, 1866-01-04

| The sentence Of Edward B. ketchum, the
Wall street forger. took plaee ID the Record.
! er's Court in New York, on Saturday. II
! will be remembered that Eetchpm pleaded
| guilty to one Of a series Of twelve indictments
for forgery in the third degree, which were
found By the grand jury, they having been
prepared BY Mr. Hall, District Attorney, with
great care, and requiring weeks Of ardent
mental labor in their preparation.
A11er conviction the prisoner vaa
rcnanded for sentence, In order that
his testimony IN certain cases IN which the
linn Of hetchuna, Son d Co., IVES lnvo!Yed,
could be taken. but the Recorder intimatcd
at the time that there would be no mitiga-
ton Of the sentence on account Of the
delay. As Saturday was the last day
Of the term, and the official relation Of the
Recorder to the Court terminating On that
day. he having been chosen Mayor, It became
Necessary to makn final disposition Of Ketch-
um'a case. Accordingly, he vas brought
from the Tombs al the opening Of the Court,
and was soon Joined BY his aged father and
brothers, and his counsel. The father seemed
to be almost overcome with grief, Wills the
brothers were deeply affected. The unfortu-
nate young man appeared to realize bis posi-
tiou, and his face bore cylaences Of much
mental suffering.
The District Attorney, alter all was ready,
rose and morcd that the Judgment Of the
Court be pronounced against the prisoner.
Mr. Allen then rosc and said he had an ap-
plicatfon in behalf Of the ass,gnces OF the
Grm Of Ketehnm, Son s. Co., Tor further
pcstponement Of the sentence, and read
an interesting fat11daEit, which
Mr. Bangs, counsel for the assignees,
had made, and the reading Of which be fol
lowed with some remarks The affidavit Is
to tho effect that the testimony Of the prl-
soner Is vitality essential in several snlts, CON-
sons named, and also in suits commenced
against the assignees.
The Recorder, after admitting the force Of
the affidavit, felt 1t his duty to deny the appli-
cation aud than proceeded to pass sentence.
Clerk ofthe Courf-Stand up Eetchum.
Mr.. ketchu1n, who occupied sent beside
his venerable father, who WIS deeply moved,
rose and stood at The bar.
KErcuuA At 7uB nAA-
The Clerk---Haye You learned mechanical
trade Of Bny kinds
ME. Ketchum-No, sir.
The Clefk-What haye you now to Ray Why
Judgment should not BE- pronounced upon
you according to iaw9
keschun--Eothiue, sir.
THE SENTENCE.
The Recorder addressed the prisoner as tol-
1ows:-1 have given Ypnr ease, Edward 3.
ketchur2, most anxious and careful eonaide-
ration not bccanse ever doubted what the
| interests Of society required or duty demand
cd Of me, but for the reason that I well know
| that many gentlemen Of high character and
| excellent Judgment eaterta1ned views entire
| y st variance With my own. Occupying, as
yon did, an exalted position among The busa-
ness men Of this great commercial city COM
uaanding, IS you did, unlimited confidence
aud credit possessed, as you were, Of great
wealth and influence, you becsme involved In
spcculations as vast as they were dangerous
| and tuinous; and then, to saFe the financial
ruin Of Yourself and house, which seemed i'm
mincnt, you did what no one Of inferior posi-
ton OF credit could hare done, raIsed 1tn-
mcnse sums Of money upon paper which you
forged. the genuineness Of II hich no one doubt
cd, simply because you presented 1t. It Haa
the eEcry-day story, varying only from other
stories In the magnitude Of the forgerles and
shock 10 credit ond to confidence from which
the business interests Of the city did not
readily recover Your friends and those who
asE for yon the mercy OF the Court say Jou
were faborirg under mania. But erery man
extent warp Its Judgment, hsure ..as 1t war
no oshe1 mania than that which se1zea On eY-
err man who commits crime In order to
arert personal calamity which be cannot
endure to meet II, sitting here as tndge,
! ! should mitigate yonr punishment for any oi
the reasons assigned, or because hearts are
aching and falutlng, or because Of ny own
| petsnnal Bympathies with those Who mourn
| for you, should feel That ercrJ sentence
had PASSED upon fsst offender had been
wrong, and that was indeed a $. .rcspecter Of
persons." It Is my duty 10 to adu,u,s**esr the
! Law that al men mar feel and know thst
/ pore arc beyond either its protection
| or It's power. It may we'll BE-, Is claimed
by youe friends, that II You were permitted to
| 20 free, You would soon be able to redeem
sou reputation and re-establish your position.
But i this court ehould yield to their applica-
tion, It would be au official declaration that
| men Of influence and station could offend
against the laws without the fear of punish
lncnt, Public interests and necessities de-
n1and that the penalties Of yio1ated Law should
be visited npon the offender By way OF exam
pie as well aa Of pnntshment. Il you had been
put upon tnhl upon all the indi :tmentshEought
against you, the term OF your imprisonment
er part OF your life. The District A.
toruey has Yindicated the law by aEraign.
Ing Son upon one 10 which you hare pleaded
guilty, With full knowledge Of the conse-
queuces. Upon that plea the extreme pnn-
ishmsnt Is I've years Imprisonment: The
sanInent shall not expire during tho winter
zuoDths- In discharge, therefore, Of my duty,
must pronounce the sentence Of the CouEt,
which IS thAt yoH be Imprisoned IN the State
Prison for the period Of four years and six
mouths.
Young Ketchum then resumed his scat,
VIXEN number Of his friends came up aud
| shook hands with him before he Was conveyed