The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-09

a shrewd dealer OF the New York stripe,
he dickered ingeniou ly in thus
trading on his own infamy. But the
city officials estimated Sweeny's infamy
at a higher figure, viz: at 100000. But
Peter couldn't afford that figure FOR his
good name and fame. So by mutual ad-
vances and concessions his felony was
finally counted out as worth $4,000.
The money has been paid, and Sweeny
has plenty of capital left Tor new start.
For that amount of money, New York
has given him a verdict Of acquittal,
and compromised lis felony. We pre-
sumo that the great American metropO-
lis will feel abundahtly enriched by this
enormous accession to her circulating
medium.
But, II some private person, Tho was
not corporation, had thus COM ounded
felony for money, what would those
compromising law officers said about il?
They would have had him indicted and
punished for such an act. But they can't
send the city of New York to the peni.
tentiary. Hence corporations may
compound felonies with impunity.
There is virtuous exemption in being
an artificial person." commonly called
a corporation. -
But, in all this there may still be a
Nemesis to retaliate upon corporations,
such Is New York. By thus compound
ing these felonies, New York fixes the
price OF stealing the peoples money.
1t is but5.7 per cent. ofthe amount sto-
len. Henceforth, whosoever can ffelo-
niously take and carry away" several
millions of their money, will know that
they can make it all right by paying
back only five per cent. of the amount
stolen. 1t takes no lightning calculator
to show them that the transaction yields
clear profit of ninety-tive per cent.
Even Shylock would have been content
with such business transaction.
The stimulus to business In that
line can not fail to bring about great
activity in the trade. Such investments
will be frequent. 1t is a temptation
that few Gothamites, especially they of
the governing classes" will be able to
withstand. Ninety-fve per cent. as a
premium on villainy, is a fancy stock
that will certainly lead many specu-
lators 10 invest in. And when other
millions follow the Tweed-SWeeny mill
ions, the good people of Gotham may
perhaps Degin to inquire, whether com.
pounding telonies at five cents on the
dollar is paying business for their
city. But that is just what has now
been done; and New York is pluming
herself on the sharp trick she has play ID
on Sweeny, in giving him an acquittal
and ninety.tive per cent. of the stolen
money. Depend upon it. that the moral
consequences OF such "tricks" will be
even more disastrous than the financial.
Far better, as business transaction,
for New York to have held the stern
hand the criminal law over those men
even to the limit OF their natural lives,
than to have acquitted them from all
charges and punishment, for the paltry
five per cent. of their stealings that they
paid back as the price and consideration
OF their discharge and release from
criminal punishment, and restoration
to their homes and friends with abun-
dant means left to make those homes
luxurious. Compounding felonies and
trading in inlamy are bad investments
for any city to make. Better build a
southern railroad with the money.