The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-07


even obtaining trace of their whereabouts.
The thieves carried of their plumber in the
full light of day, from building in the most
populous part of the city, and situated on
thoroughfare where crowds Of people are
passing at all hours, day and night. The
tracks were 50 skilfully covered up, however,
that the police were completely baf1ed, if we
are to believe all that is said on the subiect
and the whole affair is very striking COM
mentary on our whole detective system.
Although the police were unable to unravel
the mystery, the thieves appear to have been
visited with some compunctons, and on Fri
day evening they performed what appears on
the surface to be an act of unparalleled gene
rosity, by returning through Adams Express
all the bonds stolen from the saving fund,
and retaining only as the reward for their
skill and labor the sum of $4,000 in cash
and diamond bracelet valued at $4,000.
If the thieves made over this property of
their own free WILL they certainly are entitled
to considerable credit for extraordinary libe-
rality and we can only wish that some honest
men would, on occasion, be equally disin-
terested. The whole transaction, however, is
makes the compounder of a felony a par
ticipant in the original crime; and without
positive demonstration to the contrary, it will
not be easy to believe that the return of
these bonds is not the result
of special arrangement between the savings
society, the detectives and the thieves. The
directors of the savings fund were doubtless
anxious to recover the missing property on
almost any terms, especially as they were
under peculiar responsibilities with regard to
it; but nothing whatever can excuse such an
open and barefaced violation of the law as this
appears to be. 1t is certainly time that some
improvement in our police system was made
by which thieves could be effectually hunted
down and brought to justice, and any arrange
ment with them otherwise than arrest and
punishment should be treated as crime that
of itself deserves the severest penalties of the
law. Compromising felony is putting pre-
MUM on crime, and no question of expedi-
ency or apparent hardship can be put in as a
plea of extenuation.
This business of the Beneficial Savings
Fund is certainly a case for the investigation
of the Grand Jury, and we sincerely hope
tilated, and if it can be proved that the thieves
have been paid percentage, whether through
the medium of the detectives or not, that the
guilty parties will be held strictly accountable
This appears to be an excellent opportunity to
show up the evils of our present system of
detective police, and the best interests of the
community demand that an investigation of
the mysterious transaction now perplexing the
public at large should be made without further
delay.
In connection with this affair, it is very sin
gular that Detective Officers Taggart and
Smith, who had been absent from the city for
some time without any one having know
ledge of their whereabouts, should return on
the same evening that the stolen bonds came
to hand, ostensibly through Adams Express.
To say the least, this was a remarkable cOincj-
dence that ought to be looked into.
THE LEGAL STATUS OF TEXAS.
The Attorney General has written an able and
elaborate opinion affirming the right of
military commission in Texas to try and SEN
tence to death one James Weaver, who, in
dignant that freedman had dared to
leave his employ, punished this offense by
shooting the unfortunate negro through the
head, killing him instantly. The District
Judge of the Second district of Texas notified
the District Commander that trial could not
probably be had in the State courts A jury
of Texas ex-slaveholders would no doubt have
made short work of the case, either by find
ing the defendant mot guilty" or, at the
worst, classifying his crime as ''justi-
fable homicide" The District Com
mander, under the authority of the act
of Congress of 1867, thereupon orga-
nized military commission, which, after
due investigation, found the defendant guilty.
and sentenced him to death. This penalty
cannot be inflicted, however, until it is ap-
proved by the President, and the practical
point Of the Attorney Generals opinion is
that he finds mo reason in law for the Presi-
dents Withholding his approval" The deci-
sion of the Supreme Court pronouncing mill
tary commissions unconstitutional under this
ruling, does not apply to the unreconstructed
| States; and the law under which these pro-
ceedings have arisen is construed to be ga
| legislative declaration that in Texas the war
which sprang from the Rebellion is not, to
all intents and purposes, ended; and that it
shall be held to continue until, in conformity
with the legislative will, State Government,
| republican in form and subordinate to the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
| for which the act makes provision, shall have
been re-established."
| INCREASED P4ILROAD FACILITTRS