October 7, 1861 — A Dishonest Scoundrel

Lieut. Col. Hawley, of one of the Connecticut regiments, has fallen in with one of the scoundrels, “a Massachusetts fellow,” who has been using his office of quartermaster as a source of dishonest profit. He belongs to a cavalry regiment. In a letter to the Hartford Press, Col. Hawley says; — “He draws from the department lull rations of corned beef for his men, and by either selling it and purchasing, or exchanging it for fresh beef, he contrives to pocket out of the difference about $40 per day, in defiance of the regulations. He offered to give one of our captains one of the horses in his charge, saying that he would make return of it to government as having died. He sold a bill of lumber and stuff to one of the Connecticut officers for $13, and offered to give a receipt tor $33, in the name of citizen, that the government might be defrauded out of $20. It is since ascertained that the goods came from a private house in the vicinity. He boasts that he can make $100 per day, and says ‘they all make all they can.’ The facts have been laid before quartermaster general Meigs, with responsible names and references.” He is evidently a liar as well as a thief. Let all such “Massachusetts fellows” walk the plank.

Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA

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