St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-08-14
MUSSEY'S PARDON.
A Washington Correspondent Defends
the Presidents Course.

INC FFtSHUtut y OOuFses
The CALIFORNIAN intends to be fair in
all matters and to all men and we pub
lish herewith letter from the Washing
ton correspondent of the New York Even
ing Post, which recently appeared in
that journal. In doing so we do not by
any means endorse the pardon, but give
the article because it presents the other
side Of the case. The CALEDoNIANs
opinion on the pardon is already we'll
known.
Mussey, who is now somewhat more
than fifty years of age, was cashier ofthe
Merchants National bank of Rutland,
VT, from the date of it's organiza lion in
1865. He had always borne an excel
lent reputation among his fellrw-towns.
men, and his family was in the best local
standing. His one serious fault seems
to have been a goodnatured weakness
in dealing with persons in whom he had
confidence. He was approached one day
with request to discount the note of
one Marvin A. Mcclure, man OF some
consequence in the community, person
al friend, and supposed to be in sound
business condition. The committee hav-
ing charge OF the loans declined to make
the discount, and Mcclure pleaded with
Mussey to let him have the money any
way, promising to make the note good
on or before the day Of maturity and as
surfing him that the matter should never
reach the ears of the directors. The re.
quest was granted, and the one false
step proved Mussey's ruin for Mcclure
not only did not redeem his promise, but
came for another loan, making further
pledges. Having once started down the
hill in this way, Mussey was led on from
bad to worse, till Mcclure had obtained
more than 100000, and wrecked the
bank utterly. 1t was proved on trial
that Mussey never received a cent of this
money; that he had pleaded with Nc.
Clure to cease drawing, and that Nc.
Clure had held the threat of exposure
over his head in reinforcing demand for
more. Mussey not only made full con-
fcssion, but helped the government all he
could in proving his own offence upon
himself and convicting Mcclure, and
made over, in partial restitution, all the
savings he had been able to accumulate
from his modest salary of 81 500 a year.
Mcclure admitted Mussey's innocence
OF any share in the profits.
For the 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 he con-
tinued to break down, losing fifty
pounds OF flesh in year and becoming a
nervous wreck. When he suffered a third
attack of acute appendicitis, the warden
and the attending physician grew very
much alarmed, and a consultation OF
physicians decided that he must undergo
an operation. He was put upon special
diet, piled with tones, and removed to
the city hospital, so as to be strength
ened physically enough to undergo the
operation. 1t was then that the ap-
plication for his pardon was started.
The superintendent OF the House OF
Correction testified to his good behavior,
his nervous retrogresson, etc. The at
tending physician, DR.. Edgar l. Hall, a
practitioner OF fifty years standing in
Rutland, wrote: "His chances of recov-
cry are diminished on account of his
poor physical and nervous condition"
DR.. Edmund M. Pond, practitioner OF
twelve years standing in Rutland,