The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-29
Figure Heads and False Swearing.

Company of New York, will furnish the
topic for our lesson to-day. Mr.. Case
is passing the day in the gloomy city
prison of the metropolis, a place of
durance that bears the appropriate
name of the Tombs. Within its shades
lies buried many fair reputation. many
bright hopes and dreams. There he is
under sentence offive years in the State
Prison for the crime ofperjury. Mr.. Case
is an old man, verging closely upon the
allotted limit of human life, and if he
passes the line of three score years and
ten full surely will his strength be labor
and sorrow. Years ago he was an hon
orable merchant, and his well-won
thrift and fair reputation gave him So
cial position and the respect of all who
knew him. He lived in the beautiful
town of Newburg, on the Hudson, where
he was surrounded with all that could
make life agreeable. He had troops of
friends, devoted family, admiring
neighbors and fellow-townsmen who de-
| lighted to do him honor. Social and
| intellectual culture were in his house
hold and in the circle in which he
moved, and integrity and uprightness
/
life.
In New York city, where his busy
days had been passed, an insurance COM
pany was formed, in which he was in
| duced to take an interest, and, as such a
corporation depends largely on the con-
! tidence which it can command, his good
name was desired at the head of the or
ganization. He was made its Presi-
dent, with the understanding that he
need not give his time and attention to
the management of its business or the
details of its affairs. What was wanted
was his name and his reputation, to
give standing to the company and in
duce people to give it their confidence.
For this he was to have salary and
commissions that would secure him the
snug income of $4,000 year. With
this and the competence previously ac-
CURED he could retire from active pur-
suits and lead life of elegance and
ease. Mr.. Case had confidence in the
men to whom he sold his name, and no
doubt believed that they would manage
the business honestly and prudently,
and beyond that he seems to have given
himself no concern. The insurance
company, with the alluring title of
Security and with his honored name
at the head of its list of officers, went
on in business, inviting those who were
solicitous for the well-being of their
families when they should be called to
leave them without the arm of protec-
ton to intrust it with their savings,
which it would invest and care for I'M
til the sad time of bereavement came
and their families would need the ae-
cumulated fund. Mr., Case seems to
have felt no responsibility in his posi-
ton, or if he did he trusted too implicitly
to those with whom he was associated
to see that it was not abused. He should
have seen to that himself, but he did
not. He owed it to the public, which
put confidence in the company, but he
! disregarded the debt. His income from
its business should have been considered
as compensation for his personal atten-
ton to its interests, but it was not. The
law rightly provides for the supervision
of the management of insurance COM
panies and the conduct of their bust
ness. 1t requires periodical statement
of their condition, which must be sworn
to by their officers. In the case of the
Security Life Insurance Company such
statements were prepared at the proper
times and taken to Mr.. Case at his New
burg home for his signature. He at
tached his name without examining into
the correctness of the statements and
they were sent to a notary for his certi-
ficatiOn and official seal. 1t was a care
less proceeding, but the worthy Presi-
dent seems to have trusted that all was
right. -
He went on and the Security" did
not prosper. By mismanagement or
i'll fortune or from the hardness of the
times, its assets dwindled and its liabil-
tiles increased, but the active managers
put on bold face and kept on. They
made up their statements and the Pres
ident with the other officers signed them
under oath. At last official supervision
discovered that all was not well with
the g Security Life" An investigation
showed that its last statement, made
for public record and to give assurance
of soundness and solvency to all the
world, was grossly false, basely fraud
ulent. 1t showed surplus of more
than half a million dollars when there
was really deficit of nearly two mill
ions. 1t gave bank account of $175,-
900 when the funds in the bank were
less than $1,000. 1t placed value on
real estate several times greater than
its cost. In short it was tissue of
falsehoods. The books were found in
confusion and full of false entries, a
cover for fraud. To that false
statement of the company's affairs was
appended the unquestioned signature
of Robert l.. Case, President, and the
certificate of the notary that he person.
ally appeared and swore that, ito the
best of his knowledge and belief" it
was true. .r.... ...
The sequel is known. Mr.. Case was
indicted for perjury, convicted and SEN
fenced. ~ The terrible doom of the felon
casts its shadow on that honored head.
The prison door awaits his aged step.
His gray hairs are bowed in sorrow,
and well were it for him if it were to
the grave instead of the felon's tasks.
And what was his plea when confronted
with that awful Indictment? He had
sworn to matter of which he knew
nothing. The best of his knowledge