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134 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
the traitors, having been found guilty, were whipped and drummed out
of the service. One of them, Shannon by name, afterwards committed
murder at Fort Argyle. He was brought to Savannah and there tried,
condemned and executed. Oglethorpe was extremely mortified at be
holding this treacherous element, exceedingly small though it was, in
his regiment, and used prompt measures for its extirpation. *
Accompanied by Capt. Hugh Mackay, Oglethorpe, on October 8th,
set out in an open boat for Savannah, where he was greeted at the land
ing by a deputation of magistrates and saluted by the militia under
arms and by the cannon from the fort. Tomo-chi-chi was also on hand
to greet him, having arisen from a sick bed for this purpose. There were
stopping at the old mico 's house at this time, several Greek Indian chiefs
who were in Savannah to congratulate him upon his safe return and
to offer allegiance to the king. On the night of Oglethorpe's arrival
bonfires were kindled in Savannah, and there was a great demonstration
of rejoicing."
But Oglethorpe returned none too soon. Trouble was already brew
ing. On account of financial embarrassments under which the trust
was laboring at this time, it had been necessary for the founder to draw
largely upon his private means in conducting operations on the south
ern frontier. But he had not desisted from his labors on this account.
To .explain these difficulties of finance, Thomas Causton, keeper of the
public stores and first magistrate at Savannah, had plunged the colony
into debt. There were strong reasons for believing that he had misap
propriated funds, aggregating perhaps as much as £13,000 sterling, t
for the improvement of his plantation at Ockstead where he maintained
himself in a style unapproaehed by any of his neighbors. Complaints
had been made to the trustees of Causton's conduct while Oglethorpe was
still in England. Moreover, the corporation had been distrustful of the
storekeeper's integrity for some time. On June 7, 1738, the common
council had sealed the removal of Mr. Causton as first bailiff and had
in his room appointed Mr. Henry Parker. To examine into the store
keeper's accounts, Mr. Thomas Jones was appointed, with instructions
to make a rigid investigation. At the_same time Causton's arrest was
ordered and directions given to seize his books and papers. Oglethorpe,
on his arrival in Savannah, brought these documents. Causton, igno
rant of what was coming, appeared at the head of the magistrates to
welcome Oglethorpe on his return from Frederica. But he was not
long kept in the dark. Some of the charges which the grand jury in
Savannah had preferred against him were as follows: that he had
expended much larger sums than were authorized by the trustees; that
he had brought the colony into debt; that he had exceeded his powers;
that he was tyrannical, arbitrary and oppressive in the discharge of
his duties as an officer; that he was partial in the distribution of the
public stores; that he had rendered the other magistrates subservient
to his will. On October 18, 1738, Causton was dismissed from office
as keeper of the public stores and required to deliver into the hands
of Mr. Jones all books, papers and accounts connected with his office
* Ibid., p. 264.
t Letter from Harman Verelst, accountant, Westminster, June 2, 1738, Colonial
Becords.