St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-31
A STRANGE CASE.
Remark able Condition Of the
Criminal Career Of a Massachu-

Remark able Condition OF the
Criminal Career Of a Massachu-
sets Man.
Springfield CLASSY Republican.
The death of Lucius W. Pond In Wor-
cester recalls to mind one of the most
astonishing conditions of criminal ca
reer known in this state. Mr.. Pond
was machinist who had built up
large business by industry and shrewd-
ness. had gained high reputation for
probity, was something of a power in
city politics and talked of congress, and
was prominent in the Laurel Street
Methodist church and at the district
conference. He was lavish by nature
was excellent and he kept his notes
afloat. This was his position when
i'm 1875 he disappeared from
a Sound steamer, leaving his valiSe and
coat in the stateroom, so that it was at
first supposed he had drowned himself.
When the news first became known in
Worcester it was discovered that notes
known to have been paid long before
were still apparently out, and the in
dOrsers were OF course notified that they
were held for payment. Says the WOr-
cester Spy: It was found that old notes
had been used by Mr.. Pond over and
over again, by the simple process of
washing off the date and amount with
sponge and preparation of chlorine, in
tended for the removal of ink stains,
and by inserting new dates and amounts
to suit the convenience of the giver of the
notes. By making the original notes pay
able at his own Office, he saved them
from cancellation at the bank. One
after another the victims OF the same
trick were found among Masonic,
church and business friends of MT.
Pond. and the amount OF his operations
grew to an alarming extent. Rich and
poor suffered alike through the opera
tions. How much money was actually
made away with was never known, for
many who had suffered kept the story
of their losses to themselves" Ponds
suicide was disbelieved in, detectives
were put on his track, and he was ar
rested at San Francisco as he was about
to start for Australia, brought
back, arraigned, pleaded guilty to
three indictments for forgery, and was
sentenced to FIVE years imprisonment
for each. There were scores OF similar
cases against him; one law firm alone
held sixteen. Notwithstanding this the
people of his church made a hero and a
martyr of Pond. The Rev. William Pan
tecost, his pastor, is described as COM
ing from visit to him in prison with
streaming eyes and saying: II never
saw better man in this world. and l
never expect to until am in heaven"
Naturally in a few years petitions were
sent in for his pardon, and Gov. Long
did pardon him in 1882. before he had
half served his sentence. He was re-
ceived like q man who had been
wrouged and must be riehted;
business and political friends
bought business for him.
and the L. w. Pond Machine company
became prosperous under his manage
ment. The church took him back rs
generously, and he lived quiet, indus
triOus. and honOred life. Bat he not
only never repented, but never &C.
knOwledged that he meant to do wrong.
The remark is quoted: why, ii had
known that was forgery, never would
have done 1t in the world" How he
recOn.iled this attitude with his careful
preparation to fly to the other side Of
the world, is rs hard to understand as
the the treatment given him BY tho
community he had Wronged.