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james redding ware - georgy lyrics

i am about to relate here a tale which, as far as intricacy goes, has little to recommend it. but though it is a narrative of plain+sailing, i am inclined to give it a place here, because it once again ill+strates pretty clearly how often it happens that popular and perhaps justly+grounded beliefs are in practice contradicted

it is generally believed that a detective is not to be taken in. there is no grеater error in relation to thе police force. once get the confidence of an individual of the home+blues—and i know no man (or woman) so easily and persistently deceived. i grant you that it is not often we yield our confidence, but when we do the action is perfect

then again, it is generally supposed that boys in their crime are audacious rather than cunning. this is a great error. the cunning of a boy+criminal is generally brilliant

again, it is frequently stated that the young in crime suffer a good deal more from remorse than their brethren in rascality of a riper age. this is a belief which is not always borne out in practice

i give this narrative because it combines, in a very simple form, the facts of a deceived detective, a cunning boy, and a young criminal quite destitute of remorse

the deceived detective was myself

the cunning boy was georgy

the young and utterly remorseful criminal, georgy

as i said before, georgy is not the hero of a good plot; but perhaps his tale is worth hearing nevertheless, as showing what can be done by nineteen years and a cool hand

this george lejune was a dashing young gentleman indeed, and charming also. you could not be in the company of the boy for half an hour without taking a liking to him

bright+eyed, bright+lipped, laughing, clever (in his way), earnest, and upon the whole gentlemanly, he was rather a superior kind of lad

moreover, he was fairly modest; and during the few short months i knew him, i never found out that he had any pet weakness

he dissipated in no form; he was too healthy looking for that. the only approach to weakness which i observed was now and then a tendency to hansom cabs, which i used to hear roll up to the house next door after i had gone to bed
i taxed him once with the cabs, but he had so good an answer for me that i dismissed those vehicles from my mind at once

“you see,” said he, “i don’t pay full fare, or anything like it. i wait till a cab is going my way, and then i tip cabby a tanner or a bob; and so i ride home for next door to nothing.”

what could be plainer than that statement? only it wasn’t true

then, again, when he told me that though he made but thirty shillings a week, he had it all to spend in pocket+money, as his mother had an annuity, that was an answer to his being well+dressed, and to his spending a little money. for upon thirty shillings a week pocket+money, you can have a decent coat to wear and carry clean gloves. thirty shillings a week pocket+money—a plain statement enough

only it wasn’t true

i was living at the time (on business) at a small house at the east+end of london, and next door to the young man’s mother. i took a liking to the boy from his turning out early of a morning, and singing like a lark as he looked at his flowers and fed his linnets. i defy you, if you have any heart, to mark a handsome boy, blithe, frank, and courteous, and not feel inclined to shake hands with him. i assure you this george shook you by the hand in the jolliest manner possible

as i can make acquaintances very quickly, i was soon friendly with the mother; and finding her a very plain, simple+hearted woman, i was frequently in her house whenever my business would admit of my taking an hour to myself

“i’m afraid georgy spends too much money,” said she to me one night

and so i, the detective, who by such a speech should have been put upon my guard at once, i said—

“no, mrs. lejune, the boy doesn’t. he is young, and while he keeps his eyes bright and his spirits up, you need not be afraid.”

it is true he sometimes came home late, but i argued with myself that bow was a long way from the theatres, and that he might be in the habit of going half+price to the pit

but one evening, when i was at the house of his mother, who did not appear to be superabundantly well off, i confess the boy did startle me by appearing with what was evidently a diamond ring set open, and circling his little finger

“dear me, georgy! says his mother,” “what a fine ring you’ve got there. you’ve been wasting your money again. what is the use of your working extra time and making extra money if you spend it so wastefully.”
“indeed!” i said, “he must have given quite a handsome amount for that ring—it is a diamond.”

“dear me, georgy!” says his mother, “why whatever have you been buying diamonds for?”

“it’s only one, mother; and besides, i didn’t steal it, it was given to me.”

“dear me, georgy, who could have given you a diamond?”

“why, mother,” says he, laughing gaily all the time, “don’t you remember i told you lieutenant dun, mr. clive dun’s brother, had come home on furlough; and don’t you remember that i went to dun’s with dun’s friend, will, on friday, to a night at cards—well, lieutenant dun gave me the ring.”

n.b. this conversation took place on the monday

“but, my dear georgy, you’ve only seen the gentleman twice!”

“well, mother, i can’t help that; but the lieutenant said i was a very jolly fellow, and he gave me the ring.”

as i said before, this was on the monday

he was only nineteen

on the friday following, as i learnt afterwards, he said to his mother at breakfast—

“mam dear, you must give me a kiss after breakfast, because you won’t see me till to+morrow.”

“my dear georgy,” i am quite sure she replied, “where are you going?”
“oh, the duns have asked me to their uncle’s to dinner, and it’s ten miles out of town, and they will give me a bed.”

so he kissed his mother. “my dear,” said she, “as light hearted as ever he kissed me, and he went out and talked to the linnets, and plucked two or three flowers and put them in his coat, and he went away down that front garden, which there it is, singing as happy as any one of those dear linnets.”

and yet he had taken the long farewell of his mother

he has never seen her again

i think in all probability he never will see her again—and this probability he must have been aware of as he went singing down the garden—singing, not because he had a light heart, but because he was cunning enough not to show the least suspicion, and because i suppose he could not feel remorse

when friday night came he was not missed because he was not expected home

when sat+rday morning came he was not missed because it was supposed that he would go straight to office from the hospitable country house

therefore it was only when the mother had waited up all sat+rday night and sunday morning had arrived, that any distinct notion would be come at that perhaps something had happened

but now it was sunday, and upon that day the innocent mother could give no warning of the actual state of things, no warning, that is, at the office of the boy’s employers. so another day passed, and it was only on monday morning that the firm got their shock

for “georgy,” the g+y, singing lad of nineteen, had managed matters so well both at home and abroad, that no suspicion of the truth could be taken at the office till the monday

this was his little arrangement

arriving on the friday morning at his office, (after giving the very last good+bye to his mother) he asked permission to leave at noon, as he wanted to go into the country, and he further requested leave till the sat+rday (the next day) at noon

the firm, or rather its representative, gave way, being a sufficiently easy+going man

“oh, by the way,” says georgy, “as i’m going in the country, sir, i may want a little money—if you will give me a cheque for the month i shall be glad.”

“oh, certainly,” says the princ+p+l, and i have no doubt the request for that poor little cheque helped to put off the uneasiness that princ+p+l was to feel sooner or later

the whole business was so plausible—the visit to the country on the friday, the permission for a couple of hours’ grace the next morning, and finally, the request for the month’s small salary, were all so rational and all so agreeing in themselves, that there was no room for suspicion—not even for that of a detective

now mark how well the plan was laid

he had got clear till the sat+rday at noon. then he was not expected till noon on sat+rday. but the office, in common with most others, was closed on a sat+rday at two; therefore, when the closing hour for the week came, georgy would but be two hours behindhand, a sp+ce of time which might be accounted for by supposing he had missed a train

this was the literal construction put upon his absence, and therefore the firm went home with a serene breast, and passed sunday without any doubt or uneasiness in reference to georgy

now it will be seen that had this singing innocent of nineteen absconded on any other day than friday, suspicion would have been aroused within twenty+four hours, or at their expiration; whereas by choosing friday he got nearly three days’ clear start before he was missed at his office, or any warning of his departure from his innocent mother could reach the city establishment

in my detective experience i have come across much fine delicate management, but i never encountered an instance of more decided and well plotted rascality than that of george lejune

of course within an hour of suspicion being raised, it came out that there were defalcations. before the day was out a deficit of nearly £300 was discovered; the existence of which deficit was clearly attributable to the young man

he had deceived every soul about him—me amongst the rest

at any moment during the previous two months he had been liable to be taken into custody; at any moment he might have found himself ruined for life, and yet, to my certain knowledge, he was apparently happy, and evidently healthy, bright+eyed, and brightlipped to the very last

the young man could not have had any comprehension of morality, and, at the same time his bodily health must have been wonderful

of course the very pretty facts spread with great rapidity. the city detectives were especially busy in circulating the news

the felonious performance had been effected in the most delightfully simple way

the firm was careless in money matters — rarely checking its banker’s book. this the very young gentleman discovered almost directly he had taken possession of his office+stool, and, it is possible, at once he made up a felonious mind. i should add that he was not altogether more than three months in the employment of the firm he robbed

the whole of the large embezzlements were effected within two months of his absquatulation. his plan was marvellously simple, but ingenious

my readers may know that it is the plan in the city, when paying into the bank, to send a paper with the amount to be put to the account of the customer, which amount is the total of the bills, cheques, notes, gold, and silver paid in—such items being put down separately, and the whole added together

this draft, of money to be paid in, was made out by the cashier of the office honoured by the young lejune, and then georgy became the porter to the bank. his operation was very simple—suppose the draft stood thus:—

the first manoeuvre was to forge the cashier’s name to a new draft, made an exact counterpart of the last, except that the gold item instead of being £125 was £25, so that the total stood £170 instead of £270

now mark the brilliancy of the felony

it was he who had the carrying to and fro of the bankbook

at the bank they would discover no fraud because the book agreed with the draft, while as soon as anything like suspicion were raised in the office he would be the first clerk applied to, to ascertain what had happened

now suppose in the given case the cashier had discovered that only £170 19s. 6d. instead of £270 19s. 6d., had been paid in, and suppose that cheerful young man, lejune, had been called to explain the matter, what would his reply have been?

“oh, i see; it’s only a mistake in a figure—a 1 for a 2;” and this argument would have stood very well, because all the rest of the figures would tally in the bank+book and office cash+book

“dear me!” the cashier would have said; “go down to the bank and have it altered.”

“yes, sir.”

he would then have gone, and never come back again

it is true he would have had a poor start, but that was a risk he ran

when i came to examine the case i found it exhibit such thought and study that it was some time before i could persuade myself that he had not been helped by an old and experienced hand

i am now convinced that georgy was not only quite capable of managing without help, but i am quite sure he relied upon his own abilities

it must have been very far from pleasant for all george lejune’s young friends, but they had mutually to endure that agony. i refer to their examination and the investigation of their premises by the detective force of the city of london

one gentleman was so shocked that he took to his bed over the business

meanwhile, george had got clean away, and the police (they were the city police be it remembered) could gain no tidings of him

his ability in deception was wonderful

he had deceived his mother as to his expenditure by saying he worked and was paid for overtime. this accounted for his absence and his ease in the matter of cash+payments

and his companions, his fellow+clerks, and also myself, he had blinded by the statement that he had all the money he earned to spend on himself, his mother being in the receipt of an annuity

the annuity statement—as a statement—was strictly true, but he neglected to add that the income did not go beyond seven pounds ten per annum

this explanation had of course served to cover his ordinary expenses. but he had to manage to avoid exhibiting any remarkable flush of cash before his companions. he would never spend more than they. this was ascertained beyond any question

but as the slow discoveries of the police were pieced together, it came out clearly enough, that when alone, or in company who were not aware of his actual circumstances, he would launch out into handsome extravagances, always, however, liking to have something for his money

he would take a private box, it appeared, after a nice quiet dinner at the tavistock—which he rather patronized than otherwise—or he would take his ease in a stall at the italian, dressing at the tavistock. he had much musical taste

the opera or play over, he would take a quiet chop, it appeared, at evans’s, where he was rather looked upon as a gentleman. then taking a fast cab home to bow he would to bed, and rise cheerfully, and to all appearances contentedly, to co+rs+ coffee and thick bread and b+tter, beyond which plain breakfast the rigid economy of the household would not go

i doubt if anybody suspected george lejune. when he was found out there was no need for suspicion

he spent his money, or rather his employers’, so judiciously, that n0body could suspect him. for instance—he had one pair of opera+glasses which were left at the tavistock, and another pair at an establishment much affected by him—a place i will call aggerney vick—an establishment which is not much to look at, but where you can pay half+sovereigns to see prize+fights, or running matches, or walking encounters

i have heard that he would take his lorgnettes and seat at this place with the air of a self+conscious and well+bred prince

there was no blague about him. he did everything in a gentlemanly and an effective manner. he was always brilliantly civil, courteous, attractive, and never exceeded the margin of good language, while he bore with much friendly patience the strong expressions of others

and to think that all these social good qualities should end in his printed description all over the walls of london—his height, the colour of his hair, eyes, and finally, the statement (which was eminently untrue) that he had a slightly jewish cast of countenance

he had appropriated the money he had taken in three divisions. the first, a month before he said bon voyage; the second, a fortnight previous to that event; and the third, on that very fatal friday morning

the last appropriation was the most audacious, and this he covered with the meek request that as he was going into the country he should be glad of his month’s salary

on the thursday, so great was the laxity evident in the conduct of affairs at the office, no smaller a sum in gold (georgy was too wise at any time to take anything but gold, though it is evident he was too luxurious a rascal to be bored with a weight of metal, for it was found out he exchanged his gold for notes in several instances)—no less a sum in gold than £75 was left unbanked and in the office safe

georgy was last in the office, after the others had gone, and he showed this gold to a friend—one of those to whom the police were so specially un0bliging after the catastrophe—commenting upon the bad management which allowed such a sum to remain at the office

it went next morning

wherever he passed that evening, it is very clear he plotted those next days’ performances, which ended, as far as he was concerned, so successfully. it is possible he saw that the game could not be carried on much longer, that the difference between the cash and bank+books must terminate in discovery, and the result be his fall. therefore, no doubt he argued, as there was a good golden haul in £75, it was a fine opportunity to be off, as the next day was friday

hence that little arrangement by which he got clear away, with three days’ clear start. on that friday morning, as he expected, he was sent with the £75 of gold to the bank. he forged his draft, he paid in the money this time without any nice reference to figures, he left the pass+book to be made up, he returned to the office (in all probability with the gold in his pocket) he asked for his leave of absence till two o’clock the next day, as he was going in the country. then he suggested a cheque for his month’s money, with the idea, it may be presumed, of getting all he could, and then he said “good day, sir.” and went

i believe the business of that four pound cheque as the month’s wages was a more difficult pill to swallow on the part of the princ+p+l than any bolus in the case. “it was so cool,” he said

but georgy being now safe for three days, the accusing bank+book being at the bank, and he himself having laid his little plans so cleverly, he was in no hurry to quit the city; and, indeed, to set out the better, he went round to his usual dining place and had a very festive little lunch, finishing up with black coffee after the french fashion

he was in no hurry to go

here he was very g+y, brilliant, charming, setting out he was going down into the country to dine with lieutenant dun. he was very g+y with amelia, the waitress, and gave her a florin for herself

he chatted with all those he knew, and he made several small engagements for the following week, and one for sunday to hear his favourite preacher—a mr. mellow

then he went, g+y to the last, nodding through the plate glass window, and showing some of the very handsomest t++th in the city

he had deceived every one

he had told me and others his mother left him his money to spend as he liked—on the contrary she was poor, and took three+fourths of it

he informed his mother what money he spent was the result of overtime; he had never been paid for overtime

he had given his friends to understand he had eight pounds a month; he was paid four

he spent modestly before his old friends—when he was by himself he would pay a guinea for a stall at the opera, and a similar sum before taking possession of that stall, as the price of a dinner

but the most fallen trait in his character was the appropriation of the diamond ring

the detectives beginning to make inquiries, the name of lieutenant dun, as a gentleman who had given georgy a diamond ring, was mentioned. the lieutenant was found out, and then he discovered where his diamond ring had gone to

this cheerful georgy had left the card+party to which reference has been made, and gone into a bedroom, and after coolly taking the ring off the glass, he had returned to the card+table and played more cheerfully than ever

“i do assure you,” said the lieutenant’s brother to me—for the sake of the mother i had made some inquiries—“i do assure you he ate quite a handsome supper (he having the jewel in his pocket all the time), and he must have been perfectly at his ease, because i remember his discussing, with perfect justice, the merits of two varieties of cream in our soufflé.”

just think of it. he was so fallen that he could even appropriate a ring, and yet he must have cared much for the world’s opinion or he never could have taken such pains to charm it

he got clean away

i have given this narrative as an instance of the error of the absurd belief that young men when they are guilty can be neither cunning nor cheerful, and the farther mistake which lies in the belief that a detective is never hoodwinked

the city police got to gravesend three hours after georgy had left that town. i never had any doubt about him being george after hearing what the boatman said when describing the lad. he added—“he was a main fine young gentleman, werry taking and smiling, and with a diamunt ring on his finger, an’ as i was rowin’ on him he steered his hand out lunnonways, an’ he says, says he, ‘there’s a many there ’ud like to see me.’”

well, he got away. i am afraid he will not make a figure in the world, but i am pretty certain of this, that he will be moderately happy wherever he goes, and will not be over+much troubled with his conscience

- james redding ware lyrics

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