New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
AN Easy EXPLANATION.

The first thought upon hearing Of the crimes
of Bedell, who is now wearing convicts garb'
and Foster, who is still at large is one OF wonder
how men could be led to commit them. Be
dell was in receipt of comfortable salary
which had steadily increased, and enjoyed the
confidence Of his employers. dis posiuon
while not brilliant perhaps, was nevertheless
excellent, and many lawyer would have en-
We'd it, Fosters case was still more singular
He enioyed lucrative practice, and for young
man had achieved marked success. Further
more, he had large expectations, inasm1ch as
his father is very rich, and Foster no doubt
expected to have some day handsome inherit
ance. Another strange element in the case Is
that the lis; Of detection was so great. NO
matter how carefully every step of the devious
processes of these crimes was arranged the
danger of discovery at some point by some one
of the persons interested was very serious
one. 1t must have been necessary to keep a
steady watch on all the doors through which
detection might enter, and while perhaps the
chances of discovery were not so numerous as
in the case of defaulting cashier, yet the thiel
must have been under constant tension. why
should any man, who was doing well enough
before, feel that it paid to make more money
in this way?
The answer is as familiar as the offence Itself.
Bedell saws that it was a desire to grow rich
RAPIDLY that first led him to play policy. AT
the beginning he won, and then when his losses
threatened to bring him to ruin, he committed
his first theft No doubt he expected, as soon
as the tide had turned in his favor, to repay
the money, make his accounts straight, ana
stand once more on a solid footing; but like so
many men who have travelled the same road
he found himself before long floundering hope
lessly in the miro. Ills losses continued froo-
ably after the first few thefts had been sue
cessfully committed he grew holder. 1t is not
likely that considerations of principle weighed
much with him, because it is the testimony OF
Recorder Smyth that even the paper which he
submitted in the hope of mitigating the Sc
verify Of his sentence showed an entire lack OF
moral sense. Then the desire for snowy ana
luxurious living, which seems to be often both
cause and effect Of dishonesty, took possession
Of him. and while most of his stealings were
flowing into the hands Of gamblers, consid-
cradle share was being spent upon country
estate. The man must be strangely constituted
who could take pleasure in spending stolen
money upon fancy cattle with the doom OF rum
and disgrace hanging hourly over his head.
The case of Foster is less easily understood
because il does not seem TO be known where
his III -gottcn gains went although there are
mysterious rumors of large presents OF money
TO friends. He lived we'll but not apparently
beyond a scale which the income he was hon
estly earning as lawyer would have lustifed.
If the truth is ever known, the explanation Will
doubtless be found in some secret chapter OF
his life. unknown to most of his associates,
more than likely in unfortunate speculations.
The moral is so old that it hardly seems worth
while to present it. 1t is this craze to be nch
ahead of time that wrecks many promising
career and brings shame upon many an inno-
cent head. 1t fosters criminal reckleSsness IN
speculation. Given this and opportunity, and
the frequent result is moral breakdown, with
the penitentiary in the perspective. That old
fashioned virtue Of economy is safeguard
which is too often neglected Many man
who feels himself secure in his own rectitude
may well take warning by such careers as
these, lest he confront himself with the same
temptations, and meet with the same disaster.