The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-14
THE NELLY CASE.

Uncle Sam cannot afford to permit one
guilty man to escape.-Marion News.
Muncie has Nelly, and Anderson, Kokomo
and Marion are hustlng for something to
offset the MISUNDERSTANDING Review.
Muncie had no idea that Charles f. w.
Nicely had such remarkable career until
the local correspondents began the recital
of unusual incidents of his life.-Muncie
Times.
If Nicely is not prosecuted ito the full
extent of the law the opposition will say
If he is prosecuted the same opposition
will say that ii is to make a scape-goat of
him. And so it goes.-Marion Chronicle.
Mr.. Neely's friends recommended him
and assisted him because they had conf
dence in him. They have been imposed
upon, deceived and injured by him and are
under no obligations to save him from the
consequence of his own misdeeds.-Terre
Haute Express.
1t is to be hoped that Charles Nicely will
demonstrate that he is the victim of APP
reasons, among them to spare Indiana the
of supplying the first instance of
American official rascality in the conquered
provinces.-Anderson Bulletin.
The Cuban postoffice scandal should be
thoroughly sifted and no guilty person
should escape. All men are not honest,
and sometimes a dishonest man gets into
office in spite of the utmost care on the
part of the appointing power, but the gov
eminent can at least run down and punish
the criminals-Kokomo News.
1t is only fair to Charles Nicely, who is
accused of embezzling public funds. that
judgment be withheld until he has been
heard in his own behalf. He may be guilty
and he may not. The fact he has been ar
rested proves nothing as to his guilt. 1t is
incredible that he would be so foolish as
indicated. even if he had the inclination
to steal. and his friends will be slow to be-
lieve the differentiation Chronicle.
The Nicely imbroglio with Cuban postal
affairs becomes more and more involved.
This is a case demanding heroic treatment.
After interfering in that island in order
to put quietus on Spanish fraud and
tyranny, this country cannot afford to per-
NIT carpet-baggers and spectators to re-
peat Spanish abuses. Unless new island
possessions can be assured of honest adj
ministration they cannot be expected to
trust us.-Evansville Journal.
The friends of C. F. w. Nicely who have
known him most closely cannot be-
lieve him capable of the gross en-
bezzlement charged against him. The
high business standing he had in
Muncie and this section of the State war
fair and impartial hearing before passing
upon his case. It is hoped he may be found
innocent of any ng-doing. Certain 1t is
that none of the Heaths of Muncie are in
any way connected with the affair, what
ever there may be in it. Nor is his old pa
per, the News, in any way connected with
him in private or public matters.-Ander-
son Herald
1t seems there is some doubt as to the
law under which Nicely. accused of robbing
the Cuban postoffice department of $4,000,
can be tried. Cuba is not a part of the
United States. 1t is said he will have to be
taken to Cuba and tried under Spanish
laws. 1t will be particularly unfortunate II
he is guilty and escapes. He was a repre-
sentative of the government, and If he has
proved recreant to the trust placed in him
there ought to be some way by which this
government can reach him. If men can be
sent to Cuba to administer it's affairs under
our authority and yet escape responsibility
to the appointing power ut will not be long
before the United States will be charged
with helping to plumber the island. If there
is no law at present to reach such cases
one should be passed at once.-Elkhart Re-
view.
The United States embarked in a new
business when the government of colonies
and dependencies was begun. The work
was taken up in the name of humanity.
Honesty is imperative if there is to be sue
cess. The civil service must reflect all that
the motives of the Nation promise. There
can be no successful insular government
based on spoliation. The Spanish govern
ment fell because of corruption in colonial
management In the beginning of a new
departure for the United States the Nicely
case assumes national proportions. II
promises to be a precedent. The con-
science of the Nation demands that its mo-
tives be respected. At the same time the
conscience OF the Nation is generous and
no man is guilty until proved so. If Mr..
Nicely be guilty he will and should be pun
ished; if he is innocent the injustice done
him cannot be Observation-Disclosures Times.