The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-05
STRANGELY LED ON TO RUIN.
THE INTERESTING STORY OF A
POSTOFFICE CASHIERS DOWN
FALL.
Through Pride He Concealed n short
age Made by AnOther's Theft--Hav-
ing ONCE FaIsified the Books, the
Thief Had Him in His Power.

age Made by AnOther's Theft--HaV-
ing ONCE FaIsified the Books, the
Thief Had Him in His Power.
From the st. Louis Globe-Democrat
In March, 1896, the cashier of one of the
largest postofiices of the country discover
ed that his cash was short. He had bal
anced his books Everything appeared to
be straight on the face of the figures. But
when the contents of the money dra aver
were run over the amount was $1,000 less
than it should have been.
Some cashiers would have gone over
the books and the money again, and YER
flying the loss would have reported it inn
mediately. This cashier did not do that
He had risen to his responsible position by
virtue of a record of exactness which was
the admiration of all who knew him. Post
masters had come and postmasters had
gone. Administrations had changed in
political complexion. The cashier had adj
vanced from position to position because
he had a talent which was phenomenal for
handling the funds and the complicated
cash accounts of the Office Long before
the civil principle went into general prac-
tice this man had made himself indispensa-
BILE through merit And so, without regard
to politics or influence, he remained in
office and climbed. Inspectors had exam
ined his books time and again. They had
complimented him as often as they visited
this office.
The man had come to be known in Wash
ington as the model postoffice cashier. AS
his fame increased his pride in the man
agement of his Office grew He was rigid
in his system. Gradually his duties were
extended as his aptitude for this part Of
the business manifested itself. He was
depended upon to audit accounts other
than those for which he handled the
money. Successive postmasters reposed
implicit confidence in him. They relied
upon his Gnerring accuracy to help make
their administration of the office success
full. They believed he was the one subor-
dinate who, either through intent or care
lessness, would never go wrong Friends
who appreciated the capacity and the rec
titude of the cashier told him IL was on1,
question of few years until his record
would carry him into the position of most
master. Before the fateful day in March
1896, they were right. AS surely a g his mar,
ty triumphed at the next general eIectior
the cashier seemed destined to reach that
official eminence for which he had ftted
himself by his life work.
That March night the cashier want
home to his wife and told her of the r,tesV
ing money. No one else was taken into
confidence. The experience was entireiy,
new The cashier told himself tbaf be
was certain to find an error in the hooks
which would account for the loss. He he-
lieved firmly that the deficit was ONLY am
parent. He would find the mistake he ar
gued. He would correct II, and be spa red
the modification of admitting thar HE
heretofore extraordinary accuracy bad
failed one time. The next day he search
ed, and the next he went over the hooks
page by page. Still that loss stared him
Then he made a fatal error. He MD the
loss so that under ordinary exanlnation
and reports 1t would not show. He said 10
himself that some day he would And Tho
missing error on the books, or, if not. that
he would make good the loss 20 the gov
eminent from bis salary when he became
postmaster. Thus the cashier reasoned
He convinced himself that the best thing
he could do was to hide what he still be-
lieved was only an error.
That a crime had been committed of
which he was the innocent victim never
occurred to him. The money which had