The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-13
THE SENIOR BANK WRECKER.


aged 7. P. Haughey, the indianapolis
bank wrecker, brings its own sad and
impressive lessons. No man in Indiana
stood higher in social or business circles
than he; yet he closes his career dis
graced in the eyes of his friends and a
felon in the eyes of the law. His life,
seemingly so successful, is crowned with
infamy aud in its trail follows ruin and
restitution to those who trusted him.
His moral rectitude, his profession of
religion and his outward show of Integ-
rity in business only emphasized the
enormity of his crime. To the offense
actually committed he has added the
crime of deceit. BY this means the in.
nocent have been made to suffer and
his life long friends have been the
victims of his basest treachery. There
is a certain kind Of respect due the COM
mon thief who makes no pretense toward
business honor. We, at least, know
| where to find him and treat him accord
ingly, but the wolf in his fleece of snowy
whiteness is, of all men, the most
dangerous.
The total disregard for the sanctity of
trust was developed, if not Inherent,
in him in the highest degree. He &C
cepted the charge of hard-earned money
as though it was intended for his per-
sonal use and abuse. 1t appears that he
not only took charge Of vast sums of
money long after his bank became in
solvent, but no effort was spared to
secure large amounts in the capacity of
treasurer, trustee or executor. Numer-
Gus state and benevolent institutions
| will lose heavily through his default, the
bond in some cases being totally worth
less.
As a banker he seemed to have no
scruples in treating his deposits as pri-
vate property. Long after the capital
stock was consumed by loans to his
family and business associates, he con-
tinued his drafts upon funds which
belonged to his deposltors. Neither he
nor his directors were entitled to the use
of these funds on other conditions than
those made TO outside borrowers.
Whether such use of his deposits COM
! menced imperceptibly, or it was so
| planned from the beginning, it matters
not. The time came when he knew it
was stealing, and every offense was a
separate theft. No punishment can be
too severe for such deliberate robbery.
| Covering n period of more than ten
. hn .e
having been done hastily or under the
pressure of extreme circumstances.
| Perhaps the gravest of his crimes was
IN the profligate use OF his stolen wealth.
1t was not taken to appease hunger, or
to relieve distress, but largely to be
| squandered in worse than useless man
ner. A city residence, a villa in the
country, elaborate furnishings and en-
tertainments, costly presents and the
most expensive pew in the church are
blessings of the basest counterfeit when
bought with stolen money. Added to
this was the use of such display TO main
tain social position and to command a
Difference and respect which society
recognizes toward the rightful owners
OF wealth. The perfidy which prompts
a man to steal for this purpose may
hardly be imagined by those of less pre-
tensions. If there is greater purgatory
OF punishment inside of prison walls,
than the consciousness of having stolen
for this purpose it will be some slight
retribution for his crime, but we imag-
inc that the remembrance of his double
life, of his gross betrayal of those who
trusted 10 him their confidence and their
fortune, would bring mental torture to
which prison locks would appear as a
friendly protection. When we arrive at
the golden era when all men are sincere,
If not honest, we viii be nearer the mil
lennlCm than we now are.