New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-10
JNTERFSTJNG EuBEZzLRuPNT


A distinguished murderer, on trial in Mas
sachusetts, once remarked to his lawyer that
he thought that the proceedings were getting
"a little tedious" AS he was convicted and
duly executed we suppose that he found the
subsequent proceedings somewhat less tire
some. We have been living $50 to speak, OF
late in rainy season of financial detalca-
tons, and were beginning to suffer from just
Il touch of monetary mon0tOny. Under such
dismal dspensaton, we feel that we ought
to be much obliged to j. n. Pierce, jr, esq,
late cashier of the Merchants National Bank
in Lowell, Mass, in the story OF whose alb
stractons we find just point or two OF nov
city. Perhaps it may be thought that thus
gentleman was moderate i'll his operations.
He made no greedy grab. He has been guilty
of no extemporaneous flching. He has been
fifteen years stealing from $4,000 to 100000.
1t is quite q bore, we confess, to find that
Mr.. Pierce has always borne an irreproach-
liable character for probity and integrity"
Your Irreproachablc Character is getting to be
a sort of nuisance. We are beginning to find
out that man may be altogether
too good. A saint who maintains un-
blemishcd ecclesiastical relations; who has
no vices of which the world knows anything;
who is model husband, n perfect father a
genial philanthropist, a philosophical citizen,
whose only weakness is for dabbling in fancy
stocks ut the expense Of the institution which
considers itself fortunate in securing his
seryices-this admirable and well-rOunded
and, as we may say, clean -shirted character,
is not altogether unknown upon our ex-
changes, and, in fact, has ceased to be a
novelty. 1t undoubtedly adds to the Zest with
which at the breakfast-table we peruse the
story of the latest developments to find
that the detected operator was a frequent
encOunterer of the metaphOrical tiger that
he had a passion for swift and expensive
steeds; and that he was liberal in his notions
of fidelity to the marriage relation for the
really respectable men do not then feel
that so great an injury has been done to
their sensitive confraternity. In these peculiar
days we suspect that the unmitigated rascals
must be looking up. 1t would be sad if we
should get all cur fine stock mOralities re-
yersed. But let us return to our Pierce, jr
The first thing which is thought of by
astonished and half-crazy bank directors when
it is discovered that the cashier has been max
ing wildly free with the funds is the villains
bond. That is what they thought Of on that
exciting morning in Lowell when the light
fingered, accommodating cashier was I'M
masked. Mr.. Pierce's bond became suddenly
most interesting and desirable document. At
any rate, something might be recovered of the
suretics. 1t seems not; at least nothing can
be recovered until the bond is found and Just
now tAat valuable Ms. is as undscoverable as
the lost books of Livy. 1t should have been
in the private box of the President Of the
bank; but when they went for it, in order to
find out who were the defaulting gentleman's
sureties it was not there. AT the last account
they were still looking for it without success.
Now, bond is very accommodating sort
of instrument. You cannot sue on it unless
you can produce it. Moreover, it is a well
settled principle of common law that
you cannot bring an action against
sureties unless you know what their
names are. The instrument may or may not
be finally discovered; the important point for
the public is, that just when it was most
wanted it was missing In the same way Mr..
Pierce may or may not receive the polite at
tentions of the police. He may ere this be
restrained in building mainly composed of
stone and iron. Ii is certain that for some time
at least after his distractions were well known
he was walking about very much at large, and
making arrangements with the unfortunate
Directors for a return of part of the money.
If he had been caught picking a pocket, or
stealing chicken from its law protected roost,
he might have astOnished and even amused his
captors by proposing to be left at liberty to
make bargains with the victims of his KEEP
tomania. 1t is true that COL Needham, the
United States Bank Examiner, was lowering
about Lowell soon after the explosion; and he
may have his eye on Mr. Pierce, jr. But
nothing is certain in these uncertain days.
Yes, one thing is certain. Mr.. Pierce, Jr.,
owned an elegant villa at Martha's Vineyard
where they hold the camp meetings.
There's nothing moro delightful than yachting If |
YOU can choose your weather But that il MT !
1Uii "A 4hcr