The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-25
MADE BIG HAULS
Twelve Million Dollars Stolen
Last Year
BY TRUSTED AGENTS

Professional Thieves and Crooks
Were Far Outdone by Well-Dress-
ed Gentlemen, in Position Of Trust
and Honor, Whose Only Tools
Were Pen and Ink.
The vast army Of professional
thieves who rob by force or other
wise, steal but tithe of the millions
of dollars that are taken unlawful
ly throughout the length and breadth
of America each year, says the New
York Press. 1t is the we'll educated,
carefully dressed gentlemen who
hold position Of trust, and whose
only tools are pen and ink, who loot
most of the treasure chests of cor
porations and individuals.
They stole last year, so far as the
records show, nearly $12,0OO,OOO.
The year before they got away with
more than S9,O00,000. If the en-
bezslements during 1909 keep up the
record for January, this year will
be another record breaker for dis
honesty I'D loss. The report Of
defalcations for the first month of
1909 shows that the enormous total
of S1,2S5,49O was taken during its
81 days. This is at the rate of more
than SIS, 100000 year. Burglaries
and other thefts amount to but
about $3,000,000 annually.
The amount of embezzlements on
ly can be guessed at, after all, and
it is more than likely that the fig
ures given are far below the actual.
They are compiled by one of the big
New York fidelity companies from
agents all over the country, from
newspaper clippings and other avail
able sources of information. Yet,
it is acknowledged by everyone ia
miliar with the subject, that not
more than half the embezzlements
that occur are ever heard of, except
by those most directly interested.
They are hushed up for fear they
will injure the standing of the con-
Germ that has been robbed.
Sometimes the embezzler is caught
redhanded and is forced to disgorge
most of the money he has stolen.
This generally is before he has had
chance to spend it, and usually
follows theft that is committed
under sudden and overpowering
temptation. In many other cases
however, it is discovered unexpect-
edly that trusted employees de-
falcations have extended over a pc
riod of many months or years. If
he confesses and his family and
friends are able to make up even
the major portion of the loss, he
frequently is allowed to go free and
unwhipped of justice. But there are
others whose cases are so fragrant
they cannot be hid. The bonding
company loses thousands of dollars,
and then the punishment is severe
and certain.
Il could stand on the roof of al
most any of the tall buildings be-
low Fulton street." said an employee
of one OF the big private detective
agencies the other day, land toss a
stone on the roof of one or a score
of places where l, personally, know
that heavy defalcations have occur
red that have never been reported
to the police, or even hinted at in
the newspapers. In some Of the cas-
es the embeZzlers have been caught;
in others they are being hunted for
in various parts Of the earth. Their
| pursuit never will end until death
or capture gets the thief. The
known statistics of los sindlcatinG
S12,000,000 stolen last year, are
accurate, so far as they go. But the
actual amount of embezzlements
migth reach four times that amount.
Banks and trust companies are
the heaviest losers, according to the
published reports. Last year there
was stolen from such corporations
the sum of S5,9933,971, which was
S2,9O1,97O more than in 1907. Last
January the defalcations from banks
and trust companies amounted to
S794,95O. If the entertainments con-
tinue at the same rate during 1908
it will bring the total of losses for
such institutions alone up to So
539,4OO, which is more than the to,
tai losses in all lines Of business re-
ported in 1907.
General business, which term in
cludes commercial houses OF all de-
| scriptions, lost S2,402,9S2 through
defaulters in 1908. During the first
month of 1909 the total of the losses
| that came to light was $53 ,22O.
Public service corporations were
the next heavil st losers. their total
being Sl.0i4,741 in 1905. No one
knows why it it, but this was nearly
$3.50. GOO below the previous year
record.
The smallest losers in 1907 were
in ,ho insUran@, companies, who had
$SI.54O taken from them surrcpti-
tiously Last year, though their
losses amounted TO S3S1,23333, an in
crease of about 600 per cent. Ben
! eficial associations lost less than us