Middletown transcript., 1876-01-15
A MINISTER WHO WAS HUNG.
A New Years Letter en- Hundred Years
sl Ago and Row.

A New Years Letter On . Hundred Year
Ago and Row.
To tell the story Of DR.. Dodd. VIII
was hung for forgery in 1777. may b
quite out of time in the beginning 0
the year 1876 But there is purpos
in it, and perhaps the story and th
moral will prove to be timely, thougl
the event occurred just 100 years ag'
save one.
William Dodd was an English clergy
man. born in May, 1929, and educated
at the University Of Cambridge. HI
married woman Of extravagant tastes
and in this respect, as in many others
their tastes were alike.
After being ordained he was made
rector Of the parish Of West Ham. nea,
London. There be proved to be SC
eloquent that he was soon called into
the city and became one Of its celebri.
ties. With bis popularity and pros
perity he was more and more extrava-
CANT and reckless iD bis style Of living
To meet his expenses be engaged in
literary work outside of his clerical
duties; be was made tutor Of young
Philip Stanhope. afterwards Lord Ches-
ter6eld; and at length was appointed
chaplain to the King Chesterfield be-
came bis best friend: or worst: got him
through many troubles. helped him to
money. and to bis ruin. of course: for.
when be wanted more than his patron
would give him, be committed forgery
upon Lord Chesterfield for 800. 900.
was tried, convicted and executed
Great efforts were made to save him.
The jury recommended him to mercy
Noblemen, clergymeu, and %, 900 citi-
lens of London petitioned the King to
interfere. but the government declined
to do so and the reverend criminal.
under the Law Of the times, was hanged
at Tyburn, June 27. 1777.
Then, as now, commercial business.
that exchange which requires the con-
slant use Of paper and signatures. was
the life blood Of social and national
prosperity. To tamper with public con-
idence in the bonds of individuals or
was to taint the blood OF
The community, poison the springs OF
wealth, derange the circulation, and
damage irreparably the laws of health
ful trade. A forger might have per-
sonal friends to intercede for him. but
government and society looked upon
him as pirate. an outlaw, thief OF
The meanest kind, justly meriting The
heaviest punishment the laws iDfict
1t was therefore held to be the duty o.
hc King to interpose no obstacle, but
o let the law take its course. The
condemned clergyman became very
,enitent. His Thoughts in Prison"
md Reflections on Death" are still
.xtant and indicate the sentiments OF
N educated clergyman in view of the
And so be died.
Even more empbatically now, than
hundred years ago. the business Of men
$ carried on by the means Of paper, and
he confidence felt in the genuineness
# signatures and the honesty Of trans
ctions. is at the basis Of daily aud
lourly intercourse. We give and re-
eive promises to pay. we make our de-
,osits 10 bank, we take certificates.
'onds. mortgages, relying on the hon.
sty Of somebody. for not in one case
mt of a hundred. in the affairs Of every
lay life, is man able to 60 back to
he original parties, and knoIo that it is
II right. He takes it for granted, be-
ause of bis confidence in human nature
generally, and certain men in particu-
ar. And this confidence has become
o large and business habits so loose in
consequence Of it. and greed has grown
nth the ease Of getting, and money has
heapened BY its adulteration. as rags
axe the place Of precious metals. until
has now come to pass that crimes like |
hat of Mr. Dodd and crimes in the
anne line with his. are Of daily occur.
ence to the ruin Of individuals and Of |
hat trust which society has right to
eel in its representative men. l do
ot say that all bankruptcies are crimi-
al. though they are always failures to
ay obligations honestly due. They
re oftentimes the result of misfortuues,
be crimes of others. and events that
o human foresight could anticipate
'ut. so far as they come from impru
ence, recklessness, greed. haste to be
ich. improvidence. inattention. extrav-.
gance. speculation. or an over san.
uiue temperament. they are criminal
nd merit punishment BY law.
All defalcations are crimes. All
reaches of trust are crimes. All uses
+ other peoples money without their
onsent. are crimes.
Yet it IL not unusual. in our times,
, look upon defaulter in n hank or