The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-29
TIE WALL STREET FoRGERIEs.


COURT or CENTRAL sRssi0Ns.
Before Recorder Hoffman
II was not understood generally by tho public that
Edward Ketchum would be brought up in the General
SESSIONS yesterdays Consequently the court room was
nss inconvenently crowded when he was brought In.
II viii be remembered that Judge Allen, early in the
present term ntmated by letter to the District Ator
nsy the intention OF Ketchum 70 plead guilty 10 one Of
che indictments for forgery before the term should close
me prisoner therefore, was brought up yesterday and
q soon as he came into court his father took seat be-
gde him and remained there until the preliminary bust
ness Of the court was disposed Of Kctchum appeared
% realize the position he placed in for his coun-
senance indicated solemnity and anxiety.
Ex-Judge Allen and John sedgwck, Eco, counsel for
Mr. Ketchum in attendance, while District Attor-
ney Hall represented the people
The District Attorney instructed the clerk TO place
Edward B. Ketchum At the bar BE rose from ms seal
and stood a. the bar.
Ex-Judge Allen addressed the Court as foIows;-wHn
your Honors leave desire TO say few words before
plea OF guilty TO OF the indictments preferred against
kr Ketchum do this with the PERMISSION OF tne DIS
rxlct Attorney Your Honor is somewhat familiar WIN
these indictments although not familiar with the nego
tatons and applications which have been maze 20 tne
District Attorney In relation 70 TINS matter. ~ aa ap
ponement of the trial Of the several indictments 70
future Of this court for reasons which We sna now
urge for posponement OF the sentence ana the Judg
nent 70 be pronounced in thecase upon which we plead
guilty The District Attorney treated us very courteous
" and very kindly listened patiently TO our repeated ar
1uments and all the that and others associated
with could urge for posponement OF these trials;
and these such that under ordinary crcum
stances the District Attorney would have yielded to
application and postponed the trial But he felt and so
expressed himself that there were reasons connected
with these cases why they should be disposed Of quite
early 80 that IL offence had been committed the law
could be indicated and II offence had been commit
red the public should be permitted to know IT, We felt
That under the circumstances these reasons were
perfectly satisfactory to us and we LETT the
Going and Intended TO do nothing more than his duty
he certainly did that with great nrmness and persist
sncy 80 that his worst enemy cannot say that ne dd
lese than his whole duty As said before in note
which addressed TO the prosecuting officer, Kechum
did intend contest his guilt any time but there
and connected with the business opera
fions the firm and their creditors why il import
Why he should not be placed in position where his
testimony could not be made available to those who
might desire IT, Those reasons ! shall now urge why
che sentence upon this plea should not now be pro-
n0unced-why there should be q postponement OF this
beyond this term to be called up at some future
public reports If not otherwise that the firm with which
ehis young connected were large dealers and
large operators that their liabilities very large at
the time Of the commission of this offence and at the
slime OF his withdrawal from the firm, rendering neces
eary 70 make an assignment, which was made by the
0rm The firm, the assignees and the individual cred
Mors thus involved IN litgations amounting to
some three-quartsrs of million dollars in money All
MI important only to his firm but TO the assgnees and
the creditors whom they represent his testimony
thc rm and the creditors must be greatly the losers In
sny event. as the object OF the prosecution is not 70
punish the innocent but to punish the guilty and II an
early sentence Is pronounced, the punishment VIII m
heavily upon the innocent upon the guilty; and
snasmuch the law is fully indicated by conviction,
The accused remaining in prison during the suspension
Of the sentence to his injury and not 70 his benefit
certainly there s reason, appears TO us, why the
sentence may properly be postponed We can make
shcse facts appear by adavits if your Honor and the
afrlct desro IL WI mat n n
ocQuent time, will be within the control OF the Court and
che District Attorney, and the prisoner within reach
30 for the prisoner ia concerned, would be better
yor him have the sentence day. because
his imprisonment from this time would be in fulhment
OF his sentence his punishment being rs severe as II
Win DO after the sentence is pronounced Personally the
prisoner IL loser by the suspension OF the scntcnce
but ne y entirely willing 70 submit himself 70 inc savce
and that liz favor which we shall have 10 ask OF your
Honor whenever this young man shall be called
which you will readily concede. II is not very
unusual request but IL is one that would esteem as
great favor in this that Is IL you would permit us
% examine some witnesses orally open court to show
she character and standing and the business habits Of
shs young man before he fell into this crime show
che circumstances under which he 70 commit the
crime showing that he really acting under dcluson
which, while did not relieve him from criminal respon
sibity do not claim that) certainly relieved the Of
fence Of Of its moral enormtes il did not Sc
cure him dimnution Of the sentence IL would place
him in different position before the public We wish
20 show that his habits not those OF immoral
man; that he q man OF inexpensive habits; man
Of moral character having no vicious pleasures indueng
In Of those free designations and pleasures which
common among men who fall into crime. have
doubt will be able to satisfy the public and TO sat
hdy your Honor while this man has committed an Of
fence against the laws OF the land for which he is
ready TO suffer the penalty, and expects 10 do so,
thai he ~ not altogether a degraded felon that he
~ still worth sdying-a man that may be
reclaimed and made uieful citizen Whether this
viii induce your Honor TO mitigate the sentence IL
~ not for TO say. l have no doubt that the
evidence shall produce will TO some extent show the
former connections of this young man. We shall ask TO
d. that before called up for sentence In the meantime
ask the strict Attorney favor that he will not
noyo for would say further that the District
Attorney shall be kept posted az often rs he may desire
Ketchnn and his friends relation to this matter He
shall know what disposition is beng made OF tho parties
interested in having the testimony OF this young man
and the period which his testimony may more be
wanted. should think this would DO In few weeks;
but az said before the law is thoroughly vindcated
the public tor has done his whole duty in pro-
ing conviction and the accused Is within reach or
she law at any time when the Court chooses TO pronounce
sentence That being the case, have no doubt the
District Attorney will readily yield 10 the request With
these remarks we desire 10 withdraw the plea OF not
The District Attorney 20 tho Clcrk-Take the plea
Tho clerk-Ketchum, you withdraw your plea Of not
guilty and plead guilty Is that your pleaf
Ketchum nodded in the Affirmative.
The indictment TO which he pleaded was one charging
him with dcfrauding the Importers and Traders Bank
q the Of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars
DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
The District Attorney sad-A great many OF the re-
Harks just made address themselves solely 10 your
Honor, with which have nothing 10 do The concern
have Is in respect 10 moving for Judgment am frank
70 that should not have moved for judgment Mt this
tme for the that several persons have called upon
within the last ten days asking that time should be
given TO them 10 examine ketchum. II Is usual In this
which innocent persons concerned been
victed that time given TO the rights Of the
cent Your Honor has often given men time to arrange
rher property for instance, Tor the benefit OF their
and children and certainly for their creditors but
beg 70 say this: that understand here is application
% their part have postponement Of the sentences
and In the nature as understand II, OF stipuIa
ssonan honorable stipulation, In which the prosecution
cav 1--WE will not move for Judgment In order 10 save
she rights OF innocent parties understand tho other
sidc 10 say Eve desire suspension 81 the sentence for
short time In order TO protect our rights noticed
she other day that innocent partya credtorwanted
~ have Ketchum examined n witness on his behalf
which was resisted Now whether the evidence
which he NAV give in any case admissible the trial
or not IL seems 70 me, II there s 70 be post
ponemcnt Of the sentence for the purpose assigned
10 Int fair and think should II. that whose