, 1893-05-20

It had come TO be regarded as a matter OF
course that q Demerara jury would refuse to
agree to q verdict in a case OF enlightenment;
and that two or more Efforts would be neces-
sarv before a decision would be obtained;
but the Jury on Saturday has wiped of much
If this reproach. The able manner in which
the case was put before them by the Attorney
General muat have undermined their prejudices
if they ever entertained any and the clear,
terse and decisive summing up of the Judge
was srroug enough to flush their minds of nl
tendencies obstructive to the course Of Justice.
We have often thought that the Judge who
hears a case in which b jury cannot agree is
not altogether blameless for the wasted trial,
his indecisive and uninstructive address to
the Jury being OF no use to them by the way
of guide or caution. This complaint could
not be laid against the Judge in the trial un-
der notice. The Counsel of the prisoner did
as much as any barrister could Ihave done to
get his client of, but it was a forlorn hope
from the beginning, and the prosecution left
no weak placrs 20 invite q dangerous attack.
The case from first to last was watched with
feelings Of public sympathy, the prisoner hav-
ing become intimate through his Bank APP
pointment with a large number OF business
men with each of whom be was a great ia
vourite IN account Of his address and readi-
ness to oblige. So thoroughly was he held in
confidence not only by the Bank management
but by he Customers, that several of the latter
put money into his hands to place to credit of
their accounts and never asked for a receipt.
Ms system of classifying the books depended
for its immunity from exposure upon the con-
fdence il which he was held by his superiors
in the Bank and upon the familiarity upon
III :. l 49, - .-skJ H. ,,Oo~o sc fLNaA ~
counts upon which he principally operated.
If a missing pass-book was asked for, he was
ready with an excuse, or if a wrong entry
was questioned be could supply the cause for
it at once. Tbs strain upon his system in
guarding against exposure must have been
intense, and as it is known for certain that he
had involved himself AS far back as 1887. and
very poobAbly some years previous to that,
the wonder is how he managed, not only to
csc ape detection, but to withstand the mental
wear and tear so 10 <. Surprise has often been
expressed as to what he did with the money
he embezzled, his habits not being notorious
~ expensive or his private enterprises dis
astrous but the time over which the embez-
Elements were carried on ought TO supply a
very good answer to the question. 1t
is very easy for a man to get into the way
of living at the rate If four or five hundred q
year more than he can afford, and it is enough
to sn ppose that the acting accountant fell into
this fatal mistake to account for the money
he ulisappropriated. His fall ought to be a
grave and terrible warning to his fellow
citizens, especially te those Young people who
are working their way upwards Gin the hope
to take a top place bye-and bye. Let them
be patient and honest, satisfied with th@ com
forts and Injuries they can afford, without
getting into debt for what they cannot. A
more unlooked-fo for and more melancholy end.
ing to what might have been an honorable
career could not be imagined, and it is impos-
sible to avoid feeling deeply sorry for the
man who has brought such sad disaster, not
only upon himself, but upon all related to
him. Especially must We sympathise with
those nearest and dearest to him, who are de-
prived, not only of his support, but of the
melancholy pleasure of recollection, which so
often adds a comfort to the life of those who
are bereaved. Let us hope that when his
crime against the laws of the land has been
expiated, the lawbreaker will be recognised
by his friends in the spirit of true charity,
and a fair chance given to him to live there
after An honest and a useful life g 2tI-