Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-08-30
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
LyNClIBURG. AUGUST 30. 1919.
THE DENNY DEFALCATION.

Defalcaiions on the part of financial AGENTS
whether of the government or Of interpretations,
are not only the result of debased moral sense,
but by reflex action, tend still further, whenev-
er made known, to corrupt the public morals
Party zeal, or personal sympathy, leads the press
and individuals to speak, al first. of the crime in
the gentlest terms of circumlocution. To this
succeeds an exhibition OF extenuating circun-
stances, and the warmest eulogium upon the char
acter Of the culprt and, if possible resoutc as
sertlon of bis innocence. Should it appear that
he has not profted much himself, and that he
merely permitted Others to fitch the funds com.
mted to his care, paaon gives place to line
of defence which amounts, virtually, TO justi-
fcation. If rigorous measures are pursued to-
wards the offender, the cry Of persecution is set
up and, ten to one he is raised to the dignity Of
martyr. Through the operation of all these
causes, detalcation can scarcely be considered a
punishable offence. We can call TO mind, Just
now but single instance where public defaulter
has expiated his offence by an imprisonment of
even SIX months. As to bank robbery, if COM
mited by the officers, it is scarcely considered an
offence. AT any rate, it is an offence which,
through the bubbles OF lawyers and the good ma
ture OK Judge and jury, is never punished. A
gigantic aefalcation has ust been discovered in
the funds OF a bank in st. Louis, owing to the alb
slraction of money by the teller-a Mr. Childs
who stood remarkably high in the estimation
Of his fellowcitizens. The plundering has been
going on for some years. Mr.. Childs has been
arrested. He may groan at the idea of the sums
he will have TO pay to lawyers to defend him, or
perhaps at the amount of bail he will iorfeit-but
we venture TO say the apprehension of suffering
punishment, as felon, has not entered his head
In regard to the DENLY defocation it is appa-
rent that the course of the whole Democratic
press is well calculated to debase the moral sense
OF the people. Is there reader of the Union
who regards defalcation with that horror, which
the homiles of the Enquirer, against robbing the
public, were calculated to inspire when in 1929
DIR. Watkins case was discovered In fact the
exclusive readers of the Union may well disbe-
lIeve that any defalcation exists. II has pronoun.
ced Mr.. DENLY free from all blame, whatever
Indeed 1t attaches 10 guilt to any one. Yet there
is loss to the public of few dollars less than
Sl6O0 900, for which Mr. DENLY has confessed
judgment. How felony can be committed and
yet no one be guilty Of the crime, is beyond our
casuisry.
II will not be pretended that there was any
thing in MIR. DENLY appointment to take it out
of the operation of the Sub-Treasury act, and will
any one, with that act before him, and with the
knowledge of the facts now in possession of the
public. say that no felony committed ?
The Union talks fercely at the Republic and
asks whether it "dares" 10 charge any criminal
participation upon Mr.. Mason, or Mr.. Walker
The Republic replies that "when we make any
such charges it will be time enough to ask if we
dare to make them 1t then adds:
"But since he onion has dared us 10 charge variety
OF matter that we have not yet charged and shall moi
charge till the Opposition throw p move light on The
SUBJECT by the production of the rest of their Witnesses
we will make upa few issues for The considera of the
parties in interest. which 10 be material to proper
understanding Of the
]. We aver that from September, lS45 to September
1916, n. DENLY. temporary naval aeent of the United
States al Marsellles han balance of 900 in his
hands, and that during the whole period he did pay
single dollar for any vessel in the Mediterranean. Mr.
Mason commences his annual report of 1916 by stating
that slnce the last annual report naval force has been
maintained in The Mediterranean"
IL We aver that IN his account Of ptemper. 1917
Mr. DENLY admits that he had received, dun. the year
previous 100000, in addition t. the pended bal
ance, and that up to May 1913, the amount Of his pay
menls 10 the Mediterranean SOU ,don. Purser's equ
s'tlons was 16,000-eaving in his hands balance on
MAY !, 1913, of $685.
Ill. We aver that in October 1913, Mr. DENNY ac-
knowejged the receipt of 900 in drafts of $50
900 each, nothing on his account against hem-"both
,ch'ch recered no ddcice Of" We aver that from
May 10 November period Of six months. no farther
payments were made on account Of tho Mediterranean
squadron by Mr.. Dehhy excepting Purset's draft of
500 francs. We allege that MIR. Denby's account Of
November |. 1913. admits a balaoce due the United
States of $l5i,S72 So. 1t is admitted that as far as Mr.
DENLY is concerned this amount is total loss to the gov
eminent.
"Now. we should like TO know how il happened that.
at period when Mr. Dcn5y had an ed balance
OF $63 GOO in his hands further sum of 500 900 was
placed in the hands Of his agen Mr. Osborne to be haz
afded IN commercial specualnns2 How did il ha ppen
that MIR, DENLY. had Ia advice that ths $lO0 900 had
been placed in the hands of Mr. Osborne2 1t does seem
that II Mr. Denly. after all, who has been made the
dnpe in this matter"
The Union asks the Republic, on the other
hand:
Have not adequate sums been before drawn from the
treasury by The heads Of the Navy Department before
Judge Mason entered upon its admins and placed
al 'e disposal OF the agents of The government for the
payment of the squadrons the Mediterranean and else
where on foreign stations Is that practice now pur
sued by The present Secretary of the Navy Are not
our ioregn ministers paid in the same way Are not
large sums drawn from the treasury and paid the
bangs, or whoever else may be the agents of the gov
eminent for that purpose IRE not these sums used in
me" prirde business and they should fail, ,coud not
NE government lose by them Is there any other way
y which the oregn disbursements Of the government can
be con cniently made %
This query, however answered, virtually sur
renders the whole question at issue between the
wing press and the Union-for it is admitted, as
contended for by the former, that the Sub Treas
ury law was disregarded and violated by the very
men who forced it through Congress- and who
vaunted 1t as throwing safeguards around the
public money, which would render defalcation
impossible. The question,as to what Judge Ma
lnnf