Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-12-29
T9ee stortlp:I y GeIter,..
FIAT JUSTITIA.
BY r. 8. ARTHUR.

r. 49," =" II
firm voice and steady eye. .4.,oa
Crime is often committed under the pres
sure of great temptation. In a moment of
weakness, the unhappy subject Of evil allure
ment faIls,s said the person with whom the
gentleman was in conversation. s.s-nl rss,.
Alltrue, replied.AIr. Elkington all We
ry true. But every act has its slegitimate con-
sequence and we wrong society, and the in
dividual wrong-doer himself, whenever we
seek to interrupt so wisely ordained a rela-
ton. If a man steals from me, he is thief.
For theft, the law ordains punishment and
hold it to be every mans duty to give up the
thief to justice, if in his power to do soa The
progress of crime is arrested thereby, and so
ciety guarded from future depredations.'
This is stating the case very generally
But general principles are never Of equal ap-
plication. There are collateral considerations
in every case, which may not be disregarded
without wrong to the individual. And we
may assume it as an undoubted truth, that in
doing wrong to an individual. we wrong the
body of which that individual is member
There is a great deal of false philanthropy,
as well as of false Judgment, excused by this
argument based on exceptions to general
rules said Mr.. Elkington, with an air of self
satisfaction, For my part, believe that
more harm is done in the end by admitting the
exceptions, than could possibly arise from an
invariably stringent application of the rule
The man who steals, knows that he is violat-
ing law of both God and his fellow. The
statute of his country says, that for such an
evil act he must suffer the penalty of impris-
onment. Let, then, the penalty be made, so
sure, that escape becomes next to moral i'm
possibility. Let every one who becomes cog
infant of an act of stealing, give up the often
der TO speedy justice. For my part painful
as the necessity might be, | would not stand
between Justice and my own son, were he to
become an offender The stern old Roman
father has left an example Of answering JUS
tice that Christians would do well to initiate ;
= The time may come when you will think
little differently said the friend when
collateral influences will have sufficient weight
to interpose an exception to your stringent gem
eral rule
'We1l see,' returned Mr. Ellington, conf
IDENTIFY, as the two men separated.
A few days after this conversation took
place, Mr.. ELLINGTON, who was a merchant,
was rather surprised TO receive notification
that he had overdrawn his bank account more
than two thousand dollars. -.-a .r .s. ..,. .n.
Altogether a mistake said he to himself,
as he opened his desk, in order to take there
from his bank book. But the bank book was
not in the usual place. After tumbling over
some papers hurriedly, to see if it were not
concealed beneath them, he turned 10 one of
his clerks and said -..- t. -.s ..r..a..
Where is James!'
He, hasn't been to the store this morning,
sir t,-
Whyl Is he sick .
Il cannot tell, sir. He made no complaint
Of indisposition on leaving the store last eve
ning'
1t was on the lip of Mr. Ellington to say,
in doubtful tone of voice:
'There's something wrong > but checking
the utterance thereof, he took his hat and left
the store. A little while afterwards he pre-
sented himself at the counter Of the bank where
he kept his deposits, and asked the ook-keep-
er to oblige him by turning to his account.
Il see no credit here for two thousand dol
lars, deposited yesterday said Mr. Elking-
ton.
did you make such a deposit1' = asked the
book-keeper.
Il certainly did /; or, at least, intended to
make it,
The blotter of the receiving teller was re-
ferred to, but no credit OF the sum mentioned
was found thereon.
what does your bank book say. inquired
the teller. t
Il can't find it, said Mr. ELLINGTON, in
some confusion and perplexity of manner
It has been overlaid, in or upon my desk -
But know the deposit was made' -.'
'The bank book will settle the matter at
once, remarked the teller. r4y5i rsviI sdf
4 don't like the look Of this at all, said
Mr. Ellington to himself, as he went hurried
ly back to his store. James absent; the
bank book not to be found and no memoran-
dunn of two thousand dollar deposit made
yesterday, standing to my credit What can
it mean! Surely that young man has not
robbed me! He cannot be SO base. But if
he has rr rr. h-r aa. rn-7.7r
How stern and hard instantly became the
countenance of the merchant.
If he has, woe be unto him! / will track
his steps with quick justice; the un-
grateful wretch =
1t was alas quite as bad as the merchant
had suspected. James Craig, young man
In his twentieth year, whose character hither-
to had stood above suspicion, in an evil hour
had yielded to temptation, and become the
base robber Of his employer. But hardly was
the deed done beyond the possibility of avoid
ing exposure. ere the dishonesty was bitterly
repented. His first act after appropriating
two thousand dollars instead of depositing the
sum in the bank, was to leave the city in the
earliest train of cars for the South. In Balti-
more he took lodgings in an obscure tavern,
where he hid himself away from observation,
hoDinO IN ronnain ooncoalnd until tho frS+