNmoney.
Suspicion Aroused.
Mrs. Flynn called according to agreement
but the chief clerk had then disappeared
His desk was nTlen and he had sent word
that he would return later in the day. Maj.
Sylvester gave her d seat, but the circum-
stance excited the suspicion in his mind
that there was something wrong. He re-
NAMED al his office late that night and was
there early the next morning. He stll mad
confidence in his clerk, and hoped he would
report for duty yesterday morning.
Upon his failure to appear yesterday
morning Maj. Sylvester started investi-
cation, which soon assured him that there
was a defalcation. The books and property
were examined last night and today, but
this afternoon ii was stated at headquarters
that the exact amount of the shortage had
not been ascertained. Police officials sug-
Eested that it would probably amount to
between S4,UJU and $1,000, but others who
know of the habits of the missing man ex-
press the belief that it will reach $4,000 or
S12.UOp. 1t is also thought he borrowed
something like $4,000 from his friends in
this city and in Maryland.
Nominal Sum Mentioned.
Not until the completion of the investiga-
ton of the books and property by E B.
Hesse. private secretary to Maj. Sylvester,
and Policeman Houghlan, who is detailed
at headquarters a clerk. will the exact
amount of the defalcation be known. TIE
warrant that issued yesterday after
noon for the arrest of the alleged defaulter
alleges the misappropriation Of $1i22l De-
tective Frank Baur swore out the warrant.
The money alleged in the warrant is from
what is known the helmet fund. This
Is O OF
members of the force and is used for pay
ing fer hats and clothing damaged while
their owners are performing police duty
The larger sum and the money that is
likely to cause more trouble is that which
had been collected from the members Of the
force to settle death assessments.
II is stated that four such assessments
remain unpaid. They involve the deaths of
Capt. McCathran, ~ L. Schultzc a retired
policeman; Michael B. Flynn and Mrs. Will
hams. wife OF Capt. Williams of the first
precinct, aggregating about 81. 100 AS chief
clerk, II is stated, he had charge of the
fund for the detection and prevention of
crime and other funds, but to Just what
extent he manipulated them will not be
known until the completion of the investiga-
ton.
Money of Alleged Criminals.
What the police term the meanest thing
done by the chief clerk was the taking of
money that was held evidence of crime
Money taken from prisoners is placed in
quarters. and it is stated the abstraction of
this money may defeat the ends of Justice
In some cases In which persons are in Jail
or are out on bond awaiting trial. The
task OF going through these envelopes and
investigating their contents is a tedious
one; and may not be finished until next
week.
The several thousand dollars OF borrowed
money VIII not form part of the investiga-
ton that Is being made by the police That
money was obtained from the near friends
he oil. .l.FR
ness men and others having, II is stated
advanced him sums ranging from $50 to
80" Kemp gave notes for of the
money and had persons in the employ of
the police department indorse them Others
gave HIM money without taking any secur-
ity number of those from whom he
borrowed money are not inclined to make
an eIort 70 collect 1t, several of them hav-
Ing already volunteered TO assist in making
Up the-shoriaGe-
Easy" in Bookies' Hands.
There is not the slightest doubt about the
reasons back OF the embezzlement For
long time Kemp had been fond of the
races and. 1t is stated he was an easy
thing In the hands of the bookies on the
tracks and the handbook men in the city
HIS close friends knew he was fond of
playing the races, but only few of them
knew that he made a great many heavy
bets II was not an unusual thing for him
10 bet as much as 500 $500 In a day il
Is said, and he probably made but few
winnings. His friends feel certain that his
tIst alleged dishonest acts involved the
borrowing of small sums of money from the
Official funds. and that he lost heavily
on the races and increased els bills in other
directions he found II necessary to In
crease the sums he distracted from the Dis
tTlct funds
During the recent race meet at Pimlico
II is stated he went there and made a deS-
perats effort 10 get back some of the
thousands he had lost, betting large sums
long shots. but i'll luck pursued him
and he was not able TO win money enough
TO tide him over. 1t Is supposed he realized
that he lacked the money to pay the four
death assessments. having delayed their
payment as long as he could, and could not