Evening journal., 1898-12-23
LETTERS PROM THE PEOPLE
THE CONVICTION OF MR. WILL
LIAM STEELE.


case more deserving CT the sympathetic
interest Of the disinterested observer,
than. that of Mr. William Steele. ex-
cashier OF the now defunct ChCstnur
Street National Bank. who has just,
been convicted OF aiding and abetting
in the misapplicatlon OF the funds OF
that institution. and also of issuing
false returns OF the condition of that
institutions affairs.
We have here the somewhat unique
spectacle OF a man found guilty OF
insisting in the naegal withdrawal OF
a banks monies. although he, the man
convicted, did not benefit, either di
rectlS or Indirectly, TO the extent OF a
single dollar OF the SO mysteriously
vanished money. 1t is this very fact,
and this fact alone, that has given rise
to the sympathy-not a misplaced SYM
rathbr at that-now going out to Mr..
Stee.e. II musV Of course. be con-
ceded that Mr.. Steele was altogether
wrong in cashing the ad infinitum
cheques OF the president OF the bank,
the hte Mr.. William M. Singerly, even
though he. Mr. Steele. was more or less
justified in believing that the collat-
eral put UP by Mr.. Singeriy was suffi-
cient to cover the loans. This course
OF procedure on the part of Mr.. Steele
was. doubtless. illegal and savoring of
that which is criminal. And Mr..
Steele was more than altogether wrong
when he fa-sified the true condition Of
the bank by coloring the reports for
the pubic. thereby inducing that public
TO stiM continue making heavy de-
posits. which deposits were eventually
dissipated and swallowed up in the
cannot be imputed to Mr.. Steele a will
full or premedltated connivance at
theft, for he. like Mr.. Singerqy-thar
once financial. but not inherently dis
honest, dreamer-fuliy and truly be.
lieved that the loans in question would
be repaid. OF course any such belief
no matter how apparently solid the
grounds upon which that belief WAS
based might have seemed, will not, in
the eye OF the law, pass muster or
serve as an exeenuating Circumstance.
BAIT the fact remains that Mr.. Steele
was not morally even though he was
iegally. guilty. Of a wilful OF premedi-
tated series of thefts. Dent let US for
get that fact: neither must we forget,
when ana,wzing a given crime, to
weigh in the balance OF criticism the
motive or motives actuating the guilty.
one That Mr. William Steele was in
fuenced to commit a series of illega.
acts by reason Of his very natural de-
sire to retain the cashiershlp is a fact
which goes without saying Mr.. Steele
WAS placed in an exceedingly peculiar
position a position in which but few
men. fortunately for them. find them
selves placed. On the one hand-a
blind submission 10 the somewhat err
ratic wifi and Dictates OF the late Mr.
SingeTly. and the retention of the
cashiership; on the other hand
the very probable dismissal from the
hank IL be refused to comply with Mr..
SinserN's demands to honor his,
Singeilv's cverdrafie. It wifi thus be
se~n that Mr.. Steel was "in strait be-
tw'xt two." Alternatives OF this par
ticugr character seldom present them
sevcs TO nsn holding the Identical
office OF trust as that he'd by Mr..
Steele. And il is a matter for congratu-
4 iauon that such is the case, for were IL
otherwise, then the chances are that
the majority Of the incumbents of that
offRe would act precisely as Mr.. Steele
acted. TEMPTATION, in one form or an
other, ever dogs mans footsteps, fire.
quently winning the day and, with the
speed Of lightning flash. blasting and
laying bare and desolate a hitherto
highly reputable career. We have ia
mind the case of a once highly respect
ed borough official, a man who fol
some years had faithfully served the
corporation Of one OF the mcet import
ant manufacturing centres of England
In an evil moment he fell; a finan-
cial shortage was traced to him. and
his career as a corporation official was
irretIievablg lcetl and damned. Bun
such indeed was Fhe high esteem in
which this man had once been held
that a member of the Town Council, q
wealthy manufacturer, rose in the
council chamber and said: 81 feel as II
] would willingly give all + possess il
this thing had not happened" There.
fore, and before adopting a condemna-
tory tone in the Steele case, it be.
hooves even the most se.f-reiiant, the
most seEf-confident Of us an TO ask our,
selves the question, what would VIZ
have done had we been placed in SINH
lar circumstances Of temptation, or, tC
speak mere correctly, if we had beer
called upon to bear the same pressure
as that under which Mr.. Steele labor
ed? A man need not be an apoiogisr
for crime in order to ask himself OF
anyone else that question. Many o.
us are honest simply because we arr
Obliged to be so. With many of III
opportunity does not permit the no
& breath Of a monetary temptation {,
blow our way. In that case, a man.
honesty becomes but a negative virtue
an unknown, untested quantity. w
fancy we hear the man of ethics. tn
man whose moral anatomy Is charges
with the very essence Of Commercial
I morality, deciaiming much after thi
manner-"Oh, Mr.. Steele ought to hav
sacrificed his position at the bank. tn
maintenance CT his family. etc, etc
etc, and have refused point blank d
4 comply with the Illegal behests of MI
i Singerly to honor his, Singeriey' S, per
sonal cheques" It is the easiest thin,
in the world for the man of Commercial
ethics and weaith to toast his feet be
fore comfortable fire, and to philosO
4 phize after the manner Just stated
Such, undoubtedly, would have bee
the wisest course for Mr.. Steele {
pursue. And such a course would, wit
equal undcubteduekqS have bee