The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-16
ROBBERIES AND DEFALCATlONS.

The Big Robberics and Defalcations During
the Past six Years-The Thieves That Were
Caught-Tho Thieves That Were NOT
Cauxht-Their Doings-WhO Prosecute and
Who DO Not.
Strictly in accordance with the rules laid down for
observance gnoby practised to perfection by asn
Toby C.ackt apt pupil Of ono Fagin that peculiarly
portion OF the community VINO TOD
and dsposssss those whom they believe are worthy OF
theh attentions have during the past SIX years, reapsd
harvest OF pscunary gain that would serve the pur-
poses II Q big hearted phiianthropst LOT hve
decades o come. And this the gentry have
done by ~ WAYS and by all manners and
means knownlo tho various departments Of dishonest
attainments By snsakng into houses they have OBJ
tanned thousands " dollars in what were considered
impregnabie repositories Careless bank clerks have
been ripped up, and regained their feet to ma tna'
their employers goods entrusted to their care had foun
their way into tho hands Of man whom everyboS
saw but nobody caught. Then again forgsres hse
been committed and gltterng eagles have been dr"n
from banks by men who had no accounts IN banks NOT
cared who had long they could scratch somebay
name and take that somebody's treasured funds ana
when they have not known how to scribbe thu own
name, much less that Of person whose mopy they
have felt anxious to get mite Of It has peenhten IN
easy matter to follow clerk with bags OF COLIN hand,
and while distracng his attention from theucre' put
one under their coat and walk of, fn OF con-
tempt loose way business Is done wan street
and the dishonest propensities OF those ped animals
called "bullsp and ''bears'
Last in the category Of tho indviduals who damned
not nor howled, that their employer shuld down win
tho dust satiae their ongngs for fortne making but
who, by playing tho part Of Pecksnis, became iiGg
Montaguos in full bloom, In fixing heir books and
keeping their accounts to make tip figures stand out
their outlines deity covered otherpain calculations,
which, when discovered, tod howshc others had icd;
in taking the funds committed to aeir care to gamble IN
some Wild cat stock, which onf day went up Ike
rocket till it reached atudeof profit that frightened
oven the embolcened soe gazer and anoiher DAY
ran down like bullet droppa from tower top, so far
below par that the pper upon which the
.companys" emblems were shaped came to
be stuffed in cranks AM chinks ITO keep the wind
away;'' in shutting lheir desks coolly calmly
deliberately after buspss hours and going his ways
SO quietly and yet SO lnassumingy with an 'nsgnlh-
cant quarter OF m aion Of the funds Of some bank IN
their pockets that her friends woke up the following
day astonshed toAear they had saled" for the Lord
xnovs where a then shake their heads wisely and
call them t.smpt very smart indeed"
The ranar,tions by the above mentioned gentry
have been a themselves SO many In number aud so
heavy 10 ttr quality since 1862 that they have, and
with eoodfeason become alike the subject OF discussion
ana little action ameliorato the general moral
conditon of downfallng sinners and Of those rea y
practca Who to cure an Ill Ia the body polite or
SOCIAL cut al the root from which IL springs and
fs to succeed In doing good in their undertakings
Why Of robberies and defalcat0ns should have
in quick and astounding succession, so increased tn
number and losses TO excite such IN w0ned alarm In
circles tho most concerned IS pregnant with
tsndery dealt WITH The most important and alarming
feature Of them ALL however is that In which utter dis
regard for law and morality is exhibited In the most
bareaced by the thieves but by those who
are robbed. Does bank as rule whom It loses
1900 600 by cashiers suddenly leaving the city With
that belonging to the Institution IN his posses
son word TO the police that at all costs, the thief
must be arrested whether the $40 900 be recovered
notY Not at all Word Is sent to tho detectives that
the defalcation has been discovered, and par
ticuiar stress Is laid upon the fact that the
liberal reward will be paid for the recovery OF the said
sum. Is II stated that reward viii DO paid for the
third or the sum offered for the recovery Of the lost
funds Ian be argued, therefore, that The Thief ID
phases to the defacaons and robberes Of past years
moro vianous than even that OF caring more for the
Of stolen funds than the arrest and conviction
tho thief and one OF them is that OF actually order
ing the officers Of justice not TO pursue the thief for
reasons they care not to MENTION 1.-THE bank officers
will take no proceedings against him II arrested"
The worst side Of The whole system OF recovering
money stolen from banks or institutions, and what Is
mitted With The thief or his friends. For instance,
. banking firm lose by robbery 100000 in Treas
ury notes Information is lodged with the s su-
find clue to the thief. but may aso find that the bonds
are SO placed that they b. destroyed In an instant
The detectives are convinced by certain clues that he Is
the thief although can Identify him as the per-
ives n the bonds are destroyed who can provo he
the ttsff "But,n says one OF tho thefs friends,
"we manage things 4 you dom. arrest our friend
with The exception Of 800 0Oo" The banking nrm list.
en- TO The proposition and, listening say to themscve
eighty thousand dollars are worth to than tho
arrest Of the thief 30 wen take our own $50 600,
please Mr. Thief and then you need fear no harm" IL
is needless 70 state that the thiei Is IS ood as his
light day the admired Of his circle, and loses himself
In ponderngs as 10 who hts next victim will be- II IS
not always the fault OF the detectives that these fellows
carry on their nefarious business thus boldly, for
were they arrested and not properly identified
seen by no person whom committing their rob.
bsries the magistrate would discharge them on the
ground Of there no. being sufcisn, evidence 10 hold
ties and the circumstances OF the case itself he would be
lead 10 that DO was dischagng The real thieves
still the Law the Law, and what can the magistrate do
In regard TO the system Of compromising feiontes,
those persons who make practice TO follow u closely
NAV ana some day to their cost that they have been
doinr thing that guarantees them, conviction
uupeasau. time 10 the State Prison. Tho following sec
ons the M 2. s suSSs r 3. N
part chap l. art are 20 explicis that he who runs
may read
scos 4 Eys person ssns sSsss y q
or by imprisonment in state prison for life, who
engagement or promise therefor
non sny aeresmeu understanding express or implied,
~ conceal such crime 10 abstain from
sny prosecuton therefor or to withhold any evidence
hsrsef sbsl upon conviction be punished By mprison-
mani IN stats prison not exceeding ave yerrs or In
county jai mot exceeding one year. -,
ssc Is Every person having knowledge Of the aesual
Of offence punishabe By imprisonment ia
ssts prison for other term than for life who shall
sts any money property Of another or any satuy OF
evard or any promise therefor upon any
Agreement understandings express or implied 70 com.
uund or such crime or TO abstain from any
therefor TO withhold evidence thereof
sisiL upon conviction, be punished oy imPrsonm sns
state prison exceeding three years or In county JAIL
not breeding ala months
II has often the case that tho thieves who have
counmitted robberss and defscaons during the pas.
ak ysars have not been arrested because OF no clue
being obiansd as to their identity. Ia how many IN
stances they been arrested by whom arrested and
when arrested, what disposition made Of them the
Following rs,rms will show
nopRxptEs
Nov g. 1s62-Thisf took 81 900 from the counter OF
the Sab. treasury and never Was found out
Nov g. lse2-Tne sum, OF $500, 000 belonging TO
Riggs Co, No. So Wall street, was stoeu from Bank
OF America o. 600 reward was offered Tho money
=. n.Af0 ~S - ~ rUh