The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-07-14

0oing to the SprlnBs Gan ues0 VIC DA'f"
ssnt TO them for any length of time they
may desire -
RAILROAD DEFALCATIoNS.
6T6s New York Herald, referring to the
fact which has recently come to light that
Mr.. Tuckerman, the Treasurer of the Esst-
ern Railroad in Vermont, has been engaged
in systematic course Of embezzlement Tor
the last ten years, and has from first TO last
helped himself, according to his own conies-
sion, to 5000. 900, says that the announce
ment does not appear to have created mucn
excitement. The Herald thinks that Schuy-
Ter debauched the public taste, SO that altef
a swindle of two millions, it cannot relish .
small matter like couple of hundred thou
sands. IA financial villain" says the Her
aid, SIS nobody nowadays, unless he has
robbed enough to build city. STILL When
each of us individually tries to realize tue
sam of money called two hundred Thousand
dollars ii appears large. 1t would De q
handsome fortune for four families, com
potency for eight or ten. 1t would support
four thousand families of mechanics for
year-that is to say, it would give Bread
meat, clothing and shelter to sixteen thou
sand persons for twelve months. sum not
to be despised. Again, how was it made upf
Experience shows that the average of invest
ments in railway stocks is something Ike
O., $780, When a small merchant or pro-
fessional man or farmer has saved from
two to three thousand dollars, he buys few
shares of stock or two or three bonds. MANY
do not wait to amass 80 much, but invest
their money when they have only saved
thousand or 80. But including large opera
tors who take twenty thousand at time, the
average will be found not to vary far from
$4,000. In most cases these investments are
the whole or principal part of the accumu'
lations of years. In this light, it may be said
that Mr.. Tuckerman has stript eighty fami-
lies, accustomed to live comfortably, Of their
savings"
The Herald expresses the general opinion
when it says that the man who acts thus
commits a crime compared to which the
deeds of the pkkpocket are venial. Yet the
fellow who steals fifty dollars always receives
justice, Notwithstanding he may have been
reared amid evil associations from his era.
die, or tempted to theft by the strong pres
sure of want, whilst the gentleman-(is not
every man of wealth in this country gen.
Aeman?)-who plumbers to the amount OF
fifty thousand. or two hundred thousand, or
two millions, almost always manages, in one
way or other, to escape the strong arm of
the law. In aristocratic old Britain, they
hang noble for d crime as quickly as pie
beian but to twist the neck of one of our
mushroom gentry, or send him to the peni-
Tertiary, would be horrible sacrilege! Nay,
after they have feathered their nests, and es-
capped the vulgar clutches of the law, they
appeal to public sympathy, like Schuyler,
the New York plunderer, and Meiggs, the
California thief, who are plaintively repre-
senting themselves in recent publications as
sick of body and weak of mind We dare
say there are good many of their poor vic
Tins who are sick of body and weak of mind,
but being ordinary, honest folk, they need
not expect anybody to have pity On them.
The Herald, in the following extract, hints
at startling state of things in New York,
but one which may be expected when there
is such an eager rush for wealth and such
long impunity extended to crime:
-Tuckerman has confessed what other men In the
like position still conceal There are officers OF
public companies and corporations In this Slate
who, II the truth were known would be found 10
be defaulters 10 far larger sum than Tuckermap.
aud whore explosion when 1t takes place will stand
ooIy second to that of Schuyler. The work has
been going on long. 1t has defed investigating
committees, and researches by directors For the
fraud has been done skilfully, and no one will
know of II TIL the rascal rob more, and with
compunctious word and deprecatory tone he begs
pardon of the men he has deepoiled of their So.
Wigs. This lie not the case with one or with two
concerns. II 10, we are morally persuaded, the
csse with more than majority of the existing
railway companies True, 1t will be said that
their affairs have been examined SO were those
of the Eastern Railroad. True, the fraud must
hsve been spread over long period of time to be
robbery ton years The public may depend upon
1t that half our great roads, and more than half
those IN the West in the same condition as the
+ astern road OF Massachusetts. These very lines
will be read by men With white checks, aud quick
eniug pulse, whose guilty hearts will quake at the
very mention OF fraud for they know that they,
too are public robbers, end that the day must come
when all will know Ii.