Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-01
Robbery.

The recent startling robbery of the
Manhattan saving institution il New
York, which had weathered the finan-
cial storm that had wrecked so many of
its kindred institutions only to fall q
prey to masked burglars, continues to
be the subject of comment throughout
the country, and if it results in awak-
ening sufficient public interest to sug-
gest methods for better protection to
life and property, it will prove one of
those blessings in disguise that will be
worth its cost. Already the patent
lock makers and electric alarm dealers
are improving their opportunities by
pursuing the managers of every unpro-
tected bank III the country with speci.
mems of their contrivances, but of what
use are any of them if they are to be
operated with incompetent or untrust-
worthy servants?
The amazing indiscretion of entrust.
ing the lowest and least reliable of all
the employees of this bank with the
most important of its secrets, the com.
bination which was supposed to guard
its deposits, excites universal wonder
and suggests the pertinent query,
which may also apply to other institu
tions, why the largest salaries should
be paid-$12, 900 to the treasurer, and
IS, 900 to the secretary-if the humble
sow-priced porter could bear theil
greatest responsibilities for trifine
pittance.
But the great fact of the robbery is
only another illustration of the Scrip
tural warnings as to the perpetual inse
curity of property. The everlasting
presence of thieves seems to be part
of the divine plan, for neither religion
nor education diminish their numbers
Their ingenuity keeps full pace with
the discoveries of science and advances
as rapidly as the costly inventions that
have been adopted to thwart them,
Robbery, indeed, has risen to be one Of
the fine arts, commanding the highest
skill, and those who have adopted the
profession are not behind the most sa.
gacious of those who follow honest
callings. In the olden time, when
treasure was limited to the precious
metals, it was simple Job to convert
their plumber into forms which would
command their value without detec
ton. They could melt down the gold
and silver and sell them without risk,
but now come bonds and paper repre-.
sentatives of value, protected by regis
try and other devices to embarrass the
thief in disposing of them. Still they
are equal to the occasion, and they have
lawyers, policemen and brokers in their
employ, if they are not themselves
members of those professions. They
understand perfectly well the diplo-
macy of ''negotiators, and, after the
first excitement and indignation of the
robbery is over, with quiet assurance
they invite conference with their vic
Tins to settle the matter on amicable
terms. They understand all the pro-
cesses and possibilities of law enough
to enrich themselves against it. They
know that the managers of banks they
have plundered are more concerned ia
concealing their own stupidity and re-
covering q share of the lost treasure
than to the punishment of the guilty
or the protection of society. So they
meekly submit to the terms, uncon-
scious that thereby they become almost
particepS crimiais. Each party selects
its representative, and these high con-
tracing parties meet to negotiate. "
The robbers, through their "gentle-
manly" attorney, prescribe the condi-
tions upon which they will restore the Sc
curities they dare not offer in the market.
The bank men consult over them, and the
ultimatum being reached, in due time
they make the concession demanded,
for large as the swindle is it is less than
the loss might be. The thieves have
gained their point, their victims have
condoned the offence. detectives and
go.betweens have been silenced by re-
wards and no one else cares to pursue
the case in behalf of an outraged COM
munity. The burglars, emboldened by
success and with more confidence and
larger experience, are free to prowl
about the country for fresh conquests.
Such has been the story of most of the
bank robberries of late years, and it is
likely to be repeated in the present
case. The inquiry naturally rises
whether nothing can be done to destroy
this evil, which has become an epidemic
as fatal to property as the fever pesti-
lence is to human life. Must we con-
fess that with our costly courts of JUS
tice and police organizations and cleo
trio alarms and ingenious devices of
many kinds, we are still at the mercy
of masked assassins and midnight rob-
bers? Every individual in the commu-
nifty is deeply concerned in solving
these questions. The increase of pop
ulation of wealth have increased the
temptations to crime, and it is worth
the while of Legislative bodies to adopt
more efficient measures to prevent its
commission. Society is itself at fault
in making heroes of its worst enemies,
and it is high time to treat them as they
deserve. The penalty should be very
little, if anything, less than that pre-
scribed for murder.-Ne,rark Adcer.
tiser.
A strange story comes to us from
Four Mile this week. Mr.. Wiley Hurst,
well-known citizen of that section,
died last week. A day or two before