The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-06-06
Florida Postmaster. Called on to
Make Good Funds Misap-
prOpriated by Clerk.
TRAMMELL GETS
ACTION ON BILL
Case of Interest From Wakulla
County Is Aired in
Senate.
Washington Bureau
The Pensacoia journal
BY GEORGE II. MANNING.

WASHINGTON, d. c., June 5.-Ths
Senate has passed the bill to relieve
the estate of Thomas h Hall, deceas-
ed, late postmaster at Panacea, Wakul-
la county, Florida, of the payment of
s544.73 which was misappropriated by
a clerk in the ofHce.
Senator Park Trammell of Florida.
reported the bill back favorabIy from
the Committee on Claims, last Friday.
and obtained unanimous consent for
its immediate passage
In an explanation he made to the
Senate regarding the bill, Senator
Trammel said the money was taken by
man named Knapp, when the post
ONCE department and permitted to
act as clerk. while Halls resignation
was pending.
Mr.. Hall was postmaster at Pana-
cea, Wakulla county. Florida, little
summer resort said Senator Tram
NELL. He had a hotel there and it
was leased to a man named Knapp
Mr.. Knapp was the assistant post
master. In December. 1911, Mr.. Hall,
who was at that time absent from
home, was advised that there was a
shortage of $213 in the post office at
Panacea. He Immediately returned
home and checked it up and found
that il was correct and paid the S213
His health being bad. and being origin
ally from Boston. he wanted to seek
treatment in Zoston, where his former
home was. So he set about to resign
as postmaster. He did resign as post
master and was advised January 4.
1912, that his resignation had been ac-
cepted.
"A man by the name of McLaurin
uary 90, 1912, Mr.. McLaurin advised
Mr.. Hall that he had executed his
bond and had signed all the appoint
ment papers and had mailed them to
the Postmaster General. Thereupon
Mr.. Hall, who was really in bad physi-
cal health. left and went to Boston
for treatment presuming he had been
relieved and his resignation had been
accepted, as he had been advised
through his then Congressman, Mr.
Mays, from that district Mr. McLau-
rim advised him that he had qualified
But it seems that Mr.. Knapp. the as
sistant postmaster. who really had
been guilty of this defalcation had
evidently withheld the papers and not
forwarded them to Washington.
Some eight or ten months subse-
quent 10 that time Mr.. Hall, then in
Boston in a critical condition was
advised that when the accounts of the
post office for the quarter ending June
80, 1912,w audited there was a
shortage of about $1,000. He imme-
diately wired that he had not been
postmaster since January and was
then too i'll to come to Washington So
his wife came here and investigated
the matter. Mr.. Knapp was then up
on the suggestion of Mr.. Hall, arrested
and while he was out on bond he paid
some 800 of the shortage and reduced
it to five hundred and forty-odd dol
lars
The matter has been before both
the Senate and House committee and
has E4een favorably recommended in
each astance. the position being that
Mr.. Hall. in all good faith. thought he
was relieved fgrom responsibility. and
the peculiar circumstances arose on
account Of the rascality and dishonesty
Of the man who really was in charge
of the post Office and withheld the
mail"