The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-07
The south Carolina Bank Biii Scandal

The pubic must have been grieyed and
mortified rs well rs surprised TO learn that
the funding of the bills OF the Banl, OF the
state 10y Commissioner Colt had been so
conducted that a clerk had had the oppOrtu-
nlly 10 steal the bills with little danger OF
detection.
Dir. Laughlin appears to have had entire
charge OF half million dollars or more
of bank bills, worth qusrter OF million
dollars. They were counted by him, and
he made up and sealed the packages which
were deposited with the State officers. No
record of the numbers OF the bills seems TO
have been kept. The character Of no man
is 50 high that be can be properly allowed
10 deal with and dispose OF valuable public
property without check or control. Mr.
Laughin has no claim TO higher trust or
consideration than j repOsed in public
officers in general; and yet, A. well as we
can learn. no one supervised his actions or
confirmed his statements OF account. II
was i'm his power TO steal half the whole
amount OF bills deposited for funding, and
no one would be the wiser until The pack
ages OF cancelled bills should be opened and
examiued-a proceeding unnecessary and
unlikely TO take place unless suspicious were
aroused.
The officer primarily responsible to the
State Is Commissioner Colt. There Is no
question OF Dis integrity. but there i no room
10 doubt that lie has been guilty OF serious
clreleSSneS>. We say this with deep regret,
as we appreciate the zeal and fidelity with
which Mr.. Colt had discharged other duties
imposed upon him in connection with the
public Indebtedness. The Judgment of the
Democratic party was sufficiently shown by
his unanimous nomination by the state Con-
VcntiOn some weeks ago rs candidate for
The Office OF mpt:olIer-General OF the
state.
We have some reason to believe that the
amount Of bills missing Is less than was at
first thought, and there is hope that the stO-
len property will be recovered; but the
whole truth must come out, no matter whom
1t hurts. This is a public and political ne
cesSity. Our hope in the mean time is that
eylenuating circumstances, as regards Mr.
Colt, will be brought to light.
The honest fisherman has been found at
last. He lives in France, however, and has
refused ali offers 10 travel. The GauLOiS
tells how an ardent young amateur cast and
recaSt his line, grumbled and grOwIed, and
at last addressed happy. cOntented old fell
low in a neighboring boat who never hauled
up his lire after the first cast:
"Any biios?"
Nary"
Been fishin' long?"
Sunrise"
Fish here oiten?'
Every day"
ever get b.te:"
Never"
Then what the devil do you come here
for?"
ITO fish"
"Wbere do you buy what you catch?"
Never catch any,"
Well. I'll be e.
Scene at a bail:
Leaning against the mantclpiecc, first
dancer smo.hers a frightful yawn.
Bored :" SAYS kindly second dancer.
"Devilishly. And you ?"
"Awfullyw
"Lei's 90 home, the"
"Cawh't! | 1--we here!"
caught.
Softly fails the summer moonlight
ON the ranqui ocean tides,
Where boat with youth aud maiden
O'cr The water lightly ride,.
flushed by natures sOlemR silence,
Whispers ne IN accents low
" Let us float through life iOge her.
Though the tiCe be ebb or h0w."
And she answers, breathing music
Like low breeze through The pines
- Yes, dear, II yOu'il only let me
Hold, a. now, The rudder lines
(f,.fs