The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-08-08
THBPARDONING OF MUSOEY
Facts That Tend TO Show No Fraud
Was ResOrted To.
Statements of Physicians and Court
OHcials-The cN-PrisOner Had Not
PrOnted by HIS MIsconduct-HiS-
tory of the eN-Bank Cashiers Case

No pardon case in recent years has ex-
cited so much comment in Washington
as that of Charles w Mussey. lately
cashier Of the Merchants National Bank
Of Rutland, Vt. convicted Of maIappro-
priation % funds Of the bank and SEN
fenced TO seven years in the State HOuse
Of Corr, ction. Newspaper dispatches from
Rutland describe his pardon as having
been granted a month ago on representa-
tions that the prisoner was on his death
bed and add that he has just started, a
well man, for an extended hunting trip in
the Adirondacks.
Whether Mussey has started for the al
legged hunting trip or not, there is no
means here Of ascertaining. The state
mcnt that he was pardOnod because he
was supposed 10 be on his deathbed is
certainly an eNagEeratiJu and tends 10
throw suspicion on the other. The pa
pers in the case tell a very interesting
story. and suggest some questions rather
difficult 10 answer ohhand.
Mussey, who is now somewhat more
than nifty years Of age. was cashier Of
the bank from the date Of its organization
in 1885. He had always borne an excellent
reputation among his fellOw-townsmen,
and his family was in the best local
standing. Ills one serious fault seems to
have been good naturcd weakness in
dealing with persons I'm whom he had con-
fideuce, and an OVeT-Sensitiye nature. He
was approached one day with "a request to
discount the note Of one Marvin a. Nc
Clure. man Of some consequence in the
community. personal friend, and sup
posed 10 be in sound business condition.
The committee having charge Of the loans
declined 20 make the discount, and Nc
CluTc pleaded with Mussey 70 let him have
the money anyway. promising 10 make the
note good on OF before the day Of ma
turity. and assuring him that the matter
should never reach the ears Of the direct
ors
This request was granted and the one
false step proved Mussey's ruin, for Nc
CIure not only did not redeem his prom
Use. but came for another loan. making
further pledges Having once started
down the hm in this way, Mussey was
led on from bad TO worse. till Mcclure
had obtained more than $4,000, and
wrecked the bank utterly
1t was proved on the trial that Mussey
never received "A cent Of this money. that
ne had pleaded with Mcclure TO cease
drawing. and that Mcclure had held the
threat Of exposure over his head in re-
enforcing demands for more. Mussey not
only made a fun confession. but helped
the Government all he could In proving
his own offence upon himself and con-
victinE Mcclure; and made over IN par
tial restitution, all the savings he had
been able 10 accumulate from his modest
salary OF $50 a year Mcclure admitted
Musseys innocence Of any share in the
profits.
For six years before exposure came
Mussey's health had been failing. as his
crime haunted him by day through all his
waking hours. and turned his dreams AT
night into horrors In prison ne con
tiuued 90 break down. losing nifty pounds
OF flesh in year, and becoming a merry
Gus wreck. When he suffered a third
attack Of acute appendicitis the warden
and the attending physician grew very
much alarmed. and a consultation of ply
sicians decided that ne must undergo an
operation He was put upon special diet,