The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-26

cover any such entry on the cash book.
Nov. 81. 1882, the same company paid
Cramer $3.50, which was duly entered on
all the books. On the stub and cash book
the figure had been erased, leaving the
amount $50 But on the register book it
remained unchanged. On May 10, 1882,
the r. I. & P. road paid $3.50, for which
they showed a receipt, but there was no
such entry on the cash book.
KoEHLER ACCUSED OF THE CRIME.
In closing the case for the defense, Mr..
Sweeney attacked City Clerk Koehler in
very nnwarranted manner, saying that if
any one was guilty it was Koehler, and
that if anyone was sent to prison, it
should be he instead of Cramer His
grounds for making this charge was that
Mr. Koehler, being in the same office
with Mr.. Cramer, could have altered the
figures and taken money during Mr..
Crsmer's absence. In justice to Mr..
Koehler, and in order that he may not be
in the least suspected Of the crime of
stealing the peoples money, we will make
few statements in regard to the matter
In the first place Mr.. Koehler says he
never had the cash books in his possession
until after the dismissal of Mr.. Cramer,
and as the writing and figures is all in the
latter's handwriting, Mr.. Koehler certainly
cannot be charged with tampering with
that book. But the principal point on
which we wish to assert his Innocence, is
| that all the stubs in the receipt book in
Mr.. Koehler's writing, are credited In the
cash book by Mr.. Cramer, which shows
that the money was paid over to Mr..
Cramer. There is certainly no founda-
ton to The charge made by Mr.. Sweeney
and we attribute his action more to hasty
impulse than anything else. He could
easily left the impression that the books
had been tempered with by outside par
ties, without personally mentioning Mr.
Koehler, as there were other persons who
saw the books besides the city clerk Oh
course Mr.. Sweeney is good lawyer
but he should not endeavor to clear his
client by smirching the character of an
honestman.
THE PROSECUTION.
If Mr. Cramer has been found guilty
and there is no reason to think otherwise,
to Judge Wilkinson belongs the credit o.
winning the case. The speech OF. State's
Attorney Parmenter is very severel!
criticized by all who heart
it,and it is regarded as more of an apolog,
for appearing against Mr.. Cramer, thai
an effort to convict him. He said he wa
only doing his duty in prosecuting tn
case; had no i'll will against Cramer, an
as tho jury had heard the evidence h
would leave it with them to decide whett
er Cramer was guilty or not. If the pee
Pile had known that Mr. Pafmenter woul
let his personal feelings interfere with h
duty as prosecuting attorney, he woul
r never been honored with the position /
now holds. Judge Wilkinson's speec
1 was of a much different nature. E
looked upon the man who would rob h
, employer as worse criminal than tn
} stranger who would enter your house IN
t beknown.
2 The ARGUS, in common with the goo
people of Rock Island, have no ill feelin
against MIR. Cramer. 1t is his acts the
condemn, and that the verdict OF guilty
meets with general approval is becaus
they believe it is right that he should sui
fer for his crime. The leniency of th
jury in fixing the sentence at one yea
shows that they desired to show Cramer
case as an example to others who ar
tempted to sin, rather than to give hiI
his just desserts.