The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-16
KETCHUM'S RELEASE.
His Prison Life and Conduct-Future Plans and
Prospects-An Up.hilI ROad Before Him.

The heavy and startling defalcations OF young Ed
in the recollection OF the business community. How
he laid deep schemes for his own aggrandZement,
involved himself in tangle of irregularities" and
finally brought ruiz to his firm and disgrace upon his
head need not be repeated here. His embezzle-
ments amounted to hundreds of thousands
of dollars, and concerned many leading
banking and mercantile houses. He was speedily
brought to trial. found guilty, and sentenced TO four
and half years Imprisonment at Sing Sing. In all,
twelve indictments were preferred against him, and
eX-Recorder Hoffman, in passing sentence, remarked
that had he been put on trial upon all the charges
the term of his imprisonment would have extended
through the greater part of his life. lie was re-
manded to prison on December 80, 1865.
Last Saturday, after lapse OF three years, ten
months and fifteen days. and after the public had
nearly forgotten him, a telegram from Sing Sing an
nounced his release by reason OF the expiration of
his term Of sentence. He left the prison quietly and
took the late evening down train, without informing
any one of his destination. Nor is it known thai
any friends met or accompanied him. He had inti-
mated once or twice that he should live in secluded
manner somewhere on the Hudson, above New
York, instead of appearing Immediately, at least,
among his former business associates. 70 the
question whether he would go abroad TO liye he re-
piled that his name and misfortune were known in
other countries than his own, and there would be no
more comfort in residing elsewhere
During his prison life ketHhum enjoyed certain
privileges and immuntles which rarely lall 10 con-
Vict This was owing to his excellent conduct during
the whole period OF his confinement for ne depOrted
himself as gentleman, say the keepers. He was
not punished once In the prison, which fact enabled
him to take advantage OF the cOmmutatiOn rule
releasing him nearly eight months before his term
had expired. IL Is said that convict seldom en-
joys the benefit of this rule, because of the great diff
ficulty In keeping all the regulations OF the prison
Ketchum was put TO the shOemakers bench when
he went to prison, but what proficiency he ac-
quired ia the trade could not be learned. IL
is certain that he had small library OF books
in his shop, which he 'pegged" away at to no small
extent. lie did not eat his meals with the regular
gangs of prisohers his letters did not pass through
the regular channels; and, in many other respects
he appeared to be privileged inmate even In that
democratic institution, where all hands pride them
selves with being ON common level. In regard to
his future plans and prospects Ketchum was yery
reticent before the prison authorities That he felt
would have to travel an uphill road hereafter and
feared he could never live down the stigma OF his
prison life. He maintained also that he never in
tended TO defraud any in his Operations and had
only laid his lines 10 make money without injury TO
others. But his plans failed.M Y. Times Of this
morning.
Bank and Passenger Railway shares were ne
elected