Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-04-23
GOVERNMENT THIEVES.
HOBBERIEs UNDER REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATIONS.

Navy Department Frauds and the Cow
efnmsnt DeteetivesA=Ailan Pinkers
toms Advice.
speesat Correspondence Of TIE Sentinel
W4sHINGFoN, April 1s.-It seems
almost true that the United States
Government ID unable to guard against
thieves. What perhaps seems as true
Is that the same helpless victim Is al
way worsted in Its battles to punish
those, whose thefts have been diseev-'
cred, az usual, too late. The
RoBBERIEs OF THE GOVERNMENT
that have taken place during the last
decade, and under Republican regime,
would fill several issues Of THE Sen
TINEI. From petty thefts, we see
robberies involving three and tour
millions, and with few exceptions, we
see the government ridieuleusly un-
successful in its struggle to convict
and punish. A man who robs Van-
derbilt or Garrett spends several years
in the penitentiary, but the man who
robs the Z. s. Government spends his
stolen means without molestation.
There is one fact that seems to be
overlooked. Every man whom the
government has failed to convict, and
who is, in the eye Of the law, still ih-
noeent, has been made to suffer, not
only az regards reputation, but as re-
gas employment. The public has
watched the trial, but it's conclusion
Of guilt was foregone. This is unfort-
innate; we are not defending thieves,
but it seems to US, according to the
highest principles of justice, that rep
aration should be made when men
have been discharged on suspicion Of
rasoality, but honorably acquitted of
all guilt in the established courts. This
sympathy is not, we are aware, popu-
lar or fashionable. Scarcely one per-
son out. of hundred believes that
three-quarters of those whom the gov
ernment has failed to convict are in
nocent. But to sit down, and calmly
consider the matter, the ancient pre-
cedent, ga mans innocent until he's
proven guilty." will strike the con-
science deeply, in spite of public opin-
ion. There is scarcely ore out of q
thousand who admits the innocence of
the honorably acquitted "star-routers. :"
Yet, it these men are not entitled to
the full benefit of their legal inno-
cence, in every sense of the word, Gus
tom and law is in danger of being ter
ribly distorted. No matter what par
tisan or independent press may say, it
can be safely said that no one knew
so much of, or was so familiar with
the case, as the Judge and the jury.
That man of William Dickson's in
tegrity forced verdict in the first
trial, is sheer nonsense. We know
whereof we speak; we earned our first
dollar in business under the manage
ment of VIM. Dickson. In fact, we
were "Bill' Diekson's ofice-boy years
before the "star-route' case startled
the public. To continue, it might be
safer to say that the public knows
more of the case than those who calm
ly and disinterestedly considered and
weighed the evidence. From what
may be considered the greatest case,
we turn to one in which guilt was
clearly established, but which, to re-
cover a paltry twenty-odd thousand
the government compromised. Again
; we turn to a case in which guilt was
even more evident, but from which
the culprit escaped on the plea of in
sanity. Of course, our readers are
aware of the frequency with which
pleas of this character settle cases in
post-Guiteau days. Doctors of ac
knowledged ability pronounced the
man insane. What more can the gov
ernment do? But, if insane, his insan
ity was extravaganza This man was
drawing a comfortable salary, suff
cient to supply all comforts, if no
luxuries. Yet he fancied fast, blooded
horses, great receptions, priceless or
naments. He aimed, not at the every
day life of honesty and contentment
but at the giddy, costly pleasures ant
! mockeries Of highest Washington SO
ciety.
GOVERNMENT DETECTIVES
well-fed and well-paid, have beer
within sight of all of these robberie
but failed to detect until the mischie
had been done. The government de
tective is worthy of few words. Thos
who have never had the misfortune t.
, meet him can scarcely appreciate tn
man. In Washington, he may b
found posing in the lobbies of the fash
: ionable hotels, or other resorts, and Of
ten at horse-races or cock-fghts, d.
tecting the speed of the noble equin
or the valor of the pugilistic rooster
The government detective is, {
course always enyeloped in the my
teries of case. He has not an hou
of idle time. His friends are so LAWS
with their offers of drink that his tim
!, is fully occupied. When the govern
: ment has been robbed, the govern
ment detective may be fonn
stationed at one of bis posts, total
ignorant Of what has happened, b,
:. ready to take the case, and lock it
his heart. The government detectiv
like the government clerk, become
. with few exceptions, worthless. III
: ease of his position demoralizes hi
and soon disables him for the haI
work of details. Some years ago Il
SENTINEL representative had the ho'
or Of rendering assistance 70 the Gel
brated Allan Pinkerton, Pinkerte
left Washington, eonfiding the detail