Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-06
sTENsLANp CAUGHT.

newspaper man and an assistant
states attorney in pursuit he crossed
the Atlantic, saw bull fight In Spain
and went from there to Tangier Mo-
rocco, where he was overtaken by his
former townsmen.
Did Stensland think he could get
away? Perhaps not AS a man of af-
fairs he knows how readily abscond-
ers are caught by means of the great
conveniences and agencies employed
in this age, but knowing this he proba-
bly, thought that there were three ways
open to him, giving himself up, running
away, and doing as Nipple did-acting
as his own Judge and jury and taking
his own life.
1t does not seem probable that he
would deliberately steal hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars with the expecta.
ton of skipping out from the country
and never being caught. Embezzle-
ments are not usually set about in that
manner. AS a rule they figure that
by speculation they will be able to re-
place all that has been taken, and will
not have to face any charges. But the
time usually comes when something
has to be done and done quickly and
there is little choice or time for
choice.
This is evidentally what Stensland
found himself face to face with. This
is what Nipple found himself face to
face with. Stensland chose one route
and Nipple chose another. Which was
the wiser is a question Stensland will
undoubtedly have long time to de-
bate with himself.
Right now is a good chance for men
who are operating today as Stensland
and Nipple have been operating to
learn profitable lesson. If there is a
man who is doing double dealing, keep
ing two sets of books, making false re-
ports, using money that belongs to
other people he can take his choice
and decide whether he wants to fol-
low the Stensland route or the Nipple
route. It must be one or TIE other
unless he makes good his stealings
before he is caught. If Stensland had
made good in his getaway, there might
have been some encouragement for
the man who is following in that path
now, but he didn't. He was caught,
just like all others who have tried that
game.
When man meets with downfall
there is usually a lesson to be learned,
but in the case OF these two men there
arise dozen lessons. There arc, les
sons in morals, there are iesrons in
government, there are lessons in Off
cial duty, there are lessons in hypoc-
risy, there are lessons in too many
women in the case-and there is
where Stensland was caught. How
ever, no one need think that he can
get away by simply learning that les
son and having no women in the case.
The chances are a hundred to ono that
the wires and the detectives will get
him anyhow.
Stensland is caught. Yes, but bow
does that repay the men and women
who lost their savings in the Milwau-
kee Avenue State bank? How does
that bring back the minds CT those
who went insane because of the loss
suffered by his manipulations in that
institution? How does that bring back
to life those who died from nervous
excitement and committed suicide AZ
a result of his misdeeds? There nre
books and books full of statutes alii
more in the making, but there is a sit
uation law can not cover. Tho money
is gone, the minds are derauged and
the lives are lost. There is no re-
course. Stensland can be punished,
but his sufferingn will be no more than
that of his victims