The Republican journal., 1871-03-16
Letter From Boston.
From an Occasional Correspondent.
The Weather---Banksa and their Bothera
tions---Street Changes, &c.
BOSTON. March II, 1877.

tons---Street Changes, &c.
BoSTON, March II, 1871.
What splendid weather. 1t seems as
though mid-Aprl had stepped backward
into the ranks of stormy and inclemcnt
March, with her smiles of sunshine and
tears Of fitful rain These glorious days
tempt everybody forth, and the streets
stream with gay promenaders-trOm the
brisk gentleman who takes his '.constitu-
tionaf' by a morning turn around the out
side of the common, to the gay and laugh
ing belle who, in the afternoon, disports
ic side of Washington street. And the
children-heaven bless their joyous and
pretty faces-how they laugh and shout
and run, as though the bright and happy
sunshine was for their especial benefit.
No wonder that everybody stops to ad-
mire them; but suspicion sometimes
creeps over the observer that the nice
young gentlemen who say complimentary
things to the babies, have more than one
eye tor the pretty nurse maids.
The city continues to have its recurring
sensations in the defalcation line One
of the officials of the Webster Bank is
discovered to be defaulter to large
amount, about $4,000 it is sad, and
,1n ebn inc
are getting to be lamentably common
The unrestricted handling of large
amounts, the temptation to luxury and
indulgence which beset young men, or
perhaps the fascination of stock gambling,
have lowered many 4 promising man
from a position of trust and future useful
ness, to disgrace and moral death, And
the hair r-breadth escapes that others have
had One of the most hOnored and trust
ed gentlemen Of Boston not long since
confessed that while bank CLERK, !, sud
den and unexpected rise in stocks. in
tody, alone saved him from exposure and
ruin He vowed VOW that the escape
should be warning to him for all future
time. In this connection an anecdote of
an eminent lawyer is related, thoroughly
characteristic of the artful douger A
cashier came to him for advice, saving
that he had used the funds of the bank,
and could not replace the amount. GLOW
much have you taken?' ''Fifty thousand
dollars" was the reply. $50 back and
take fifty thousand more; then cal the
Directors together, and offer to comprom-
ise on fifty per cent. As had been an
ticipatcd, the desire to save the credit of
the institution, and the bankers dread of
public talk settled and hushed up the af-
fair
The dangers inside are not the only ones
that disturb the custodians Of funds in the
monied institutions. If they succeed in
guarding against the schemes of those
who 'brcak through and steal the
plausible and gentec swindler is the mex
most dangerous customer in the ranks OF
those who seek to reap where they have
not SOWn.
The rule ot Boston banks is not To pay
4 check OF 800 OF upwards, without the
receiver of the funds is personally known
at the bank, OF is identified by one who is
| known Some months ago, Il genteel
| looking man opened 4 small brokers' Of
flee in this city and deposited about $1,000
| with Brewst ster, Sweet & Co. This was
| made larger or smaller from time to time,
the iirm giving him checks on the Second
| National Bank when he required funds,
sending Il clerk to identity the stranger.
At length the latter smilingly suggested
| to the cashier that the identification busi
ness was getting tiresome, and that he
! had better photograph him in his minds )
eve Thereafter he was known ut the
bank, and soon presented the firms check
| for 5000, received the cash, and the
places that had known him knew him ne
more. The check had been ingeniously
altered from 1870. The smart fellow es-
capped, but the detectives have been on
his track ever since, and captured him
last week ut Albany which brings the in
cident freshly to mind.
The extension Of Washington street
through 10 Haymarket Square continues
to be agitatcd, and q hearing is now be
ING had before the Street Commissioners
1t will be an expensive job, if undertake
en-, like all the recent improvements Of
the kind; but will greatly relieve the
press of travel through the narrow and
crooked streets of the neighborhood
The general belief is that the change will
| be made.