Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1916 — NOT SO BAD AS IS PICTURED [ARTICLE]

NOT SO BAD AS IS PICTURED

TJrook lieporter Gives New Versioh of Pierson Shortage. The editor of the Brook Reporter, who is a relative by marriage of Marion Pierson, former* pastmaster at Foresman, who was sentenced to a federal prison last week for failure to remit government funds, gives the following account of the affair, which is probably as near correct as it is possible to state: » So many wild stories have been circulated concerning this matter

that we believe that it is only justice to him and his friends to give the facts as they appear in court. During the two years he was postmaster no inspector ever visited him until September 6, 1916. No charges were filed against him for any irregularities except during the months of May, June and July of *1916.

On May 31 the postmaster had $438 of government funds, during this month and subsequent months of June and July some money was sent to the Chicago office, but on June 30 there was still $494 duo the government, and at the end of July this amount had grown to $683. In August the government statement was taken up and all of this money sent to the Chicago office. This settlement was made voluntarily, and on September 6 the government inspector came and brought a statement calling for $66 and some cents that the postmaster did not have on hand. According to the affidavit of Mr. Pierson’s partner, Philip Miller, the inspector’s statement from the government auditor contained $50.90 more than that of the one sent to Pierson. They secured the funds and settled according to the inspector’s statement. (He took the other with him with the idea of checking it up and returning in a few days. Mr. Pierson explained all the details of the offense to the inspector when he came, also made him a written statement of it when asked later. He went direct to the district attorney when in Indianapolis and explained that he wished to plead to the charges of failure to remit but not to the embezzlement of the $66 and this request was granted and that charge was thrown out. He gave Judge Anderson a similar statement of the affair, and received his sentence, as the judge stated afterward he sentenced all postmasters who came before him and were found guilty of misconduct of government funds.

The stories that he was short $1,600, and SSOO at the time of the visit of the Inspector, do not square with the records in the federal court. It was within the discretion of the judge to fine, or imprison, or both. The young man made no attempt to defraud the government and as he was under bond the government could lose no money. He comes from an excellent family and has held responsible positions of trust with the International, Harvester company, and his past record was as clear as a bell. Every man must obey the law. We do not question the decision of the judge. But after listening to similar cases, some of them more pathetic than this, we wonder if the taking of a few years of a man’s life and all that follows in all cases makes men better or gives to us more protection.