Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-09
RKxoRsK oy A BANK pSYAuLrsR AND

hhhOhch bf n oANn
srooK GAMBLXa.-In the U. 9. District
Court at Baltimore, last Monday, before
Judge Giles, the case OF the United
States against Samuel IL. Vents, indict-
ed for embezzling the funds of the Ma
tional Merchants Bank, OF Baltimore,
was called. Geo. W. Dobb!n, and Heary
+. Carey, Esqs., appeared for the accused,
who was not In court, Mr.. Dobbin
stat, that his colleague, Mr.. Carey,
woul, read paper, with the Courts
permits ion, which was granted. MIR.
Carey ,ren read the following appeal in
behalf OF his client;
May it please your Honor The pris-
oner at the bar, acting under the advice
Of counsel, and the promptlngs OF his
own heart, has concluded to plead guilty
to the indictment filed against him in
this court by the United States. The
facts in his case are patent, and have
never been denied by him he cannot,
therefore, at this time add TO the offense
he has committed by any prevarieation
about or denial of the charges laid
against him. His conduct in the prem
ises brought him no result but anguish
and tribulation OF spirit, embittering
his days and filling his nights with hor-
ror, until detection and confession came
as angels OF mercy to calm his disquiet-
ude and relieve him from the terrors OF
his position. He would not escape the
justice of the law if he could. He has
offended and he knows that he must
suffer. He admits his violation of the
law of the land that he unlawfally alb
stracted and possessed himself of the
funds and property Of the corporation
by which he was employed, and the only
atonement he can make or offer is
broken spirit and contrite soul, ready
to bear and suffer the rigor and penalty
Of the law.
The prisoner has reached the age of
three score years-the extreme limit OF
human life-and will soon hide his
shame and repentance in the grave.
But we cannot forget that he is an old
citizen Of Baltimore that he has gone
in and out among the people for many
years with general acceptance; that he
has walked among the benevolent insti-
vi Iuc age q SO-laDOL-
er in Offices Of charity and mercy that
he has been devoted husband, tender
father, and has lived life Of laborious
and unpretending industry. He asserts,
and his counsel firmly believe that he
has been the victim of mania for stock
gambling, which once gratihed, he was
never afterward able to subdue. BY
engaging in stock speculations he be-
came greatly embarrassed, and was in
ducsd to appropriate the funds of the
bank as means of extriCation, believ-
ing most foolishly, as he did, that by
new ventures he would be able to re-
place the money. One such defalcation
led to many. The first act made all the
successive populations necessity. Loss
followed rapidly upon loss, until all
his acquisitions were scattered and
gone. Thus he continued in his
wretched round, hope always delusively
reckoning him on, until the habit was
formed and could not be broken. While
he offers nothing to palliate his crime
he alleges most piteously that no power
of self-control was left him that ir
vain he made good resolutions; that
he appealed to his pride and his fears
that he pictured the fearful consequence
to himself and his family that he even
went to the affairs Of prayer for assist
ance, but there was no help for him
that the mania ragged In him and pos
sessed him.
The general voice will bear him wit
ness, when he asserts most positively
that no part of these populations was
spent in riot and acknowledgements il
luxurious living for his family; that ht
has lived plainly and without ostenta
ton, attempting TO bring up his children
in the fear OF God and reverence for tn,
law. He is father and a grandfather
noble wife and mother has refused tt
desert him, when deserted by the world
His sons and daughters are equally true
in his extremity; and all these, you
Honor, are now suffering, and will con
tinue to suffer, the fearful punishment
of this old mans crime.
In consideration then of his age, hi
repentance and his family, he solicit
the clemency Of the court. The shortes
period Of sentence allotted by the Law
will most likely be the mandate Of hi
dnal separation on earth from his wifi
and children-imprisonm for the brie
term of his short limit of life. II
therefore prays your Honor to conside
the feebleness of his nature, and the ex
igencies and surroundings of his mos
lamentable cares, and to temper tn
sword of justice with the mercy whicl
has been made al attribute of the cour
by the discretion invested as TO the dura
ton Of the punishment.
The DRY GooDs MARxRr.-The rapiC