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Show DUKE-ROBERTSON, DEGENERATES. The sensation of the past few days has been the making clear of the fact that two absolutely trusted trust-ed degenerates have been robbing the Bank of Wells, Fargo and Company in this city for nine years past. The wonderful feature of the business busi-ness is that they could have carried on their work of spoliation so long without detection. How they escaped the eyes of the manager and of the bank examiners so long is the wonder. It seems the system of checking, the work of one employee upon another, was sufficient to balance everything correctly in the bank proper, but all the time the drain upon the vault itself went on, one forged check serving until it became dangerous and then it was replaced by another, the long-time deposits of heavy capitalists serving the purpose of the thieves and making their work comparatively comparative-ly easy by whip-sawing the bogus checks from one to another account when in any particular case the appearances became threatening. But that the habits of both men did not long ago excite the suspicions and apprehensions of the manager is most strange. The lives of the two men have been perfectly understood by business men generally in the city; it has been clear for a long time that both men were expending vastly more money than any ordinary ordi-nary salary could supply, and how this could go on year after year with no accounting is marvelous. mar-velous. It has long been known that some five years ago Robertson went to a friend in anguish, threatened to commit suicide because he Was a defaulter de-faulter to the amount of some $2000, which the friend gave him to clear his account. Of course, we all know that with some strong natures, that axe inclined to be suspicious and to be chary of giving confidence, when that confidence con-fidence is gained it is given absolutely; but a bank has the money of the public; no other place requires such perpetual vigilance and it is a marvel mar-vel that two thieves could for years pursue their reckless course unapprehended when the dullest citizen familiar with their daily career, knew that there must be something wrong when quiet men were saying: "There will be some volcano detonations heard in the neighborhood of Wells, Fargo and Company's bank one of these bright mornings." It is idle to moralize over the affair. A few facts stand prominently out. One is that neither man was inherently honest, neither was ever disciplined disci-plined either to a line of duty or to control his own appetites and passions. The betrayal of the trust placed in their hands was merely a matter of opportunity. op-portunity. Probably they began as other men do, by taking a small sum which they fancied they could quickly restore. After that first fatal crime, the rest followed with ever increasing progression progres-sion until the appetites were more and more given away to, that through them surcease might be brought from remorse and fear, until the shadow of the penitentiary closed over both of them. Of all the criminals, those who rob deposits in a bank are entitled to least sympathy. Wells, Fargo and Company has branch banks in many cities, but had this thing happened in any ordinary bank there would have been a run upon it and very likely a smash. Then the deposits on which aged men and womon depend for support would have been swept away; the money to support and educate orphans would have been lost. EKK These degenerates knew all that when they Hi (', 1 B began their burglary of the bank vault. HB'il Bsl The dog that kills sheep has not much char- Bll t K aB acter; when the shepherd dog in whose care the Blll1!'' BE sheep are entrusted turns murderer of his own wSfig ' sB flock, then no denunciation gives an idea of his B H ' ' BV depravity. At least no flowers are carried to him, B f) B no resolutions of sympathy are passed. B '' ' B Men have been sometimes converted by the B ff.V1 B spectacle of a horrible example. In this last re- filll " i1 Bsl spect both these men are just now evangels. Ball Bsi Bh j J' Bsl |
