The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-31
The Neal Case.


Since the result IN the Neal case. we have
heard considerable comment upon the matter,
and also some surprise expressed at the posi-
ton of the LIGHT towards Neal. The LIGHT
is newspaper, rejecting the sentiment Of the
community and giving the news. We stated
that there was strong under current of SYM
pathy for Neal; that many people considered
that he had been punished sufficiently, ETC., all
fencing him to two years in the penitentiary,
we have heard general expression among
people who have paid attention to the trial and
its incidents, that the verdict was the result of
prejudice rather than from the fact that the
case was proven before the court.
Neal may not deserve much sympathy from
the public at large, but we have, from
the beginning, believed there was two
sides to this case. The fact is,
that Meals defalcation in the Building and
Loan Association was known for months be-
fore his arrest, and had the deficiency been a
few hundred instead of thousands, as reported
by the expert, it is very doubtful if the courts
would ever heard of the matter at all; but
when it was discovered that his bond did net
cover the deficit the gentlemen, whose neglect
was largely responsible for the loose manner
in which business had been conducted, rushed
off and had Neal arrested for embezzement,
throwing all the blame upon him.
We heard an expression from gentleman
in regard to the verdict that sounded queer;
but it was indicative of a certain sentiment
that has figured largely in this case. The
gentleman remarked: ''The verdict in the
Neal case will make association stock 20 up
in the market 50 per cent" We inquired
how that could be, when he explained that
people would have confidence to put their
money in associations if it could be settled
that defau,ing secretaries could be punished
for stealing. Now, if the confidence of stock,
holders rest upon such slender thread as
this, it is poor encouragement to make such
investments. If the finance committees and
directors of such associations were made
equally responsible with the officers who had
been enabled to default through their ineffi-
cheney, neglect or connivance, then there
would be some force in the remark. As it is,
Neal need never 60 to the Penitentiary unless
he chooses to do SO, as upon the evidence
adduced in the late trial no court of final
resort will sustain the verdict, and a resort to
law will have worse effect than if it had
never been tried.
But is Meals the first and only case of the
kind in our community? Not by any means.
The Bexar Building and Loan association had
similar experience, not quite so extensive,
and they held the threat of prosecution over
The head of the officer until at last they ex-
torted piece of city property as satisfaction
for the deficit. The gas company had a like
experience, and pocketed their loss. The San
Antonio Fire Insurance company closed
its affairs in panic because the secretary, who
was a strictly honest man, had exercised his
discretion, and the directors had failed to do
their duty. In fact, all these troubles in asso-
Citations arise from neglect or ineffciency of the
supervising officers, for If they did their duty
dishonest secretaries would soon be found out.
Hence the feeling as to Neal. His fall was
rapid and deep, he had cut wide swath and
had little 81 mpathy from his friends even, but
now the blame is divided and there is an in
different feeling as to whether Neal is punish
ed further or not
Associations are only in their infancy in our
city. The lessons learned should be profit
ed by.