The evening world., 1911-12-13
DY|NG,PENN|LESS,
He OWES S248,544
: TO UNITED STATES
F. j. Kieckhoefer, Once Pop
olar in Washington, Was
Sued for Irregularities
NOTHING TO PAY DEBT.
Fifteen Years an Invalid, He
Has Been Supported by
Wife and Daughters.

Francis J. KIeckhoefer. once the friend
ny. now pennilcss and hourly n danger
Of death. was not told to-day that the
United States Government had obtained
. judgment of $751; A against him for
irregularities In his office when he was
Chief OF the Bureau OF Accounts In the
State Department sixteen years ago.
Racked with locomotor ataxia. from
which he has been a sufferer for fifteen
years. Kieckhoefer has received the last
rites OF his church and awaits the End.
His wife n three daughters. who have
maintained the home at No. SO West
Y1nety-sixth street, have kept the
trouble from him. Their sole wish is
that his death may be peaceful.
Tho Judgment obtained yesterday Ia
The . Of suit brought IN the Federal
Court here and nays Kieckhoefer must
ny II he car. The Government officers
know we'll that no cannot produce the
smallest fraction of the amount. But
the Law ays collection must be made
from him II possible. or. II not. from the
bondsmen.
For a numbe OF years he was in the
State Department and rose 20 the posi-
to Of Chief OF the Bureau of Ac-
counts. 30 placed he was able 20 do
favors for many men. State Depart
meut accounts had been allowed q large
margin Of i~iberality. There was q con-
;lnsent fund Of $4,000 for the e~xpendi-
ture Of which no vouchers were re-
CURED. with It the President n Sec
rotary OF State might buy whistles, Sc
crets Of other Governments. or pay the
household expenses of impscunious rep
resentatives abroad.
There was generally trouble over the
accounts Of Ministers and Consuls.
Seldom would their accounts balance.
The bookkeeping was lax. Not all the
! advances made to Ministers were cred.
tied 70 them. The lack Of system bat
been the bane Of every man who heit
Ne Office OF Chief OF the bureau o.
Accounts. Kie,khoefer's predecessor
oot Into trouble ten years before.
kisckhoefer's own trouble came In
ioe when Richard Olney was Secretary
of State. An auditor was placed m his
books n large discrepancies wers
found! Then he and his assistant. Ed.
ward Haywood. were removed. kleck
hoefer was rres;ed and accused of en-
bssziing 81. i65. In the case before tn,
court yesterday n amount was sc
At Sl27,5t. and this with interest oI
SIN 900 brought the total UP to ssis.5ii
NEVER BROUGHT TO TRIAL IN
CASE.
Kleckhoefer was never brought I
trial. 1t was the general opinion whel
he was arrested that Kieckhoefer wa
not morally guilty. He had been tn
victtn, like others, Of lax b~ookkeepin
and his desire 10 favor Government Of
ficers in need.
But the shock left him broken 1
spirit. lie became moody n me
ancholy. Then his Illness came upo
him q ear later. Since that time. hi
wife sale to-day. he a earned onl
es6. that for writing AN article. II
vas no longer able TO max any fgf
10 lift the debt and 30 began I'll
struggle of the wife n daughters.
Mrs. Kieckhoefer was seen by a
Evening World reporter In her hon
on West Ninety-Exth street. which
maintained by the daughters under Il
supervision Of the mother. In the pa
ior the furniture was Of the old al
best make.
"You are looking at the relies OF o
d~scency." aid Mrs. Kieckhoefer. ''Tn
parlor set belonged to my grandmoths
She was an Ernest OF Baltimore. y,
know. When ! was married I want
things fresh n new. but n friend to
me 10 keep the old parlor set"
Mrs.. Ktsckhoefer was In Leipsic, G,
many. hen news reached her OF h
husbands trouble. She had taken /