New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-23
For the Tribune.
The Defaulier.
By ]. Il. -. y. R.lorn.a GanbIel

grsccd themselves aud brought reprOach upon their
families and friends. by the embe1zement Of funds
received in their official capacity Few months or even
weeks pass without tue attention OF the public being
called By the newspapers, to some new Of deisl
cation Il s also well known that among the number
of defsu'ters are found who. up to the time OF
dealcaion, have been regarded by the community as
proyerbia for their honesty Hence it has been asked
by many what could have been the OF
gross aud alarming in men hitherto decidedly and
emineniy upright This problem might be more
easily solved ii we could gain insight into the
.ions and circumstances by which the influences OF
cir were broughtto operate The crime committed In
our land can never he accounted for by speculs
tioa. Let US try to open few OF the msny courses
which lead 10 the commission of such hacraut outrases
of public justice.
During my Gambling career mad the curtain lifted
In many instances from such a scene. aud the whole
machinery. by which the result was brought about
clearly exposed to my view. have seen the most
sxiu At loss account tor the steahy msneuvers OF
rice / have seen prominent man become stu.
pendous deiaulter 20 Government by schemes aud
plots concocted aud brought to maturity by the very
persons who his securities Tor the faithful per
Torrance of the duties OF his office. Through their
fundamentally he received the appointment; and
through their base he became large deiaulter.
tie gentleman OF pleasant aspect very prcpos.
-e-sinr Ia he mannCrswh heart full OF grateful and
generous emotions lie receive his Office through the
special influence OF those whom ne believed to be- his
friends Immediately on bis appointment five OF the
persons Uhere were eight in alb formed compact tor
the purpose of plgckng from him not his salary alone,
but tine denOst his Office and his private estate
{ was a Gambler At that time and was thought by his
friends shrcwd enough 10 the back art o. have the
secret opened 10 me, in order that ! might play my
part Ia the matter, b 10 should be necessary Another
part wa assigned 20 Lottery dealer number OF
parts were be sustained by fashionable LqHo Sci.
Ter Everything proceeded In perfect order Tor several
weeks The Official became possessed OF large amounts
OF money Parties now introduced balls. wine
pares card parties IN short every species OF social
amusement The L0itery scheme was failure he re-
fused to touch Il but he was fond OF vine and partial
10 the game of Brag which he played sufficiently
well to--lOsC But be played on without suspicion
never acknowledging himself 10 be inferior 10 the
Brag" players, with whom h. commended The party
several times with alternate winnings and losses
on the part of the officer.
At this uncture Of the business there happenea along
one oi his acQuantances upon Official business winch,
be stated was very urgent and required the immediate
attention OF the officer The business was transacted
aud the acquaintance only awaited the arrival oi the
stsaner. 90 bear him away from his friend during
this interval he invited 10 take hand az the now
fayOrt. game of Brag whicn be declined dong, stat
I'M d., his reason for declining that he might miss the
boat Immediately one OF the party assured him thai
hi. servant should stand watch for the bOst Tie thereon
consented to play. The game uegan win -nnsu oet
ting The cards ran lnw. The stranger lost several
small bragg" the officer winning and II the same
time taniaizing him ia gentle way, saying he could
not play Brsg"-wss It his fayOrite game and
other remarks OF similar kind The servant now
gave the intelligence Of boat approaching lie settled
tue came being about $500 minus As be was about
70 depart the olce-holder invited him to take glass
with him before parting They shook hands snd ne
departed for the boat but % his apparent astonsntnr
ne boat had pIss,d He Immediately returned 10 the
room. whore he found the party It'll at table Die
was welcomed hy the winner, who assured him ne did
not wish him III luck but that his company was 70
agreeable he hoped he would not get Oh for week
~ which his acquaintance replied (rue assertion
evil make you pay dear for IT,
small 4 bet OF hfty dollars was made by the Once
holder and his v-iter which would win the hrst nity
dosE Brag.' twas then proposed By the other play
that each player put up one hundred and tnf the
man who won the first nifty dollar bet take the whole
Thi. proposition was accepted and the cards dealt
The yiser sat the nrsi man 10 the eit OF the dealer
The ofce.holder second 20 the left Before raisng
his three cards he .ignied he in Tor the ante the
bot which required IN all Brtg games to be- put up be
fore the cards deat The others passed out without
betting The dealer asked thc ANTE man u ne "aneu
.rv more c.rdsi He said he wished two. They were
served The same question was put 10 the oihceh0der
He took two At the same time remNking, you shall
no, have any advantage ot me ~ 10 numbers" he
hands I'll led each Two % Bullets ana brsggsr Inc
siter be nity dollars which bet would enable him 10
win the whole amount sta<ed By the party gprovidns
he won) The officer bet him one thousand dollars BET
ter The stranger bet him nine thousand better The
former wout have declined but was urged oy MS sup
posed friends 10 call The money was 'taked-ne lost
The game grew desperate. Fivepersons generally play
the game OF Bragg The Office holder nad Tour against
nino any of which were FAR his superiors he rose
the loser " tWenryeisht thousand dollars he became
80 drunk that they carried him helpless 70 MS bed
TIE risier took boat me SAND Day.
When the former made sensible Of MS losses ne
wont and .sid he was ruined and dlsgraced man. I'M
less ne could have immediate essstance-that Govern.
meut hsd drawn upon him Tor large amount ana tnai
ne knew not where he 10 receive assistance can
tel YOU said a security have the amount at your dis
possl OF course the offer was accepted. Ia lew
days after this affair smother step was taken toward ms
min He required an assistant as book keeper.
Gentleman in appearance was introduced a. good a.
countaut He was employed. False entries were
made causing the books 70 balance Ia less taan one
wear be was defaulter 10 ten tunes more than tne
sulpuuf of his bond. tie was displaced. lie applru %
,bo.s in whom he had placed much confidence Tor
assistance that he mightn time y possible redeem M
credit aud regain bis Standing His friends consulted
BIZ themselves and came % the conclusion mat u YOU'D
b. best % prevail him % % 10 Idds- ~nere tney
nron,.ed him aid 40 that time Texas as lighting Tor
Ter fnIep.nfsnce with Mexico They persuaded MIN
10 offer Biz services q the Texan Government tie GA
"a exoectipg through the aid Of his trictN IN the
STATS 10 be enabled % head large force. The time
arrived but be waited long Ia vain for the promised
means. Time passed on-ae gre" sl-A anl H,3ie 80
AZ the hope deferred and opportunity lost 10 assist
snre no means arrived Becoming no" aDspuiriy
desperate b. abandoned himself 10 excessive dfnNins
During ii Of ntoxcstioa, he joined scouting party
and III, for the frontier and be taken prisoner ana
nut 70 death By the Mexcans The supposed ified' Oh
the unfor.unate man knew well
The caal risH and the pretended delay ~ the leaY
ing Of the boat 10 needless 70 say nAf been arran yea
by the men be supposed his best friends and the very
ter.ou. who were on his bond as his security % Gov
ernmeu; They mutually did their best T. Keep ineir
victim and his relatives and real friends free from al
su.u.cou Of their abominahle vilany st09i PSeons
Is he phrase BY which this class Of persons Is desis
mated Il = absolutely impossible % imagine anything
more uneauvocaIy and meanly villanous u un-tes
uerfect hypocrsy the wOr,t form Of rapacy-a "a
oscifv which under the name and gui-e OF friendship
bur rs clutches in the bosom Of IL victim JET mere
have those engaged IA these practices "no snoad
be-psy who are shove al suspicion. have often had
connection with men who wete apparently above sus
melon Of the most trivial act OF dishonesty and YET
would condesceud % the nnesnest arts OF deception
II We could truly ascertain the causes Of the bankrupt
&c. in our country should discover that taey are
so, al chargeabe % utsfiOnssnt misorrsnes 10 tra1e
nor extravsgant outlay have known men N good CIR
cum.tances and standing made bankrupt. IN single
ni,ht have known the same persons adding perjury
tof cir weakness and crimes swear that they mad been
feloniog.v robbed Others have cut out their own
rocets after losing their mOney-scme committed Tor
Serv and even arson % conceal their guilty practices
ms /, not an uncommon thing The young man or
novice who frsquenis gambling houses or associates
with rambers has always az his elboF l,hough he
knows j. not or though be may even feel assured OF
the conrr4ry) some stroll pigeon HIS only safety -
total a5sfiHsnce from al gdrles Of chGHcs This all ex
nerence TEACHES And the who would refuse 10