Compounding a Felony.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 623, 6 December 1890, Page 6

Compounding a Felony.

Law, justice, and public expediency were, it seerus, all set at defiance by the local firm of warehousemen to whom I referred last week as having condoned the offence of one of their heads of departments who had been detected carrying on a system of wholesale plunder. In the case of a trifling offence by a boy, it is all very well to dismiss him with a caution ; but when the offender is a man in a position of trust, it is necessary for the protection of the public that he should be exposed and punished. The firm in question, though it has at least one J.P. on its list, chose rather to take the Law into their owq hands, and making terms with the criminal sent him forth on his way to rob others. Perhaps the chief moving cause of this leniency is to be found in the fact that the culprit was a religious man— a brother (in the Lord) of the pious firm. Another proof, if such were wanted, either that ' grasa ' is a poor substitute for honesty, or that it is profitable to make a pretence of religion. The thief and embezzler was in this case one of the Plymouth Brethren, but that proves nothing, for there are scoundrels in all sects. Taking advantage of his position, he robbed his employers with ridiculous ease. On Sunday he took the Sacramental elements, praying ' Lead us not into temptation,' and on the other six days he was preying — stealing his employers' goods, hoping that neither human nor Divine Justice would overtake him. The prayers of the unrighteous did not avail ; they never do. This hypocrite and thief was found out, and brought to book by his employers. Here Cant came to his help, and a pious friend pleaded hp.r3 for him to be dealt with in a Christian spirit. Beautiful la Chri^Lian forgiveness; but judge ye if there was any of it in this ease. The robber was told that he must make restitution of the sum of £182 10s in order to avoid prosecution. He raised the money and handed it over without a murmur —not that he admitted having stolen so much, but that he would doubtless have begged, or borrowed double the amount to save his miserable carcase from the punishment that was his due. Had he been a poor man who had stolen a loaf to feed a starving child, or smashed a street lamp in order to got a night's lodging for himself, he would have been sent to prison with all the degrading concomitants of public execration t*nd stnug sermonising by pious humbugs ; but because he hsd the power to raise moreyhfi was allowed to go away with reputation untarnished. He was summarily dismissed, and I presume got no testimonial ; but he is now a Cain at large without the mark -a criminal who is a thousand times more dangerous because he haß learned how to rob without getting into gaol. These are hard, stern facts, and I would name this firm of pious frauds were it not for the existing unsatisfactory Btate of the law of libel. Law seems made in every instance for the purpose of punishing the moneyless, friendless wretch. Similarly it protects the conscienceless liars who toady and flatter with pen or Snnters' ink, and is ready to jump on the man who ares to speak or write unpalatable facts.

Devonport is surely becoming a matrimonial paradise. We have already announoed several marriages on the tapis, and now we learn that the engagement between Mr McCorqudale and Miss Edson will soon be consummated.

Overheard in Queen-street last week. — London Masher (to young lady of his acquaintance)— 'Ah 1 How d'ye do ? Going to the strawberry party at Northoote on Saturday ?' Colonial Young Lady — ' I think not.' L.M.— ' Aw, do. lam going, don't-cher-know,' C.V.L. (with contempt)— • I am really very sorry, but surely you can get someone eJse to take care of you.' Collapse of masher.

A significant fact, as bearing on the cost of our public school system, is that Mr Alex Grant, M.A., candidate for Onehunga, is a firm believer in drastic retrenchment in educational expenditure. Mr Grant was for over twenty years a public school teacher in New Zealand, and his opinion is worthy of respect ac being that of a man who knows the subject upon which he speaks. He is opposed to the big salaries enjoyed by the fossil head-masters.