The record-union., 1896-12-29
THE LANDSBOROUGH CASE.

The disclosure made this week that a
trusted official at the Courthouse and
one who has but recently been honored
with the office of Assemblyman from
this county, had abused his trust and the
confidence of the community, misused
funds committed to his care and falsi-
fled claims against the county to that
end, has shocked the entire community.
Here is a man trusted and believed in
| as are but the few, held to be above re-
proach and trustworthy as any man
could be. He found himself entangled
with debt, on a small salary and with
election expenses added and yielded to
temptation to misuse public funds and
what is especially aggravating to
falsify claims against the county upon
| which the money was drawn.
A great deal of sympathy is expressed
for Landsborough because his past life
has been one of uprightness and probity,
his conduct irreproachable and his bear
ing that of a. straightforward man in
whom perfect confidence could be re-
strong appeals for sympathy, and who
ever extends that balm is not to be re-
preached for SO doing But at the same
time it is to be borne in mind that he
who has won for himself a high place
in the esteem Of his fellows, has the
greater obligation upon him to maintain
1t and justify the repose Of confidence.
We apprehend that there is a great
deal more of sorrow in this community
than of anger at Landsborough's lapse
from rectitude; that there are ten who
wish to see him live down the shame
to one who wishes his innocent family
to suffer. Not that the community is
insensible of the danger Of ignoring
such offenses on the part OF officials. or
that 1t is blind to it's duty in the prem
ises. 1t will not expect the law officers
Of the county to fail Of their obligations
in this case, nor will it expect the AS
semblyman, after this open confession,
to claim the right to represent them in
the Legislature.
The people will expect Landsborough
to meet the consequences of his act
bravely, and take whatever the law
metes out to him for that for which he
has only himself to blame He has no
right to ask for more than the sympathy
that is remarkable in the face of the fact
that public confidence has been so
grossly abused by him. For all his
acts indicate deliberation, not a sudden
impulse, but careful and particular fall
sifcation This is not said in anger,
but Landsborough and his friends must
reflect that when the people trust a man
with office, and repose in him confidence
such as he enjoyed, they have the right
to feel and express indignation when it
is abused
That there is so little of this manifes-
tation in Landsborough's case is very
fortunate for him. and proves how
iiioCAi 5pOo 1iIdi ctctcE VIII TO excuse
and mitigate wrong doing In this case
the subject Of public comment will not
have less Of sympathy if he declines to
carry his scandal into the halls of leg
islation. His plain duty is to resign. and
that as speedily as may be, that Sac
ramento may remain with a broken DEL
egation as brief time as the law per-
mits His friends, If they are true to
him, and wish in all sincerity to lend
him a helping hand, should advise him
to this manly course Nor will the peo-
pie, pending examination into the self
laid charges Landsborough's confession
carries, think it seemly for him to re-
tain position in the County Clerks
office.