The Washington times., 1907-05-27

purchased in lakewood Cemetery at
Falls Church. The services at the grave
were short and simple, in accordance
with the wishes of the family. Putnam
| has Tine children. most Of them resid-
| ing in different portions Of Fairfax
county. Two sons. Edward and VIII
| Putnam. are employed in Washington.
while two smaller ones are in the Wash
/ ington city Orphan Asylum. In speak
/ ing Of his fathers deed yesterday after
| noon, one Of the sons told Of his many
peculiar actions recently. indicating that
/ along some lines he was mentally I'M
/ balanced. He felt exceedingly bitter
! toward the Government on account Of
] the loss Of his position, which he held
/ for about eight years, being dismissed
a little over two years ago.
Started Investigations.
/ He will be well remembered by vari-
| GUS employees I'm the engineering division
Of the Wa- Department as havinS been
/ the instigator OF enc OF more invCsuga-
| tons held against several employees
/ there. charging drunkenness and non
! performance Of duties, his charges, in
the main. being proven unfounded. In
1 going through the dead mans papers
| yesterday afternoon members of the
! family found hundreds of copies Of let
| T.
! the House Of representatives., and other
] officials, demanding that various de-
] partments be investigated. His con-
/ slant complaints against fellOw-em-
ployes. and his suPeriors, are under
stood TO have Seen the cause Of his dis
| missal. At one time a f-llOw-wOrkman
| received a promotion which Putnam did
not think he deserved, and he refused
| TO obey his orders. endeavOrIng 10 take
! charge OF the subordinate employees
! himself. and issuing a number OF orders.
| Baird RepIimanded PIN.
In 1900 he was transferred to another
portion OF the War Department build
ing on account Of friction between him
self and his co-workers, Admiral Baird.
then superintendent, informing him that
his complaints were distastcful and that
he would be discharged forthwith were
IL not through sympathv for his de-
and reinstated on several occasions, in
| different departments, being finally dis
missed in October. 1904. After protesting
10 various officials, Putnam addressed
| a letter 70 President Roosevelt in Jan
uary, 1915, in which he made wholesale
| charges against Superintendent Baird
| office. Extracts from his letter 10 the
President are as follows.
| Il have the honor 20 request YOU tC
have the Office OF the superintendent OF
the State, War and Navy Department
!
ness from the engineer down 20 the
laborers."
Charges of Graft.
He then informs the President that
various employees have taken chairs
, from the building for use in their Owl
homes, that the labOrers have beer
hired out and the money pocketed 10y
{ their superiors. that the weigher o
t coal had been bribed by the contractor
{ with boxes of cigars and had permitte,
: short weight that there had been i'm
) proper promotions, and various irregu
larities
e The letter then continues:
Now, Mr.. President. / am the fathe
!. Of fourteen children. nine of whom ar
: living. I have buried three wives. ont
e four years ago with consumption; wa
] sick three years and six months Short
ly after I had one of my little girls xii
d herself I married again. and in July
: 1904, my house was struck by hghtnin
s and my wife killed, and everything
: had Destroyed lifetime's savings.
u have three small chillren. l have Ia
no education; brought up in the SOutf
where a poor boy had no chance of az
curing an education
Condition of His Mind.
Il This is but one of many similar letter
e found in the dead mans trunk an
z which the neighbors state plainly ind
h cate the condition of his mind. OF lat
h years il is said he has become so dis
y agreeable that one by one of his Chi
dren have found il necessary to Ieav
- home and he was left alone with nj
n sorrows and fancied injuries until h
~ persuaded Mrs. Beavers and children I
n come and take charge of the farm.
! The woman's refusal to become hi