Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-29
: Abuse of Trust.

I, is an old and tried saying, that ''mur-
der will out" 1t makes very little differ
ence what kind of crime is committed
it is very rare that 1t remains undiscov-
cred. Even If death. by removing the Of
fender. apparently hides his guilt effectu-
ally. how often it happens that the secret
Is unearthed even after the lapse of years
Il Is no less true in what we call small Of
fences. petty crimes. Some unlooked-for
occurrence is sure to bring them to light.
Cases in point are the instances of abuse
OF trust that seem so common that we can
scarcely take up apaper without some
suggestive heading telling us that another
fellow man has proved false to the conf
dence reposed in him,
II would seem that the certainty of dis
covery would deter men from indulging
in these expensive luxuries Expensive
certainly to the victims). but doubtless
the reason lies in the fact that the course
Of wrong doing is entered upon with so
little thought of possible consequences.
Probably very few deliberately begin a
course Of peculation. but it is so easy to
use a little of another's money entrusted
to your care; so easy just to borrow a lit.
tie Tor present use, to be put back imme-
diately; then 1t is easier still to take lit
tie to DO put back pretty soOn--and so 1t
goes on. It becomes hard and harder to
put back what has been taken, till.
before the man is aware, he is q
full-hedged defaulter. however upleasant
the name may sound It is only kind OF
arithme.ical progression which is just as
sure to bring the answer--and good
large one--as any In the books. From
the town treasurer or selectman, who han.
dies few thousands, to the most accom-
plished operator who uses the mask of
religion and piety to ''devour widows
houses" and then decamps with what he
has ACCOMPLISHMENTS people call
II stealing-the course is the same it
differs only in degree.
The frequency of defalcations ought to
arouse towns and cities to the necessity
Of keeping watch on those they put in
charge of their funds. It is all very we'll
10 talk about trusting man with uncount-
ed gold, but If you should happen to
want to count that gold some day. and
1t should be missing, then who will be
blamede Not the one who laid the tempta-
ton in another's way. we venture to
assert There will be q hue and cry
about the weakness and unftness of GER
tain men for offices of trust. but 1t would
be well to stop and reflect bit upon the
weakness shown in such slovenly ways Of
doing business. No honest man fears an
examination of his books. While towns
ought to keep closer eye than many OF
them do upon their affairs. as mere mat
ter of business. by such means they may
prevent man from yielding to momentary
temptation that he could not afterwards
break away from. Where town authori-
ties leave their business in the hands oil
one man for years, as is often done. no
inquiries into affairs being made In the
meantime. they are doing wrong, and
they ought not to plume themselves ii the
man turns out to be honest, nor follow
him with anathemas il he falls. We do
not condone the wrong done by the de-
faulter. Far from it. But public opinion
ought to wake up to the need there is oil
keeping an eye upon public business.