The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-01-09
WHERE Is THE MONEY!

Inc IHtSStSstpptdH proposes de-
tective 10 ferret out the treasury
delalcaiion, and many Others favor
1t. 1t Is certainly desirable to
know where the S3l5,6l2.19 went,
but it Is exceedingly doubtful
whether Il detective could make
any discovery worth his pay. We
would be glad, however, 10 have
the experiment tried. A more
promising thing would be a com
mission with power to send for
men and papers. We have not IA
doubt that the men are in Jackson
who can tell all about it, and some
papers could be found perhaps.
No sane person who allows him eli
TO reason on the case, and knowing
the facts, doubts that Heming-
way can give the desired Informal
ton. Those who stlll insist on his
moral Innocence have an obstina
cy of unbeIief which does them no
credit. God formed the human
mind to receive testimony, and on
that all jurisprudence is based, and
all public judgment, which deter
mines justice on broader scale.
By ali the principles of sound
judgement MIR. Hemingway is
guilty, morally as well a legally.
There Is absolutely nothing to
contravene the solid mass
of testimony against him. No
matter what he was years ago.
it is known that in recent years
his affiliations in Jackson have
been of the worst. AS treasurer
he covered the delalcation of the
penitenliary lessees when he was
appealed to for the truth. He con-
tinued to c6nsort with them on
terms OF close friendship when
their delalcation and duplicity
were known. lie put $4,000 OF
the States money in Green's
bank years ago, and drew it
out in his private speculaiions, as
the checks found by the investiga-
ting committee show beyond a
doubt. He, with Gov. Lowry,
went 10 NatcheZ and borrowed
100000 on State bonds, not a cent
Of which ever went into the State
treasury as the books of the Office
show. And tins was done when
The States receipts, month by
month were in excess of disburse-
ments.
More still, when the Office was
investigated and the money count
ed, he had either stuffed the treas
ury or he was advancing $315,612 10
to the State. Now, it is all nom
sense to suppose that Mr.. Heming-
way could use $4,000 of the States
money in his private speculations
as his own checks prove, and not
know it. 1t is nonsense TO say
that he could borrow 100000 on
State bonds, never cover it into
his accounts of the transactions OF
his Office, and not know II. He
does know, and he is the man 10
tell where the money went. If he
does not tell, the other two indict.
ments ought to be pushed against
him, and his term in the peuiten-
tary heightened.
Mr.. Hemingway has no explana-
ton TO make of all these things.
He cannot expect people to be-
lleve his unsupported word against
all these facts. And to undertake
TO mlslead the public in the inter
est of the reputation of man who
took no care of his own reputation
is not according to sound public
policy.
Mr.. Hemingway had the priyil-
ege of testilying under the solemn
of an oath, and of clearing
up, if lie could, the dreadful array
OF facts against him. lie was 81
lent, and that is the same as con.
fession of guilt. He could not go
on the witness stand without
cross examination, and that would
expose to all eyes his guilt, and
cover his soul with perjury. BY
all the rules of charitable judg-
ment, Mr.. Hemingway has had his
opportunity. The people whose
trust he has betrayed have dealt
leniently with him. His sentence
is light compared to his great de-
ialcatiun. He has been led by The
evil influences surrounding him, as
we believe, TO commit grievous
crime, and he is adding 10 it by
deceit. And men of whom The
public have a right 10 expect bet
Ter things, are encouraging him in
his wrong course by protesting con-
fidence in his bare word against all
the testimony. II is wrong, utter
ly wrong, 10 thus pervert and de-
bauch public sentiment.
Mississippi has had a bad history
for some years past. Defalcations
have become painfully frequent
Large sums OF money paid into the
public treasury by The honest mass
es, have been taken by public off
cials. Over $4,000 of the peoples
money was made away with dur
ing the last State administration.
The commonwealth has been put
10 shame by the dishonesty of her
public servants. But, bad as all
this is, there is still worse feature
of the case; public dishonesty,
when proven, does not bar the
guilty parties from decent society.
Men of known dishonesty can hold
up their heads among men, Keep
their places in society, sometimes