Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-18
The Sturp Teller.
FIAT JUSTITIA.


firm voice and steady eye.
"Crime is often committed under the pres.
sure of great temptation. In moment OF
weakness, the unhappy subject of evil allure
ment falls" said the person with whom the
gentleman was in conversation.
"All true" replied Mr.. Ellington; "all
very true. But every act has its legitimate
consequence; and we wrong society, and
the individual wrong doer himself, whenever
we seek to interrupt so wisely ordained q re-
lation. If man steals from me, he is a
thief. For theft, the law ordains punish.
ment and hold it to be every mans duty
to give up the thief to justice, if in his power
to do so The progress of crime is arrested
thereby, and society guarded from future dep
relations"
'This is stating the case very generally.
) But general principles are never of equa! ap-
plication. There are collateral considera-
tions, 10 every case, which may not be disre.
garded without wrong to the individual. And
we may assume it as an undoubted truth,
that in doing wrong to an individual, we
wrong the body of which that individual is
member" "a
"There is a great deal of false philanthropy,
as we'll as false judgment, excused by this
argument based on exceptions to general
rules" said Mr. Ellington, with an air Of sat-
isfaction. "For my part, believe that mere
harm is done in the end by admitting the
exceptions that could possibly arise from an
invariably stringent application of the rule
The man who steals knows that he is violating
a law of both God and his fellow. The
statute of his country says that for such an
evil act he must suffer the penalty Of impris-
onment. Let, then, the penalty be made so
sure that escape becomes next to a.moral I'M
possibility. Let every one who becomes cog
infant of an act of stealing give the offender
to speedy justice. For my part, painful as
the necessity might be, I should not stand be-
tween justice and my own son, were ne to be-
come an offender. The stern old Roman
father has left an example Of answering
Justice that Christians would do we'll to imi-
tate" ..- ..r
"The time may come when you think a
little differently" said the friend; "when
collateral influences will have sufficient weight
to interpose an exception to your stringent
general rule" # '-
SWELL see," returned Mr.. ELLINGTON, con-
fidently, as the two men separated. n, aa
A few days after this conversation took
place. Mr.. Ellington, who was merchant,
was rather surprised to receive notification
that he had overdrawn his bank account
more than two thousand dollars .'s.-
Altogether mistake" he said to himself,
as he opened his desk in order to take there
from his bank book. But the bank book was
not in the usual place. After tumbling over
some paper hurriedly, to see if it were not
concealed beneath them, he turned to one Of
his clerks and said: ..
"Where is James 2" "t.
"He hasn't been to the store this morning,
sir"
"Why? Is he sick7" aas.s - .,ifi
II cannot tell, SIR He made no complaint
of indisposition on leaving the store last even
ing"
1t was on the lips of Mr.. Ellington to say,
in doubtful tone of voice:
"There is something wrong" but checking
the utterance thereof, he took his hat and left
the store. A little while afterward he pre-.
sented himself at the counter of the bank
where he kept his deposits and asked the book
keeper to oblige him by turning to his
account.
Il see no credit here for two thousand dol
lars, deposited yesterday" said Mr.. Elking-
ton.
"Did you make such deposit?' asked the
book-keeper.
81 certainly did; or, at least, intended to
make it."
The blotter of the receiving teller was re-
ferred to, but no credit of the sum mention
ed was found thereon.
"What does your bank book say" inquired
the teller.
: IL can't find it," said Mr.. Ellington, in
some confusion and perplexity of manner.
at has been overlaid in or upon my desk.
But know the deposit was made.
"The bank book will settle the matter at
once" remarked the teller.
II don't like the look of this at al" J" said,
Mr.. ELLINGTON to himself as he went hurried
" back to his store. "James absent; the
bank book not to be found and no memoran,
dunn of two thousand. dollar deposit made
yesterday standing to my credit. What can
it mean? Truly, that young man has not
robbed me? He cannot be so base. But if
he has"
IlOW eUcTu duu udIu oOCouO
countenance of the merchant. eff he has,
woe be to him !! will track his steps with
quick-tooted justice; the uDgrateful wretch "
1t was, alas! quite as bad as the merchant
had suspected. James Craig, a young man
in his twentieth year, whose character hither-
to had stood above suspicion, in an evil hour
had yielded to temptation, and become the
base robber of his employer. But scarcely
was the deed done beyond the possibility of
avoiding exposure ere the dishonest deed was
bitterly repented. His first act, after appro-
priating two thousand dollars, instead Of de-
posting the sum in bank, was to leave the
city in the earliest train of cars for the South.
In Baltimore he took lodgings in an obscure
tavern, where he hid himself away from OBJ
servation, hoping to remain concealed until
in great humiliation and distress of mind, he
awaited the progress of events, bitterly repent
ing his folly and crime. Oh! what would he
not have given for restored integrity! The
price of virtue and good name was his but
the sum of two thousand dollars, which, lit
little while before, had loomed up with such
golden attraction, now seemed Of no value
whatever, compared with the rich treasure
he had parted with in order to secure it.
On the second day after Craig's arrival in
Baltimore, as he sat irresolute and despond-
ent in his room, the door thereof was thrown
suddenly open, and Mr.. Ellington stood
before him, with sternly knit brows, and eyes
that seemed as if they would pierce him
through and through. Instantly the wretch
ed young man turned pale as death, and he
was for some moments so paralyzed that he