Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-11-29
wedding, last month, by getting furiously
drunk, and they were found dead next
day, each with whisky bottle in hand.
Remarkable Charge by Judge
Shipman. ~

Remarkable Charge by Judge
ShipInan.
! Judge Shipman of the United States
District Court, in making his charge to the
Grand Jury, in Hartford, on Wednesday,
dwelt strongly on the growing evil of the
"inhuence of wealth" and of social and
religious UNCONVENTIONAL influence" in
shielding criminals from the penalties Of
the law. which fell on the poor and friend
less with all severity, while the respecta-
bly, situated forger or embezzler, who robs
the bank from behind the counter, while he
is entrusted with its property, is shielded
in all possible ways, and loo seldom re-
ceived punishment. The Judge said:
alt is quite time that law was enacted
declaring every officer, director, or stock
holder of bank, who has knowledge that
a fraud has been committed upon it and
fails TO make immediate complaint to the
officers Of the law, an accessory after the
fact, punishable by fine andimprisonment.'
Continuing, he remarked that (" the posi-
ton Of the active officers of bank, who
are daily employed in conducting its affairs,
is one of peculiar responsibility. They
are entrusted not only with the property
of the opulent, who are able to bear losses,
and who have usually potent voice in
selecting these officers, but they control the
interests of the small stockholders--of
widows and orphans, whose sole means of
support are often the small savings Of a
life of industry and self.denial, carefully
invested by those who have passed away
as security against want for friends who
have shared their affection and been de-
pendent on their care" off a
miserable vender of counterfeit currency
passes spurious note at a bank and is de-
tected, he is at once handed over to the
officer of the law. If the bold robber
seizes package of bills from its counter
or messenger, he is Immediately arrested,
if possible, and brought to justice. Shall
it be said that an officer of bank who
commits, with GOODNESS and deIiberation,
long series of crimes, the smallest of
which is more fragrant than counterfeiting
or ordinary theft. may, when he can pur-
sue his guilty vocation no longer with se-
cresy and success, assemble his partial
friends, make his confession and apology,
and then leisurely depart, with none to
hinder or modest him. The Judge closed
with the following perorasion With the
increase of wealth, and especially with
t he cage rness of our people to speedily
become rich, and their growing fondness
for extravaganza and display, this evil will
rot away every security against CONNER
cial dishonesty and infuse its poison through
the whole frame of society, unless the
community adopt higher standard of
judgment and action in dealing with those
who forfeit their integrity in places of
trust. The man who takes the money of
another by indictable fraud must be treated
the same as the one who takes it by force.
The man who robs bank from behind the
counter must stand upon the same level as
the one who does it in front. At all events
the fact that by false pretense of hon
esty he has obtained the confidence of 9TH
ers only to betray them, should not.entitle
him to occupy higher and safer ground
than ordinary offenders"