Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-13

The Lord Mayor. Arc all those parcels OF notes
allow "a TO lie loose on desA hat every clerk
ia he hoase ma, have opportunity OF taking
vvha; he pleases:
The witness replied in the affirmative. The parcels
were placed OF lie desk, each of,hem tied up, but
ever, one ia. The house might get at them. Some
times thej were loose.
The Lord Mayor. Then partner does not dis
tribute the parcels 10 the several clerks, and say,
" Here are so many for you, and notes OF such an
amount 10 you:''
The witness answered. in the negative. Each per-
went to the desk and got his rticular parcel.
The Lord Mayor said, this appeared to him to
be an odd way OF doing business, and he thought i,
exhibited wan, of due caution.
Mr. Hobler said, it was presumed that every
clerk honest, and would execute his
business properly. Besides, at plight balance was
struck, and any deficiency that might occur
sure to be detected. The clerks accountable for
he deficiency, and are obliged to pay it amongst
them.
The lord Mayor, said, that though the dehcien-
cy might be detected the offender not; and what
grievou thing it must be, for a whole body OF
clerks TO be placed under suspicion. In this very
| case he understood two clerks who were now
proved to be innocent had been suspected
| Mr. Hober, said, the opportunity would still
remain to the dishonest of stealing from the clerks
themselves
The Lord Mayor said, that at all events the ia
cility might be diminished by the adoption of diff
ferent system.
Evidence was given ofthe identity Of one of the
notes found In the place the prisoner pointed out
The lord Mayor inquired what the prisoners
salary was,
We understood Mr. nigham, the managing
clerk, WHO replied TO the question, to say that 1t
was 70k per annum, inc eased iel. by Christmas
box, which he got from the customers of the
house.
His lordshp made some further inquiries, which
we could not hear.
The fact is il has been manifest in several recent
cases, where bankers have been robbed by their
| servant, that the parsimonious payment given TO
the respectable young who engaged
clerks occasions the most dangerous temptation.
n middle-aged and very respectable man, WHO
| had served in a bankiig-house in the city,
4 short time ago brought up charge having
enlbezZled some small sums oil money, amounting
altogether 10 PSI, the property of his employer;
but after The first examination, in which the case
was not fully teredinto, the prosecution not
persevered in; ard il was rumored that the house
v as absolutely ashamed 10 persevere. The person
charged had been years in their service,
and during all that period up the commission OF
the offence lie was charged with, his conduc had
been regular and praisev orihy, and yet his salary
amounted to little than tn: y shillipgs a eek
or the wages OF carman or ordinary mechanic
| lie had large family, and 10 support il he en-
barked in some business which involved him. To
meet the embarrassment he made OF small bill,
with the intention, it is believed, of replacing it,
The deficiency in his accounts was however, dis
| covered before he could effect his purpose. The
bankers IN general give no more than about thirty
shlngsa week to their Junior clerks, who are uni
iormly iaken from respectable rank in life end
who are obliged to give sureties for their good be-
| haviour to the amount of s000L They are COM
PEELED to maintain respectable appearance, TO do
which, the sum they are able TO put by of this
miserable pt,ance, is by no means sufficient
Findi g that those around them, who are not whit
! superior IN intellectual attainments are making
fortunes by jobbing, they are tempted 10 speculate
IN the funds; they become embarrassed and appro-
priate TO their temporary deficiencies the monies
entrusted to them. The proof that the bankers
clerks make use of the property of their employers
generally with the intention of replacing it is that
in almost all cases they lay their hands upon very
small sums. There is one of those clerks
who has not constantly in his power the sum
iO,O0Ot. and il frequently happens that man who
Is obliged TO live In style superior to that of .
cober, has in his pocket no les than 80 O0OL with
which it would not be difficult for him to absco d.
The proof tina; the circumstances in which Junior
clerks are placed demoralzins, is that nearly
who are badly paid. and that at Messrs Couits and
o., Messrs. Curtis and Co., and third house, the
name of which has escaped US, where more Judi
| cious and liberal is pursued, defalcations
| rarely occur.
In the present instance, the prisoner pleaded
| that he was driven by distress TO commit the Of
fence: and he house, therefore, as we are inform
ed, consented to prosecute him for stealing no
more than one note. The house is one OF the most
| ODulput and ~ ia - IL, ,Ia
no less than 0Ok per day, and often exceed 500,
exclusive OF the great sums made in loans. 1t is
the persuasion OF the principal officers of the City
Police that they can never be in want of EMPLOY
ment so long salaries given inadequate 10 the
| trust Ieposed. The public will have TO maintain
those as coavicts who would in all probability,
have lived honestlyif they had not been led into
strong temptation.
Mr. Hobler having stated, that some further evil
dence was to be brought forward previously to
committal, the prisoner was sent back 10 the Comp
ter, and will be committed on Eridav