The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-12-05

ON THE WHOLE, THINK I HAVE MADE
GOOD SPECULATION"
myself. l shall give myself up, and as
our relations in the language of the
president, have been personally pleas
ant will save you the expense of
trial by pleading guilty The maxi
mum sentence for my offense under
the laws Of the state is ten years in
the penitentiary With the commuta-
ton off for good behavior it will be
about eight and half years. 1t will
be dull. but | shall not be idle. l have
never had leisure to cultivate the
graces of the mind I have Il taste for
music. will cultivate it. | will learn
modern language or two. When
have served my term and am clear Of
the law | will come out of prison thir-
ty-nine years old with cultivated
mind and comfortable fortune of
$25O.O0O awaiting me. | can afford to
go away. to travel in foreign countries
and enjoy life. OF course lose the in
terest on my $25O,OOO willie ! am in
prison, but if l were to live on air and
go naked and save all my salary
wouldn't have one-fiftieth as much at
the age of thirty -nine. On the whole
think | have made good speculation
Don't you?"
The opinions of the directors were
not very coherent just at this moment
They made various appeals to him. on
the confidence they had had in him, on
the good name he bore, ON the dishon-
or he would incur etc. but he re-
sponded that all these had not helped
him to an increase in salary and re-
lentlessly quoted the language of the
presidents note to him that their re-
lations were purely business affair on
both Sides" Finally he said:
''Our relations have. been personally
pleasant, and have no unconquerable
desire to spend the next eight and a
half years in Jail. l will make you a
proposition. If you will sign bond
not to prosecute me and publish in the
daily papers a set of resolutions setting
forth that, whereas your valued and
trusted employee, John Smith. by the
receipt of Il legacy from deceased rel
ative has been relieved of the neces-
sity of further service resolved. that
you part with him with extreme re-
gret, etc.-if you do this | will bring
back S125,o0O and content myself with
the other $125,000. The interest will
make up good part of the loss to
me-"
1t was hard to give up $125,OO0 and
hitch it to a set of resolutions compli-
menting the thief, but it was Il choice
between getting half the loaf or moth
| ing Was the satisfaction of sending
| him to prison for eight and 4 half
years worth $4,000 year to them?
They figured on it and agreed that 1t
| wasn't
They accepted his proposition. drew
| up the bond and signed it.
'..You can get the resolutions in shape
| by tomorrow" he said, 'and have
them ready when | bring the money.
1t would scarcely be delicate for me to
be present when they are adopted"
Couldn't you bring it today. MIR.
Smith," asked the president. in a per-
spiration.
"No. | haven't time to go after it.
The work at my desk always keeps me
busy until the hour for closing the
bank. You will have to trust me till
tomorrow. and as by signing the bond
| you have committed yourselves to the
compounding of felony ! guess can
| trust you-even as purely business
affair."
They were all on hand early next
day. Smith. the cashier said mot with
out some surprise at hearing the presi-
dent inquire for him as MIR" Smith,
had gone out to get his lunch
He was asked for half !, dozen
times before he came Every few min
utes the door of the directors room
would open. a perspiring face would
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