New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-06
THE COURTS.
THE ,oRwALK BANK ROBBERY.
HISTORY OF THE CAsE--OKELL SENTENCED
TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

THE 4ORWALK BANK ROBBERY.
HISTORY OF THE CAsE--o'KELL SENTENCED
TO FIVE YEARS IMPRISONMENT.
The case of William 0'Kell, sentenced yes
terday for receiving a portion Of the bonds stolen from
the Norwalk Bank in the Fall Of 1869, possesses more
than ordinary interest The bank in question was robbed
Of about soOOcO principally in United States bonds, on
the night Of the 30h OF September 1862 No satisfactory
trace Of the bonds obtained until this Spring. when
large number of them found in the possession OF
Fisk q Hatch, the wellknOwn bankers who identified
Edgar Deal the from whom they purchased
them About the time Others OF the stolen bonds
were traced through Morris White Co.. to the stuyve
SAINT Bank and thence to oKo the prisoner Deal and
O'Ke both arrested, and, on the nth Of April
indictments found against them. Last Tuesday
O'Kers trial was begun, Deal being used as witness
against him. The indictment charged oxen with the
larceny of the bonds and with receiving stolen bonds
The testimony the first day was to the loss OF
the bonds the cashier Of the bank Of the losers
also testifyng to the identity OF the bonds recovered
Evidence was likewise given to O'Kell's deposng
the bonds in the stuyvesan Bank getting cali loans on
them, and afterward having them sold. The most I'M
OXEN engaged him TO sell the bonds which proved
to have lost by the bank On the second day the
the officers of the bank to their having prepared ana
distributed circulars describing the bonds this being the
exclusive act Of the bank officers, and in no way con
neced with the prisoner Counsel also moved 10 Ils
the indictment the ground of variance between ana
the proof that the Indictment described the bonds as
being the payment OF $1,000 each while the evidence
related TO bonds for slCOO with interest coupons
attached The motion as TO the circular was granted
but the motion as to the bonds was I-i HS {i
described as a who held responsible position IN
Wal-st years ago, was appointed quarterinaster
when the war broke out received a wound in the ser
vice and ultimately, with the encouragement Of friends
commenced his present business; large number OF
prominent business men TESTIFIED 10 the gOOd character
which the prisoner had always borne 49,
John Sedgwck. in summing up f0r the detense, cor
tended that the prosecution had failed To trace the bonds
TO the possession OF Oke either with OF without gy
knowledge OF the robbery The plea OF good ehuactef
people called attention TO the absence of the pris
books and also to hs failure to go Oh the witness
stand and testify in lis own behalf.
On the third day the ut was charged, and in hall an
hour found verdict of guilty the count IN the ndict
ment charging Okell with receiving the bonds NeGcI
Of acQutal having been directed on the count charging
HIM Win the larceny oI lho!n' ~ MI VA, va "a ~
until Monday Tor sentence " utlnE uuI s.oot '" H.
motion in arrest OF Judgment would then be made The
motion was not made, however ana 10y request Ol couh
sci the sentence was deferred M ',Ii VI, ,
dcrstandng that no motion should be made tAen except
for mitigation of sentence. O'heu was accordingly
placed AT the bar Yesterday and when asked VIVA: he
had to say, offered long sworn statement Nhlen was
innocence Of the ofenseE CHARGED against him. ana gave
a minute account OF the in which he In perfect
Stuvvesaut Bank security for loan 10 John Harring
ton customer, and afterward caused them u ne SOFA
claimed any connection with the TRANSACTIONS Oh mar
rington and Deal beyond having pointed oHt Iarr5to
Government bonds to dispose OF. lie eApialIed LIS
failure take the witne, stand on the ground OF eA
IRENE nervousness, and said IN conclusion;
am aot guilty charged ne bat having been con
~ tie Court trusting tAlt my
character ar roycr The ta bodily Htrlues au F AFFLICTED
family influence boz llc"Au me extent an
character the sentence about 10 le ed d. on me
Judge Carduzo, at the conclusion Of tie reading passed
/ sentence as follows:
viii r-grI to made y can or ay That % M
a, relates your h passed upon t't ana caIno
You had t lu Go submit the statements 70
a inv iu hic would have e b.tucAtoney an OF
10 s sal thing 10 Lu
man of the character which has been testified u as your, n ms Tos-
Ion hui II Won are guilty lind nothing n
you previous which al tends a. lessen tte euom OF an
9gpse which j. becoming ~ prevalent tiif ard o.
VEN dangerous character without ac, M tlere viii
he yy few tlets nothing which appeals 70 us how
the punishment Which Tie aA denrr
Ttrrefore sentence you 10 Do the STATE Prison