Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-04
nrrArLrERs UNFINISHED.

The Atlanta Constitution has some very
sensible animadversions upon the loosing
OF a defauter OF that city, because he
had relatives who were rich enough to
make good the money that he had stolen.
The young man in question betrayed
HIS trust while employed in a great nnan-
cial institution, and when detected tried
to make IL appear that society was re-
sponsible" for his thievery. lie argued
that. having been a member OF 1.-THE
smart set" he was compelled TO steal
I'm order TO keep up with the process
sion"
No such excuse ought TO be listened to
for moment Society In Atlanta, as
elsewhere no doubt, has shortcomings
to answer for; but it could not have been
it's fault that that man committed rob-
berry. The fault was With the high
flyer himself He tried TO ape the fol-
lies and extravagances OF well-to-do
men, and in doing so appropriated the
money Of others. In the first place, he
was guilty Of false pretences when he
pretended that he had plenty OF money.
He must have known that his method
OF filling his purse would not have been
countenanced by society II ii had been
known. The true reason he was short
in his accounts was that he was not an
honest man. and had not the fear Of
the law in his heart
II is a fact, as the Constitution says
that too many such rogues are renewed
Of prosecution because they have reia-
tivcs or friends who are able and Will
inc 70 come to their assistance, and make
good their deficits. Our people are much
easier with defaulters than they ought
to be.
Defalcations would be OF comparatively
infrequent occurrence if it had been our
practice for the past twenty years 10
prosecute every offender relentlessly.
Rut instead of doing this, too often, we
have shielded the criminals from punish
ment. in order to cause resolutions to be
made.
Occasionally. the dread of making IN
nocent people suffer for the sins OF men
dear to them has been allowed to operate
in the same way But the latter course
is q far more defensible one than the
former since the handspring of action
there is benevolence. not sordidness. But
altogether we have been much too leni-
ent with defaulters.
There will have to be a change in this
If we wish TO suppress this growing evil
and increase public confidence in our
financial institutions. There is, however
a great difficulty in the way-the diff
Guilty of persuading boards of directors
or other employers that it is better for
them not to have so much money re-
funded. and to have more defaulters
sent TO the penitentiary. A reform can
only be accomplished by reformed
public opinion. At present, the evil is
so common, and has been so long sane
toned by the public, it seems to be no
offence at all against the laws and So
ciety.
OF course. the Dispatch is aware that
in defalcations there are different grades.
In some cases the defaulter is de-
faulter only in name-his integrity is UNI
Questionable. Our remarks. therefore,
do not apply TO such cases, but to those
where the offender has clearly robbed
those who have trusted him.
And we say it is high time that public
opinion were demanding the prompt pun
ishment Of all such persons.