The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-02
The kctchum NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or Four
Years and Six Months.

Edward j Ee'chum, formerly Of tho firm Of
Morris ketchum, Son & Co, of New York
was on Saturday arraigned In tho Court of
General Sessions OF that city and sentenced to
he confined IN the State prison for four years
and six months The Post says:
II will he remembered that kctchnm was I'm
titcted for forging gold checks and emle2sllng
tho funds Of the firm with ~htch he was con
nhctn;i AMI that on trial several weeks ago. in
the Court Of General Sessions, he pleaded
guilty 10 On indictment for forgery IN the third
degree, which plea was accepted.
To-day Edward Il. Kc:chum was arraignrtl
for sentence. The prisoner entered the court
, room Oh the opening VI the court In charge OF
officers, and H. was accompanied by his father,
Morris kctchnm, and BY two or three Of his
brothers. Young kctchums face WAS very
pale, and there were dark circles around his
eyes, which appeared ts he somewhat blood
! shot. The muscles of his face were tiim, how
ever, ana he exhibited no trepldatlon, though
the general expression OF his features showed
that he endured much mental suffering.
The father Of the prisoner took his seat be-
side him in the courtroom. HIS gflef was
manifestly intense: his features We're perfect
IL rigid Tue Younger SONS CI Morris ketchum
were visibly affected. The courtroom was
crowded 10y spectators, including 4 few ladies.
Among the persons were many we'll known
citizens, and several lawyers of note.
Ex-Judge Allen applied for postponement
of sentence and based his application on an
affidavit of Mr. Bangs, counsel for the as
signees Of ketchum. Son Go. He set forth
that some twelve suits have been commenced
against the firm, involving over four millions
of dollars, while Il litigation had been COM
mcnced by them etfccting interests 10 the
amount of fourteen millions, and III all these
suits Edward ketchum was necessary, ma
terial, and in some cases an indispensable" Wit
ness A similar application was made by Mr..
Walter Phelps. The application was refused
by the court and the prisoner was placed ~
the bar, when Recorder Hoffman addressed
him as follows!
Occupying rs YOU did an exalted position
among the business men OF this great CONNER
cial city commanding as You dit unlimited
confidence and credit possessed n You were
of great wealth and influence, you became Ill =
volvcd in speculatious rs vast rs they Wrr"
dangerous and ruinous: and then, 10 say" the
financial ruin of yourself and house, when
seemed imminent, You did what no one OF IN
fcrior position or credit con4d nave Gone,
raised immense sums of money upon paper
which Won forged, the gcnuincncsS OF which
no ono doubted, simply because YOU presented
il. II was the everyday story, varying only
from other stories III the magnitude OF the
forgerics and the greatness OF your fan, ANA
YOU gave shock /" credit and 10 confidence,
from which the business interests OF the Guy
did not rea Oily recover.
Your friends and those who ask Tor Noli III"
mercy of the Court say you wer" laborlhg I'M
der mania. But every man who's" personal
(
Judgment, knows that il was no other mania
than that which SEXES Oh every man VINO com
nits Il crime in order 10 avert Il personal ca
lamitV which lie cannot endure 10 meet. H.
sitting here as n Judge, ! should mitigate youl
punishment for any OF the reasons assigned, or
because hearts are aching and taintinr, or be-
cause of NV own personal sVmpalhicS with
those who mourn for you, should feel mat
every sentence | had passed upon Iir>l Of,
fender had been wrong, and that / was liIdrcd
n rcspcctcr of persons" IL Is my duty 10
know that none are beyond eithcrits protection
or its power.
1t may we'll be, rs claimed by Your friends,
that if YOU were permitted 30 20 free you
would soon be able 10 redeem your reputation
and re-establish your position. But II TINS
court should WELD TO their application, II
would be an official declaration that men OF m
ftuence and station could offend against the
laws without fear Of punishment. PUhllc m
tercsts aud necessities demand that the pc
naltics of violated law should be visited upon
the offender by way of example rs well rs OF
punishment. If you had been put upon trEtl
upon all the indictments brought against you,
the term of your imprisonment would nave
extended through the greater part OF your
life
The District Attorney has vindiratcd the
law bv arruigning Won upon one 10 which you
have pleaded guilty, with full knowledge OF
the consequences. Upon that plea the extreme
punishment is five years imprisonment. Inc
law however directs that the term OF lnilrl-
sonmcnt shall not expire during the WINTER
months. In discharge, therefore, Of my duty,
must pronounce the sentence of the Court,
which is that YOU be imprisoned i'll the state
prison tor the period of four years ana SIN
months