The Chronicles of Newgate, vol. 2/2Griffiths, Arthur
History
The Chronicles of Newgate, vol. 2/2
Griffiths, Arthur
Criminals -- Great Britain; Newgate (Prison : London, England); Prisons -- England; Punishment -- Great Britain
Two cases of extensive embezzlement which were discovered almost
simultaneously, those of Robson and Redpath, will long be remembered
both within and without the commercial world. They both reproduced many
of the features of the case of Watts, already described, but in neither
did the sums misappropriated reach quite the same high figure. But
neither Robson nor Redpath would have been able to pursue their
fraudulent designs with success had they not, like Watts, been afforded
peculiar facilities by the slackness of system and the want of
methodical administration in the concerns by which they were employed.
Robson was of humble origin, but he was well educated, and he had some
literary abilities. His proclivities were theatrical, and he was the
author of several plays, one at least of which, 'Love and Loyalty,' with
Wallack in a leading part, achieved a certain success. He began life as
a law-writer, earning thereby some fifteen or eighteen shillings a week;
but the firm he served got him a situation as clerk in the office of
the Great Northern Railway, whence he passed to a better position under
the Crystal Palace Company. He now married, although his salary was only
a pound a week; but he soon got on. He had a pleasant address, showed
good business aptitudes, and quickly acquired the approval of his
superiors. Within a year he was advanced to the post of chief clerk in
the transfer department, at a salary of £150 a year. His immediate chief
was a Mr. Fasson, upon whose confidence he gained so rapidly, through
his activity, industry, and engaging manners, that ere long the whole
management of the transfer department was intrusted to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account