New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-05
TEMPTATIONS OF NOTARIES.

BUSINESS MEN WITH LITTLE CONSCIENCE FIND Use
FOR INCAPABLE NoTARIEs.
70 ne Editor OF The Trt6une.
SIR: l have experienced great satisfaction
In witnessing the bold attacks OF The TRIBUNE the
abuses about Us and particularly in the recent editorial
suggestions and letters upon the Crimes Of Noares"
Ihere are evils connected with the Office Of Notary
ruohc Doth In respect 10 the freedom with which the
once Is conferred by the appointing power and in
respect TO the discharge OF the duties by the officer him
sei There are hundreds of nOtaries holding Office
IN the City OF NewYork who utterly ignorant of the
auues required Of the Office. few and simple these
are recently had occasion send Undertaking
On Appeal" to client 10 be executed before notary
uptown The paper had to be fled by noon on certain
day. received it at IL o'clock Of the last day. On ex-
amning the paper found the notary had only signed
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT. leaving both Of the afdavits
signed. The result was o narrow escape from the
shern and his execution and the Inconvenience always
attending irregularities in practice In many cases
have had notaries omit the date Of the acknowledgment
ana OF amdaVits During the last week when just at
the point OF closing up discovered that the date
was omitted and that the notary had only placed his
Initials at the end Of the acknowledgment. Several
months since deed brought to Office for us to
have recorded. The instrument was made by
man and his wife. Instead Of the usual
and absolutely necessary certificate Of the
notary that the :" above named - o private
examination. separate and apart from her husband,
acknowledged that she executed the same freely and
Without any fear or eompulsion OF her husband the
private examination separate and apart from her hus.
band, acknowledged to me that she was married
woman. The register of course could not record the
deed and looking about for the notary 1t appeared be
had left the city and returned TO Ireland et US hope To
remalnD The trouble and annoyance 0f this case was
great As Mr. Wheeler suggests in his letter OF this
appointing notares To be able to write ieeby and to
make ngures should DO an indispensable qualncat0n
fear II this rule should be enforced 10 would result IN the
"A N
word as 10 the OF the capable notar1es. Mr.
Wheeler speaks the habit OF notaries taking the
acknowledgement OF persons not personally known 10
them. 1t cannot be denied that a notary should not
never saw the party before in his life But when you
have told notary publics this you have not enlightened
to certify tha, Know bmI II friend Whom have
long known comes 10 my office and brings gentleman
grasp the genteman's hand and assure him am
glad to know him, and / am then requested 10
so All acquaintance is based on introduction Dy
mutual friends or acquaintance. II DO not Know
know him II time is necessary, now much time II
can't take the acknowledgment OF such an aequaint-
when shall know him How does any man :" abso-
lutey know that half OF his acquaintance are now
bearing the names they born received soon
thereafter As notary public feel Justified when
am introduced to a person by one whom know ana
have confidence H. in certifying that such person is
known me. | see crime in this. have repeatedly
turned strangers away Who came alone ana desired m
have had applications from husbands to take the ae-
acknowledgements of their wives who have never come
before me 1t Is often encountered By notares.
aud q of temptation to many. man whom you
know and whose wife you know and with whose hand
writing you familiar, presents a deed Tor you 10
sign the wledgment Yon have not the least doubt
hut the matter is al right. You dislike 10 dlsoDlRe
You are perhaps under obligations TO this gentleman
for past favOrs If is embarrassing 10 REFUSE what
should notary do when so appealed TO Refuse, you
will say, take the acknOwedg Dent- Yes, so say
but have word OF when you are readlug
lectures nOtares for this respectable business man
who asks the notary 10 vloote mis- conscience
myself seriously offended. several years since, neayy
and successful" real operator for refusing 10
take an acknowledgment OF his wife IN this way he
Wta dlsposing OF her name daily, anu nad
dozens deeds sgued her IN blank IN his SAFE which
he used a. occasion demanded. 80 0nended wa- tnls
geneman that he has applied TO since to take
an aeknoy led gment, and besides caused my removal
from the law office in which was. As general rule
the Office OF Notary Public Is held BY young men-cerKs
with twelve cents lunch time approaches Is not
spisa BILE sum and when their crimes are being dis
cussed only proper their temptations should be
mentioned. Remove the cause and you VIII stop the
effect Prevail upon business men to put lttie more
consciesae into their business and Incapable notdres
will disappear. NAssAU-sI'
Nep York, Sept. &c. 1874.