Perverted Talent.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4193, 24 November 1883, Page 7 (Supplement)

Perverted Talent.

Tim story of Robert Danks, agcd2l, present address unknown, but urgently wanted, is as unpleasantly suggestive an it is extraordinary in its character. At the ago of 18 Dunks was convicted of forging cheques, having got tho cheques to manipulate by i first forging an order on tho bank for a cheque-book. Ho was sentenced to five years' penal servitude; but Mr Herbert, tho barrister who defended him, subsequently irmdo Bitch an earnest ap]>cal to the judge for mercy that tho punishmontwas reduced to eighteen months' imprisonment. On its coining to an end, Mr Horbcrt took Danks into his employmont, and was so struck with his assiduity and elevorness that ho speedily mado him his confidential clerk. In this capacity Dankß appears to havo had tho right to open all Mr Herbert's letters, and ho made good use of his position, for. after ho hnd been some time in his post, dunning letters camo in from unpaid tradesmen, and by-and-by notices from Mr Herbert's bankers that his account was overdrawn. This arose from the fact that (lie confidential clerk retained tho money given him to pay bills, as well as the sums which he Mas ?ent to pay into tho bank. Creditors' receipts, wore, however, always ready for Mr Her berts inspection, though not in the ciecKtors' own handwriting, and tho passbook was always in order. So until a week ago th.at gentleman was under the delusion that he owed no man anything. He now knows that lie has boon living on credit for about two years, and that his balance is a minus quantity. Danks could imitate, other men's voices us well as other men's writing, and when lie wanted £5 forliis flight obtained if. by asking for it as Mr Herbert through the telephone, having first arranged to get ?>lr Herbert out ot the oiliee by sending him a lieiiiious telegram. Pew confidential clerks are as clever as Robert Danks, but tho Police Court proceedings show that many are not more honest. An uncomfortable suspicion cannot be avoided sometimes that tho universal teaching of tho Three R's has not been tho unmixed blessing wo have been taught to think it. Wo havo tho testimony of prison chaplains to tho fact that crimes like those charged against Dnnks have greatly increased of late years among tho class to which it belongs. How is the increase to bo explained ?—" Globe,."