The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-08-20
Amounted To Consider
able From Start.
TRANSGRESSORs EASE MINDS
BY Returning Money In Va
riOus Sums. PiIfered
From UucIe Sam.
CURIOUS METHODS EXHIBITED


science, which Shakespeare saws
docs make towards of us ALL" has
caused penitent people throughout
the United States to turn into Tn
Gle Sans conscience fund" The
sum of nearly half million dollars
since 1911, when the first contribu-
tion was received. The transgres-
sions of these contributors cover a
wide range of law-breaking., There
is also great variety in the
amounts of the sums contributed,
ranging from 2 cents to cover the
cost of a postage stamp filched from
the Government, to more than $1S,-
600 stolen by evading customs du-
ties.
Most of the persons who send
money to this fund try to keep their
identity a secret. Some of them dis
guise their handwriting or purpose
ly misspell words. All these pre-
cautions are unnecessary, however,
for the Treasury official holds all
such communications confidential;
in fact it is the one department of
the Government where wrongdoers
may confess and make restitution
without fear of prosecution
Most of these letters come from
women whose wrongdoing. as a
rule, involves small transactions.
Men contribute greater amounts
than women; their crookedness usu-
ally consists in smuggling and
other such frauds. by which the
Government is cheated of large
sums. A few years ago the letters
of most of these people revealed a
strong religious feeling, and there
can be little question of the SINGER
ity of the writer's. In hard times
people grow serious and think about
their sins.
OF late years, since the period of
greater prosperity began, the contri-
buttons have been increasing. This
is explained by the officials as being
due to the fact that the law-break-
ers have long realized their obliga-
tons to the Government, but were
just waiting for a time when
they would be more able, financial
y. to discharge the debt. 1t is
said, however, that for the fiscal
year just ended, the contributions
70 this fund have been the smallest
N IL years. Conscience seems to
have lost its voice for the time be-
ng.
Some odd offenses are confessed !
o in the letters accompanying these |
One man in Chicago
tent in 81 with the statement that |
he had stolen a small apple tree /
rom the Government orchard at FIT.
sheridan some years before, and |
hat he now wanted to make resti-
ution. Another dollar came from
penitent in the West, who con-
essed to having stolen two sheets
nd a pillow case from an Indian
chool. Many small contributions
ONE from persons who wish to
make reparation for having used
anceled stamps for sending letters.
One contributor to this fund
ound that he had made a mistake
n his reckoning and in subse-
uent letter asked that the mistake
e rectified. 1t seems that this man
ad brought a ring from Paris and
bought it to be very valuable.
When he arrived in port in this
ountry he placed on II a valuation
hat he was sure was much below
he actual value. in order to escape
ayment of a high duty.
Later his conscience troubled him
D much that he felt compelled to
lake restitution and sent $500 to
he conscience fund" Some time
fterward he took the ring to a
sweler, who told him the pearl in
was an imitation and that the
Ing was really worth less than ,
1920. So he is now trying to {
ave the amount he contributed to
he conscience fuDi returned 10
i'm, claiming tha. the Government
sslly cheated hin In accepting his !
aluation.
The conscience frnG is preside
yer by an officer in the division of
ublic moneys. All letters accom- a
anying remittances are filed away. .
nd although the writer's name is I
cry seldom given in the letter. the
hcials try to. ackp owledgs receipt
the money by sending an account
its receipt to the papers in the {
ace from which the money was
mt. 4
One man who wished TO make
ire that the receipt OF the $4,000