Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-10-18
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
The Late Financial Editor Of the
London Times-His Connec-
tion with Various Swindlos.
From the phlladel elphIa Telegraph

Inc recent ueutn Oh MT. Marm0-
duke B. Sampson, who had been fl.
nancial editor of the London Times
from 1846 to 1875, recalls one of the
most interesting, yet painful chapters
in newspaper history. Mr.. Samp-
sons position on the Times was of a
fairly potential sort. He had kind
Of power not to be adequately des-
cribed was absolutely trusted by
the proprietors Of the greatest jour.
nal In the world, and was undisputetl
master in his own department. Long
before his disgraceful dismissal from
the Times he had lost favor in this
country through his strong endeavor
to help the southern loan In England
during the rebellion-a course which
did not a little toward exciting an an.
CRY feeling between the two countries
and which was the cause Of heavy
losses by English capitalists-but he
weathered the storm, and was, up to
the year 1874, apparently as strong in
the possession Of his great post as ev-
er. In that year, however, arose the
famous "Rubery vs. Grant and Samp-
son" case, which resulted in his COM
plete overthrow.
Rubery was q man concerned In
the famous diamond d-salting scheme
in Arizona, which was exposed in
November, 1872. Designing persons
had 'salted" waste lands with dia-
mond scraps and clippings, and then
put the property in the market, with
ia prospect. for while, of fabulous
profits. Rubery was mentioned In
connection with this swindle and the
London Times spoke of him in that
connection, but guardedly, and no
further than al the facts seemed, at
the time, and now seem, to warrant.
The accused brought suit for libel,
and complicated 1t by an incident
which, while 1t had no direct bearing
upon the case was used by his coun-
sci with telling effect. Rubery had
by some means discovered that Samp-
son had received money from Baron
Grant, notorious spcculator of Lon
don, for assistance in some Of his
stock-gambling operations, and he
succeeded in getting in this evidence,
as showing the character of the wri-
ter who had libelled him. Grant
swore that the payments had no con-
ncction with the Rubery or diamond
swiudle, but was forced to admit that
he had made the money payments
charged. This was the vital point.
Rubery gained his suit and $500 dam
ages, but that was nothing, the Iimes
had received hurt which all honor
able Journalists can appreciate.
Sampson was, of course, Immediately
dismissed. 'The honor and indie.
pendence Of this paper" says the
Times, the day after the trial, January
19, 1876, "must ever be above suspi-
cion, and the humiliation we have
suffered is hard to bear-a hardship
to which tho damages that have been
awarded to Mr.. Rubery are a.
feather in the air." In October, 1875,
it was announced that Sampson had
been engaged by Baron Grant to
write the money article Of his Lon.
don paper, the Echo, but he did not
retain that post long, and passed the
latter portion Of his life in retire.
ment.
The strange tale would not be COM
plete without reference to the fact
that Mr.. Sampson's predecessor in
the financial chair of tho Times, Mr..
T. NJ. Alsager, who was money edi-
tor from 1921 to lS46, committed sui
eide upon being detected in breaches
of trust similar to those which led to
SIMPSONS disgrace. In conjunction
with Mr.. Delane, editor of the Times
and father of the present editor, AL
sager speculated in stocks in the pam
ic attendant upon the downfall Of
Hudson, the "Railway King" The
case was clear, and both Delane and
Alsager were dismissed, Alsager
cut his throat when informed Of his
punishment.
When Mr. Sampson, who had pre-
viously been distinguished as q wri-
ter or prison reform and other philan-
thropic subjects, was appointed mon.
ey editor, he was required to promise
on his honor that he would never be-
come interested in any stock move
ment which might become the subject
of report or comment in the paper
He was allowed very large salary,
f2,O0O year, in order the better to
render him entirely impartial and
unprejudiced. Mr.. Sampson had
been recommended to the Times pro-
prietors by the directors Of the Bank
of England, and the same officials
afterwards recommended Arthur
Cramp, who had held similar post
upon the PaH Null Gazette, to the
succession. Mr.. Sampson was in his
list year at the time Of his death. To
live to such an age, through such q
course of honor, influence, and use
fuiness, to come to such an end.