The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-06-07

LAPPIN AND SCRAFFoRD.-We find the follow.
ing in reference to these gentlemen, in the St
Joseph Gazette:
ECA FEEL TOWARD TMEA.-The fierce of life of pub
lie spirit generosity, and enterprise, atoning
fuence, and in producing fergiving feeling wnere
crime has been committed. is well illustrated in the
of SAM Lappiu theinglorious exState Treasurer
of Kansas, and his partner in mafeasance, Col Chss
g. Scraord. Both these gentlemen fled their adopt
ed city months ago, and have been fugitives hiding
from the law since In both il is said that time
has wrought its work in aaying the anger of people
the little town of Seneca, whose material prosperity
these two men aided much, and that in remem-
rance of these things the people of the town, if the
law would stay its avenging hand, would receive
them back and forgive them what they did. The
opinion has settled dOwn-and it is very charitable
>One-that they intended ultimate theft from
the State but nracted the law in the grave and dan
gerous manner in which they did to tide them
sperous crisis in their financial operations; and that
fhey intended ultimately to possess themselves of
Nhe fraudulent bonds and destroy them. The opinion
prevails in Seneca that Scrford will return to
Seneca, but it is not known whether his connection
with the defalcation and forgery will make him the
victim of any influences in the direction of disclOs-
The return of Lappin at distant day is also
thought not improbable. 1t is said that some of the
best lawyers in the Commonwealth hold that he
could have been convicted ofthe charge against
him. forgiving spirit is good thing, but forgery
is grave crime
- We do not know upon what information the
Gazette speaks, but reinclined to think it is
correct, as far as public sentiment is concerned.
Lappin and Scrafford looked ont for themselves,
it is true but all that Seneca is, they made it.
While bent upon making money, they were pub
lic-spirted, and liberal. This was especially
true of Scrafford, who had a kind heart, much as
has been said against him. But others, who
possessed little money, were jealous of Scraf-
ford, and set themselves up as his rivals in lead
ing public opinion. While he remained there
they failed; but when this unfortunate affair
occurred, they rejoiced, and became the big men.
Grasping penurousness has been their charac-
terstic, and their small souls have cast their
contagion on the town. Those who received the
greatest fayors from Scrafford, were the first and
loudest to herald his misfortune, aud took delight
in proclaiming each new move to impoverish
and mortify his family. Accounts have been
trumped up, as pretext to seize property, that
never had foundation; and even Judge lent
himself to the base uses Of these spoilers of the
effects of the helpless and unprotected. But
this subservency was one of the leading causes
that sent him into merited oblivion. Scraffords
leaving as he did, was the worst thing against
that he was guilty of the crime that lie has been
accused of.
When Scrafford gets back, (as he probably
will,) and gets on his feet once more, it will be
fun to see his sunshine friends come fawning
back and perhaps not SO much fun to see those
who confscated his property on trumped-up
claims, disgorge their gobblings.