Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-05
SENTENCE or KETcHUM.



Our readers viii remember the case o
young Ketchum, the monied prince arnonl
New York Bankers and Brokers, whose de
lection some months since in forging gels
checks and embezzling the funds of the firm
with which he was connected, created sucl
a sensation in that city. The following par
ticulars of his arraignment and conviction
viii prove interesting: F ).
. ARRAIGNMENT. s-,g -
Saturday being the last day on which Re
| corder Hoffman, the Mayor elect, occupie.
his seat on the bench, Edward B. Ketchum
was arraigned for sentence. The prisoner
entered the courtroom on the opening q
the court at hafpast eleven o'clock, in
charge of officers, and he was accompanied
by his father, Morris Ketchum, and BY two
or three of his brothers. His counsel ex-
Judge Allen, and the counsel Of the firm Of
Ketchum & CO., and of their assignees, were
also present. Young Ketchum's face was
very pale, and there were dark circles
around his eyes which appeared to be some
what bloodshot. The muscles of his face
were firm. However, and he exhibited no
trepidation, .horgh the general expression of
his features showed that he endured much
mental suffering.
= The father of the prisoner took hisiseat
beside him in the courtroom. His grief
was manifesaly intense; his features were
perfectly rigid. The younger sons Of Nor
ris Ketchum were yisibly affected 'ca
The court room was crowded by spectators,
including few. ladies' Among the persons
were many well known citizens, and several
lawyers of note.
Ex-Judge Allen applied for postpone
ment of sentence, and based his application
on an affidavit of Mr.. Bangs, counsel for the
asignees Of Ketchum, Son & Co. He set
forth that some twelve suits had been COM
menced against the firm, involving over four
millions of dollars, while a litigation had
been commenced by them, affecting interests
to the amount of fourteen millions, and in
all these suits Edward Ketchum was neces-
sary, material, and in some cases an indis-
pensable witness. A similar application was
made by Walter Phelps. The application
was refused by the court, and the prisoner was
placed at the bar.
s During the delivery of his sentence, no
change could be observed in the prisoner, but
as the term of his imprisonment. was men
toned, he clutched the railing convulsively.
'e i.al - 49,, ,>,,,s.,,, SOL
hEhAhhs Of Ihh hhOohDEh'
have given your case Edward B. Ketchum
most anxious and careful consideration; not be-
cause ever doubted what the interests of society
-eouired or tutv demanded of me- but for the
reason that well knew that many gentlemen of
high character and of excellent Judgment enter
tanned views entirely at variance to nv own
Occupying. as You did AM exalted position
among the business men of this great commercial
eitv: Commanding as Won did unlimited conf
denee and credit: possessed. ms You were of great
wealth and influence YOU became involved in
speculations as vast as they were dangerous and
ruinous: and then 10 save the financial ruin of
yourself and house, which seemed IMMINENT yoa
did what no one of inferior pos;tion or credit
could have done, raised immense sums upon pa
per which YOU forged the genuineuess OF which
no one doubted. simply because YOU presented III
It was the every day story. varying from other
stories only In the magnitude oil the forreries
and the greatness of YOUR falI and Won gave A
shock to credit and to confidence from which the
business interests of the city did not readily re-
cover
Your friends and those who ask for Won the
mercy of the court, say YOU were laboring under
n mania But every man whose personal sympa-
thies do not TO some extent warn his Judgment
knows that il was no other mania than that which
seizes upon every man when he commits crime
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