The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-30

Il IOlu tll6 new 1OTk lIlDune.
newspaper reporter visited con-
fessed forger in the Tombs the other day.
The forger, who was engaged in legiti-
mate bond business and in prospero US
circumstances, had thought to increase
his gains by borrowing money from a
bank on fabricated securities. He was
caught, and awaits punishment. Natu r
ally he is not happy. He has time to
think things over and regret his mistakes
Regrettlng mistakes does not necessarily
imply repenting of sins. On the con-
trary, the evidence in the present case
points the other way. The forger's most
earnest question to the reporter was,
"What do people say about 2" In dis
cussing the subject he went on to show
plainly what he thought of himself. "Do
they seem to consider" said be, "that
never intended to wrong anyone, but al
ways expected to pay the money back ?
Do they seem to know that could have
sold two, yes three million dollars wor tn
of bonds just as we'll as those which l
did,"
This plea is refreshing in it's impudence,
if not admirable in its spirit. 1t invites
the public to pity the forger in his fall be-
cause. when committing n crime under
generalization and with full knowledge
of the nature of the act, he did not COM
NIT one of still greater extent. The same
plea adopted by other rogues would lead
the highway robber, when brought to the
bar, to call on people to express their adj
miration that he contented himself with
knock ing down and gagging his victim
when he might have murdered him out
right. The dishonest bond dealer, to Judge
from his utterauces, is little troubled con-
corning the moral quality of his acts. He
shows no signs of genuineness in dealing
with himself. He is posing and thinking
of the figure he cuts before tho world. He
would delude himself and others into
thinking him the victim of misfortune,
in that his little ruse to get money 10 which
he had no right for a little time and then
pay it back miscarried and left him in
disgrace. 1t is not n forced inference
from his language to conclude that, had
he foreseen that discovery was inevitable
in time TO carry on his operations further,
he would have made use of tho possibility
for more extensive fraudulent borrow
ings, which he boasts was in his hands.
There is az least no reason TO suppose
that the man who would forge for 500 900
or S4O0, 900 would hesitate about $2,000,O 900,
if that sum better suited his plans.
A detected criminal, if he appeals to
the public for sympaty at all, commonly
does so with confession and in a penitent
frame of mind. There is enough of senti-
mentality afloat to guarantee such an
offender all the consideration he deserves
and sometimes a good deal more. No
body is disposed to say harsh things of
the trapped thief, but is usually content
to leave him with little comment 10 the
cour.s. But when a man sets out on a
deiber tie course of self-leception and
with n display of vanity which is none the
less vain because ruff Il, asks, what do
people say about me?' il is becoming that
a few plain words be said. The forger
committed crime. II was a crime with
out excuse. The use OF fraudulent bonds
was all the more a crime because he dealt
IN true ones, had the confidence of people
and had the opportunity to enter into
lar-e transactions. lie was 4 man of
education aud social standing. He knew
the code Of business honor. He was under
no sudden stress of temptation. lie car
ried on his frauds skIllfuiiy through
period OF time. lie was a
deliberate thief, and one who deserves no
sympathy. That, We are convinced, is
what most r.gat-miuded people will say Of
him.