Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 49

[cahn]

Celebrating 5 years very soon?! :D

Comments

Embezzlement

[mildred_of_midgard]

This is one of Pfeiffer's convictions:

3. Dass er von denen, zum Bau derer Spinner-Dörfer Friedrichshagen, Gosen, und Marienwerder Allergnädigst accordirten, und aus der Etablissements Casse nach, und nach erhobenen Geldern 4387 Reichstaler 11 Groschen 4 Denarii dazu verwendet zu sein nicht hat nachweisen können, und er daher solche Summe zwar nicht zu unterschlagen gemeinet gewesen ist, doch unterdessen, bis die Notdurft bei dem gedachten Baue deren Erstattung erheischet haben mochte, zu seinen eigenen Privat-Nutzen gebrauchet hat,

Are they implying that it would have been okay for Pfeiffer to borrow money from the funds for establishing colonies if he had paid it back when it was needed, and it's the fact that he didn't pay it back when needed that made his behavior embezzlement?

I know this is behavior that was treated as okay in Russia at the time; was it okay in Prussia too?

-- An essay writer adding a conclusion to the essay

Re: Embezzlement

[selenak]

To me, it sounds like Pfeiffer is believed to not have meant to embezzle, but since he couldn't prove he'd used the money in the intended way, it's assumed he did so for his private purposes and didn't pay it back by the time it would have been needed.