APPENDIX A. 369 



when he took up the management of the chest, would have 

 been liable to considerable diminution ; but when questioned 

 by the court Lieutenant Hodson had only a general idea 

 that something of the above nature had occurred. He was, 

 however, conscious that he had made no direct disburse- 

 ments from the various funds for which he was considered 

 liable ; and under these circumstances I can easily conceive 

 that his replies appeared uncertain and unsatisfactory — a 

 confidence expressed with apparently no demonstrable 

 ground to support it. 



44. The eighth point is the one I have alluded to as not 

 admitting of perfectly satisfactory explanation. Claims on 

 the chest appear to have been numerous, and though many 

 of them were unimportant, and many others not claims at 

 all, it is impossible to resist the impression that Lieutenant 

 Hodson was in the habit of keeping men who had claims on 

 the chest waiting a long time without examining their cases 

 and clearing accounts with them. It is the prevailing 

 impression which I cannot resist ; for I cannot think the 

 idea fully borne out by an examination of the cases con- 

 tained in your letter. No. 188, of the 7th of December, to 

 the address of the major-general commanding the Peshawar 

 Division, and those mentioned before the court of inquiry. 

 I have read through the whole of these cases, and wish to 

 notice particularly the following heads : — 



45. Out of (64) sixty-four cases in all that were brought 

 to the notice of the court, I find that seven were claims for 

 balances of half-mounting deductions ; thirteen were on 

 account of sums due either to individuals or Government, as 

 estates of deceased or deserted men ; thirteen were cases of 

 fines, civil and military; six of pay forfeited and due to 

 Government; and, lastly, only nine were claims by in- 

 dividuals for arrears of current pay or deductions therefrom, 

 which is the point to which I wish particularly to draw 

 attention. 



46. The cases of half-mounting balances were peculiar. 

 Lieutenant Hodson stated before the court that with one 

 exception the claimants had never made application to him 



2 A 



