New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-19

Our neghbor Tbs Times seems remarkably solicit
Gus on the score Of the health Of the noted swinder
Kohnsamm, ard hopes that, because sundry counter
feters have been pardoned, tho President may be in
duced to extend his clemenoy TO this. II would
seem, over-punished and every way estimabls crim-
nal. The facts Of this most fragrant case OF
rasoality must be 50 fresh In the minds OF
this community as TO hardly need recital; and
how O respectable paper can recommend
its conformation We cannot understand As I"'
Times cites the testimony Of the most respectable
and influential merchants Of this city" to show that
its protege has always borne good character here
nav be well to remark that at thetrial two years ago.
it was proved that forysgf true bila OF indictment
had been found against Kohnstamm by the Grand
jury; that he had not only bought false bills for
soldiers subsistence from Others but had employed
runners and agents to procure signatures ~
fraud 70 fill I'D false bills in his Office and to forge
official certificates and signatures a5 required IL wa
proved by living witnesses that no had personally Of
fered brides and inducements to sick officers to sgu
false bills. and the sworn confession Of Capt Larned
Of the Regular Army WAS offered in proof ia which
he acknowledges his completely in Kohnstamm's
crimes recites the manner in which he had been cor
ruped and announces his intention to atone tor bis
dishonor By committing suicide. II we recollcct
rightly the case was tried before Judge Nelson OF the
United States Circuit Court occupied three or fOaI
davs. and ended ia unanimous verdict
Of guilty within twenty minutes after the jury len
their seats Moreover. the Court in pronounoing sen
tence said that the case was one Of surprising turp
tude, that the criminal had not evcn the inducemen
of poverty to excuse the crime; and that so utterly
nv,N nfai.u
shown to be, the result Of the was Of as much
national importance al the winning Of battle.
Kohnstamm was tried on only one OF the mass oil
indictments against him. and got OIL with ten years Oh
punishment; whereas, if convicted On all the bills.
his term would by Law have amounted 70
40 years.
We are well aware that desperate efforts have been
made in Washington to gloss over this great crimi'
nails record and deceive tho President into psrdoning
him. and it is also true that, by hook or By Crook
many respectable merchants and public .mon haVa
been led to recommend his enlargement But We
cannot forget that tho records Of The Courts III th
district show no case which parallel this one Tor
inexcusable vainy carried on by wholesale; and wo
affirm that the publication OF mere digest OF tho
testimony in tho possession Of the War Department
would shock the community. Tho actual amount o.
money stolen by Kohnstamm ia about quarter OF .
million, and civil suit against his estate has boon
pending ever since he went to Sing Sing. A. for tia
allegation that the testimony given at hS trial was
not conclusive it Is sufficient 10 say that his counsel
were William M. Evarts James I, Brady, T. F. Mar
bury and half dozen lesser legal lights who would
have shown their clients innocence there had been
the shadow Of chance 70 convince The twelve moo
in the jury box. or the judge on the bench.