Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
HANDLING M Ely
THE STRAIN ON A MAN TO BE
HONEST.
Temptations to Those Who Are Asso
ciated Constantly With Large
Sums Of Money.

Eibbon had again escaped from 81. GhA"
beth" said a well-known newspaper man.
recalls to my mind a conversation mad
with the whole-souled gentleman several
months ago. To be candid, had believed
that he was not the same Fitzgibbon men
tally, and I determined to see II l coulo
convince myself Of this belief. l strolled
into his office in the treasury and engaged
him In conversation. He appeared more
nervous than had ever seen him, and
asked him If it wasn't terribly trying on a
man to handle so much money every hour
any every day.
Great God. old man." was the quick an
swer. mo man on earth can ever imagine
the strain until he goes throughswith 1t. 1t
is simply a purgatory on earth. l wish 1
was In some other business. Not Tor my
life would steal a penny, but the tempta-
ton is often great. Fight 1t as you may.
the temptation to be dishonest will come to
YOU 1t Is no ordinary task to resist the
temptation to steal. 1t is fight day IN
and day out with many an honest man. l
knew one of the best men In the service TO
send in his resignation simply from the
fear that some day the temptation to do
wrong would be too great for him.
Case Of Eddie Ryan
The best men in the world will go wrong
sometimes unless they are exceedingly
guarded You remember the case Of Eddie
Ryan. He was model young man. One
day at noon, when Ryan was in charge,
messenger from the Bank Of the Republic
came in with ten packages Of money billed
for New York banking house. Ryan gave
a receipt but made no record. He put the
packages in safe used for uncaLed-for
packages The amount was $4,000. The
young man left the cash in the safe and
did not say a word to any one else. How
ever, he was careful to wrap an old news
paper around the bundle. That night Ryan
came back here, and by telling the watch
man that he had left bundle of soiled
clothes in the office he managed to get In.
Next day Ryan failed to show up at the Of
fee. and In the afternoon his mother sent
word that he was Ill. Nothing was thought
Of his absence until next day, when a mes
sage was received from the bank that the
New York house had not received the
money. The Washington bank had Ryan's
receipt. and then 1t was realized that he
had skipped. He was arrested in Denver,
and the express company recovered nearly
all the money. While doing time in Albany
penitentiary he was pardoned by President
Cleveland. He afterward married a young
lady In the Treasury Department who had
been loud in her denunciation Of him when
he took the money.
A Big Temptation.
''Years ago. when I was train dis
patcher and agent in Kansas, one night a
about $4,000 for payday purposes. He put
it in my safe, and 1 felt bit nervous with
such a sum Of money under my protection.
Those were the days OF road agents and It
was desolate region. Later In the night
this fellow came back and said to me, Did
you ever hear Of the agent at -? Then
he told me how this agent had $40 600 put
In his charge. had been robbed and no trace
was ever found of the men who made the
haul. Well, this duck came right out and
asked me to join him in a scheme to get the
$4,000 which was lying in the safe. He said
that he would bind me and gag me, and in
order to make the fafie more plausible he
would hit me with club. After the rob
berry had been discovered he would come to
time and divide even with me. I listened
to him just as long as 1 could stand such
talk. and then pulled my gun and told him
that II he said another word on that line 1
would put him to sleep so deep and sound
that all the road agents in the country
could not get him to open his eyes. He
went away and / lost sight Of him. 1
should have reported the matter. but l was
a new man then, and feared they would
laugh at me- or would insist that he was
only testing my honesty. l am firmly Of
the opinion that he meant 1t all, and / sus-
pect that the proposed blow of his club
would have been something more than a
mere bluff.
Weakened at the Last.
'There is man now holding a high posi-
bad pace in his younger days; there were
bad hours in his life. but feel that he will
never weaken again. In a moment Of wear
mess over his small income compared to his
ambitions. he found that he could steal a
package containing an even hundred thou
sand The package was in his keeping for
shipment next day. He argued that he
could take the money. disguise himself and
get out OF the way before the theft was dis
covered. Somehow he could not make up
his mind to tell his wife, but he put the
package in his grip. secured the necessary
disguise, and the tempted man went to his
home, kissed his wife and baby goodbye,
and left. He was desperate and resoiute,
but when he entered the berth in the
sleeper he found that he could not sleep nor
rest. The wave Of remorse was too much
for him, and he boarded the next train for
his own city, arriving In time to be at the
bank at opening hour. He went to the
presidents private room. and in faltering
words he told the president what he had
done. The president merely smiled and
asked for the package. With trembling
hands the tempted man handed 1t over.
Only deception. my dear boy: only de-
ception.' said the president, as he united
the package and displayed roll of paper.
We thought you were honest, but all men
have moments Of weakness Go to your
desk
Such positions are too tempting for the