Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-03-02
A Case in Point.

- NdSe ln f0OlIl'
Chicago Sentinel
George Washington, a colored va
grant, whose name bellies his nature,
was arrested yesterday by policeman
Smith, on suspicion of having stolen a
new oyercoat and n gold watch, which
were found in his possession.
AT the police court this morning,
George, being unable to satisfactorily
explain how a well-known vagrant
could support such luxuries, he was
find 300, and sent TO the bridewell.
In the meantime the coat and watch
are held at the station, for identifica-
tion by the owner, whom, it is hoped,
will put in an appearance and claim
his property,"-ChicagO POlice court
item.
The above is the straightforward,
common sense way in which the au-
thorities Of Chicago dispose of its petty
thieves.
Here was man, a common, well
known vagrant, who was found with a
gold watch and an overcoat in his
possession. There are tens of thous.
ands of men in Chicago, with over
coats and gold watches in their pos
session, who are not arrested or mOlest.
ed. But in this case the circumstances
were different. and they were such as
to make it almost proof positive that
the possessor had stolen the articles.
Besides, he was given the privilege of
explaining and proving when and how
he obtained the goods. Had be OBJ
tained them honestly he could have
proven it. lie could not explain how
he got them, and, without any other
evidence, he was fined and sent TO the
bridewell.
There is not a particle Of doubt but
that the man stole the goods, nor can
any one question the justice Of sending
him to Jail.
1t was a straightforward, practical,
shortcut to a just punishment.
Who shall say that it was notp
Suppose we deal with few men
holding high positions in the same sum-
mary manner!
Let us haul up the Blaines, the
Grants, the Shermans, and scores of
others, who have become millionaires
while serving the United States gov
ernment upon limited salaries.
There they stand, with the goods in
their possession!
The very fact that man, at work
for the government on a $4,000 salary,
can accumulate all the way from half
million to a million and a half of dol
lars, is prima .tdcie evidence that he
did not get his money honestly-just
as completely and cOnclusively so, as
the possession Of watch and over
coat by a vagrant, is evidence that he
stole them.
OF course, give these millionaire
thieves a chance toeXplain from where
and how they got their immense for
tunes.
If they got their money honestly
they can show it. If not, let them take
the consequences of their acts, the
same as the vagrant thief did.
Then let the authorities seize the
stolen plunder, and invite the people
, to come in and prove ownership and
take it away.
If these shortcuts to justice are wise
', and justifab!e in small cases, they
should be so in the large ones.
Come into court, John Sherman, and
show where you got the money to build
, those stOne-front houses. If you got il
honestly you can show it.
!, Come intoI the court, William IL
Vanderbilt, and prove where you got
the money to buy 6o,00O,OO0 of gov
ernment bonds; and the money tC
build that palatial mansion that will
n cost $3,000,000, and the stock to con
troll all of these vast railroads!
Come into court, Jay Gould, an(
show where and how you got all that
s100,000,000 of railroad property.
: Come into court, Jim Blaine, aud tel
where you and how you acquired st
!. much money (some estimate it at ;
k million and half while working for
t the government.
e Come into court, U. S. Grant, ant
+ state the particulars as to the posses
: sion of all the plunder that you pos
n sess.
Y Come into court, each and ever,
' man who has accumulated such vas
|. fortunes as to excite general suspicion
e that you did not get them honestly
: and either explain how you got them
+ or suffer the consequences.
Again we repeat that what is gooc
f for little thief is good for big one
d There should be no discrimination.