The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-10
THE"DEEECEIHE" SYSTEM.
IErom the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Phnadelpn1a ieogef.J
On the morning OF the 9th Of April last, the
people Of Philadelphia were startled by the
announcement that one Of the s,upendous
bond robber1es that have become peculiar to
these latter days had been committed in our
own city, and that the victims on this occasion
we're the Beneficial Saving Fund and its thou
sands Of Door deposltors. This villany trans
cended any that bad gone before it in the same
line Of 'business." The plunder exceeded o
million OF dollars, and was composed Of bonds,
(large amounts Of them negotiable) cash 10
monds valued at ten thousand dollars. Eight
hundred Thousand dollars Of this vast plunder
we're the hard earnings and savings OF poor
people, and between two and three hundred
thousand dollars were the property OF persons
who had left 1t with the Saving Fund for safe
keeping. The affair made O. great stir at the
time, but soon dropped out OF general notice,
except among the officers of the society, the
plundered depositors and their frIe Ids, and
some OF the newspaper men, who were deter
mined that it should not slip out OF light as 30
many other robberIes have. A few weeks after
the robbery, about two hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars Of the stolen securities we're re-
turned, anonymously las alleged) through
Adams Express, and on Saturday 1t was an
nounced that all the rest OF the securities were
returned in the same way, the thieves retain
ins only the $10, 900 in cash and the $40 600 in
diamonds, to compensate them tor their Sun
days work. II this be true. as we suppose it is,
the money loss to the Beneficial Saving Fund,
or it's depositors. is reduced to about S35 600;
VIZ: lhe $40 QUO in cash Withheld by the
thieves, and the $25, 900 to be paid as reward.
The thieves, however, make $40 600 clear, and
those engaged in the negotiations for the re-
turn Of the plunder have claim OF s25. 600
more.
The Beneficial Saving Fund is now enabled
to announce that it will resume business this
morning, q circumstance that every one will
be glad to hear, for the sake of the depositors
and the estimable gentlemen who compose the
officers and directors OF the society. And now
for the public aspects Of this important mat
ter. 1t no longer involves any danger to the
poor deposltors for the public press to say
openly and emphatically OF the system that
led TO this affair what should and would have
been said long ago if there had been no such
danger. The detective" system of the large
cities OF the United States encourages and pro-
tects thieves and robbers, and especially the
most dangerous class OF thieves aud robbers.
those who are 30 expert as to make rob-
berry weil.dedred profession" and who
deal mainly in large operations" Tho
detective SYSTEM" as it is worked, makes
the profession" not only very pro pro
fitable but o very safe business" Rob-
beres Of the class referred to all follow the
same beaten path. First is the startling
news Of the enormous plunder, then intelll.
gence of the negotiations for surrender of
the property, then restoration Of the greater
part Of 1t. the thieves always stlpulatlng tnat
they shall retain portion, and have immunity
from prosecution, which they always get, and
Immediately begin to lay plans. for another
heavy stroke OF "business" In the same line.
No one, or next to no one. is ever prosecuted.
This is the regular and orthodox way with the
detective" system. II in some one exception,
al case there happens to be prosecution and
a conviction, the professional man slips
son, as in recent case IN New York, The Off
Ger obligngly going to sleep to give him the
opportunity. Hence it is that We say that the
'detective" system, as 1t is worked, makes
robbery not only profitable but an exceeding
IL safe "business." In ali, or nearly all these
cases the detectives are actively engaged,
and IN some, il not oil Of them, they get con-
siderable share of the plunder, for several in-
stances Of this have recently come TO light in
New York and Boston.