The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-05-06
FORMER ADJUTANT GENERAL OF
WASHINGTON GUARD is AC.
cUsED OF EMBEzzLEMENT.
GOVERNOR TAKES ACTION
Investigation of Accounts of State
Military Official Leads to Belief That
He Has Appropriated to His Own
Use About $4,000 of Funds Belong
ing to the State.

| Olympia, Wash, May 4.-Ortis
Hamilton, formerly adjutant general
of the state of Washington, was ar
| rested at the door of Governor M e.
Hays office this afternoon on war
| rant charging embezzement of $1SS
from the state military fund This
action was taken at the instance of
Governor Hay, who had been inves-
tigating Hamiltons accounts for sew
eral months and who today summoned
Hamilton to his office and confronted
him with proof of his breach of trust
Hamilton collapsed and, it is said on
official authority, admitted the truth
of most of the charges against him.
He was locked up in the county jail
1t is said that Hamilton's shortage is
likely to reach $4,000.
Hamilton refused to talk, but it is
said on authority that he admitted to
the governor this morning that the
charges were true. Several months
ago an official investigation of the
sources Of Hamilton's income was be-
gun because he had been spending
money at a furious rate in company
with a young woman of Seattle. On
looking over Hamilton's ledger it was
found that single regiment Of state
militia had been supplied with more
than half a million shells at cost ex-
ceeding $4,000. During the two years
prior to Hamiltons incumbency of
the office Of adjutant general the state
had expended only s1,S00 for it's tar
get practice ammunition. War de-
partment officials at Washington, de-
clared that no such purchases had
been made from the government
arsenals as the books showed. The
forgeries for 1907 and 1908, so far as
discovered amount to $13,15S, most Of
the forged bills purporting to be from
Renicia, Cal, arsenal. Forged vouch-
ers for other supplies We're also found. |
Hamilton Removed.
AS soon as the investigation was
begun, Governor Hay removed Adju-
tant General Hamilton from office, but |
retained him in subordinate posi- |
ton in the department. Today Ham
ilton was confronted with the charges. |
The duty Of the governor, auditor |
and adjutant general as military |
board was to act in concert, both in |
ordering and auditing these funds. |
Hamilton inspired such confidence and |
good will in his associates that soon
after the appointment In 1906 he was
given the full powers of the
board. The only serious check on his
bills, receipts and vouchers was the
ink stamp of the governors
name affixed perfunctorily by the lat
.er's private secretary.
A Good Record.
Hamilton is SO years of age, the
ION of a wealthy farmer Of Whitman
county, and was educated in a mill
ary academy in Portland, Ore. He
vas married to Miss Mary Savage,
laughter Of a rich farmer Of Whit
nan county. When Hamilton became
ldjutant general, his reputation was
tainless. During the early part of
lis term he went east on national
'uard matters, gained wide acquaint-
nee among military and army officers
md was congratulated personally by
ecretary, now President Taft, for his
uccess In getting the United States
National Guard association to adopt
he proposal to place the militia di-
ectly under the presidents orders in
1me of emergency. He was captain
t Washington's crack shooting team, ]
hat went to Camp Perry in Ohio, in /,
9O7, and won fifth place in the field ,
I 45 competitors defeating several [
egular army teams and many of the {
rder of state guards. AS it was the I
cam stood but a few points short of Y
inning first place 7
Hamilton, himself, is an expert shot I
nd has a high individual score.
Dramatic Scene.
The scene at the governors office +.
as dramatic. Hamilton had been :
ent for and arrived in company with
dJutant General George Lamping, his
lccessor. The governor asked Ham r
ton to wait moment and sent for
ttorney General Bell. When Bell !
ame in the door was closed and
amilton was told his acts were
rong. He started to expostulate,
len leaned heavily back in his chair
I'd asked for proof. This was placed
efore him in the shape of alleged
rged vouchers affidavits and signed
atements that contradicted his re- u
'rt to the state government. He ad- y
1ted the truth of almost every u
large. II
While this conference was on, AS N
slant Attorney General McGill went 81
'fore Justice Giles and obtained a IL
arrant for Hamilton's arrest. This
as placed in the hands of Sheriff c.
aston, and that officer went at once b
the capitol The legislature last p
inter made an appropriation of $32,- "
0 to cover a deficiency in the mill
ry fund, Hamilton having over
avn his account to that extent.
amilton made statement to the
int appropriation committee that q,
is so satisfactory that the overdraft q,
Is speedily covered. re
Mead Makes Statement. q,
Bellingham Wash Nav str Nv, | er