Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-11-07
Diamond cut DlaunouA..

"A recent occurrence IN Detroit 10
calculated to excite reflections. The
story IL told In the Evensng NssCs.
1t appears that merchant Of that
city was advised one day by An &C.
countant, out of . job, to institute IN
examination OF his books. The adj
vice was laughed At by the merchant,
until he was finally won over by the
suggestion that he neither knew how
much money was taken in by his
clerks, nor how much was paid out.
If this suggestion should be Of weight
with every man OF business there
would be great many more exami-
nations than now.
A couple Of days afterwards the
accountant received q note from the
merchant, asking an interview. 1t
came out at that time that the mer-
chant had found that while bis busi-
ness seemed a. prosperous as former
ly. his profits were somehow greatly
diminished. Only one man, he said,
could possibly have any control over
this matter, and that man was one in
whom he had the utmost confidence.
In fact he had promised to take him
into partnership, and 1t was also ex-
pected that he would marry tho mer.
chants daughter. OF course 1t isun-
necessary to prolong this part Of the
story. 1t is quite apt to be the case
that the chap in whom the utmost
confidence" Is felt is the rogue. The
fellow that hasn't the confidence" la
bors under the certain disadvantage,
which make stealing rather diff
ffcult. An examination by the &C.
conntant followed, and in q day or
two he what was unquestionably to
him tho melancholy pleasure Of an
nouncing that the prospective son-in-
law had robbed the prospective ia
ther-in-law of 5000 in the last five
months. Further examination In
creased the amount to 5000.
Of course an explosion followed
Mr.. sOn-in-law was invited to pri-
vatc interview, at which were present
only the merchant, the son-in-law, the
accountant, lawyer and detective.
The proofs Of the clerks crime were
arrayed before tho offender, and the
offender surrendered. The terms
imposed were transfer of all the
clerks property to the merchant, q
note of $1,000, and tho docking Of
half his salary until the note should
be paid. Thus far tho story presents
no unusual features.
The sequel is thus narrated by the
Meas.
"A month later, in an attorneys
Office on Griswold street, the same
party that had gathered in the ac-
countant's Office gathered again, with
the addition Of the attorney, whose
name was on the office door and W hose
services had been employed by the
clerk. Here all the deeds and papers
made out on the previous occasion
were destroyed, and another paper
was made out and signed by the mer-
chant, agreeing to employ his old
clerk at even a better salary than be-
fore for an indefinite term of years.
The accountant was mystified; nor
was tho mystery cleared up until, az
he was about to leave the office, he
overheard the following interview
between the two attorneys:
"Tt was diamond cut diamond,
wasn't ftp"
"'Ycs; but the thief was smarter
than the smngglcr."
"Does your client intend to give
up his papers 2"
81 guess not until he's married."
cob! the old man will never SUBJ
nit to that"
"tAh, ali, don't know about that"
This history teaches several things
which it may be well to arrange in
due and formal order.
l.. 1t il always we'll for smuggler
to be careful about prosecuting his
confidential clerk.
2. 1t is sometimes cafe to steal from
a thief.
3. The smuggler who steals from
the Government should not make q
row if somebody steals from him.
4. The bond Of respect between two
thieves is even stronger than the bond
of affection between a SON and ia
ther-in-law.
5. You can win your girl if You
can only get hold on the old man.
6. A mans reputation is dearer 10
him than his daughter or gold.
Z. A fellow isn't always down even
when he seems to be.
8. Some men should not examine
into their business too curiously.
We are aware there are many other
useful lessons to be drawn from this
little melo-drama, but the audience
has heard enough for the present, and
is therefore dismissed.