New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-29
JUDGMENT UPON THE RING
SENTENCES IN THE FORGERY CASES.

With scarcely less excitement, ana IN nearly
rs great a crowd the people olamoeTed upon seats anu
pushed against restraining bars TO near sen'en pr
roupcea ao,iot lanes H. Ingcrso and John d. Earring
tor vest.lav in e Court OF oyer and Tcrminer Ihere
we're the usual counsel present Messrs Tremsn' FeoA
ham Fullerton Root. and Assistant DstrictAtorhel
Aen while the two convicted men sat near each o'ner
t,-ioston oue aunty in his fresh counienance. but
I,gerson wearing expression OF delecuoh "nlc"
M calm, smiling exterior could entirely hide. |
Ancr udec Davis had arrived there was an impressive
silence Tor fully minutes, during which ne was pusy
examining papers which lay IN protnSon before MN
AT the expiration OF that time he looked up suddenly
and in sharp incisive voice which carried with 1t
murInur Of anticipation the part OF the spectators
said: "Arraign James II. IngersOli At the barr! The
moment was a dramatic one, end, as rSsny OF those
present and the habtu6s of the court agree scarcely
surpassed in exciting anticipation by the last DAY OF
the Tweed trial for the spectators were all convinced
that Judge Ddvss would be severe one and
they expected possibly the breaking down Of Ingerso az
least who his face the evidences of consider
able refinement and sensyeness. AS the deep, solemn
voice OF the Judge ceased, succeeded by one OF
quito contrary tone-that Of Mr. Sparks the CLERK
Who is busncsslko TO proverb and In the most anoc'
ING moments Of court incident never loses the character
of the polite Indifferent official Just now, in ms GUS
forary brisk unmovcd tones he called out, precisely as
no would 70 the ragged vagabond who had been con
victed Of stealing pennies instead OF pounds etahu
up Lngersol." and then he put the usual question:
faces OF the audience "Did you ever learn any me
ehanical tradel" IngeTson to whom this was ad
dressed for hc was 10 sentenced first replied, almost
proudly Though quietly, "No."
.. What have you TO say why the judgment OF the
Court shorld not now be pronounced against you"
added the clerk rapidly. The prisoner gravey shook
has head Here his counsel Mr. Root, stopped forward
near .e judges bench and said IN low tones that he
,as directed by nreso 20 as matter OF justice 10
Darlington and matter of knowledge On the part oil
uerson that Harrington did not write eny signatures
10 This bill OF warrant and entirely ignorant OF al
stops taken in relation it after the bill was made out
lie therefore suggested that sentence on Harrington be
suspended Mr. Fullerton added that harrington had
never pFofod by the BILL and had no knowledge Of the
business OF tie firm sufficient to inform him OF the iact
that THIS was fraudulent except by inference.
TAe Court said this would operate 20 mitigate Farring
TOMS sentence sun Inccrsou silent refusing to say
ANYTHING 10 his own behalf and after seconds pause
the judge turned his eye sterny upon the convicted
man before him. and in his peculiarly solemn manner
passed the following sentence while tho crowd O listen
crs az 10 WERE hung upon his lips. and helped TO make
che whole scene. imaginative nature, fairly tnTh
iu., ard intensely dramatic. Tic sentence was as io
INGERsoL1 SENTENCED.
These statements win act in mitigation. lngers0n'
II has often devOved upon in the course OF many
wears administration Of the judicial Office to pronounce
sentence upon convicted criminals, and ofentimes on
men who, uuder certain emotions OF passion had com
mi tea crimes, driven by great prvatlon' or ID
danger by poverty OF absolute want to commit crimes
affecting property; and have always felt, in sue
eases. that while the law must be administered 1or
the protection society yet the Judge was at liberty ia
consideration o. weakness OF human nature to be as
Ienent as a proper of justice would permit
wcrc appointed to very important puzzle once. You
made Commissioners OF the COurt-houSe OF tns
county took solemn oath TO support the constr
m W We sbarre Of fbe duties of Your office accord
inc Ia thP heS %
You entered into contract with the people OF your
country mat You would 10 best of your ability pro-
fect them against great wrongs and frauds, and you
soemuzed that contract by an OATH The violation oil
THAT OATH % is true does not involve, in law the CRIME
perjury, bat in sound morality it IS violation OIL IL
e a h 81 and and ieep that oaiR Instead pro
tectng the people from pl1gder otSe Ta ss sp
Iarcd 2eI'rC S4s Scbee o. nlHndcr ever known in
.hfs or perhap, any other country kT9n inc evil
dncc Lana iore the Court lu the case OF Tweed you
rnegr 10 have ncen tie recipient through charges laid
AGAINST the county for the County Courthouse, OF
S3siI3U Is out OF which turned over TO WOODWARD
pd over 81 050765 81 OF tbs fact the Court cannot
IAN 10 take notice, not Tor any purpose affecting the
Win The enormous frauds on the county that have been
uc7potrated. what was the character OF your crime
Instead of being always what you promised ready 10
protect the county and 10 perform the duties you un
dctOOk 10 discharge yOu dehoeeatey as appears III s
case, caused 10 prep1red claim against the county
which had little or just foundation IN fact; you
not daring TO put your own or your own joint
stock association 10 IT, lest the fact OF your behg FTe
men you carried out scheme through the various
-lscs, unti finally the warrant had been procured ana
me money obtained and step In obtaining tue
money you udOrsed upon the warraut the usme OF the
n1u ~ whose name you obtained tAaI account ana
fhns committed the crime OF forgery The crime thus
committed does not stand by Itself but involves the
OF moral perjury or the violating OF your onc'a!
oath and the crime OF fraud in abricatinG an account
when had real existence, aud obtaining the money
fhayc advefted. a step the progress
the OEense, you were necessarily obliged 10 commit
the crime forgery upon which the iacs before the
Court the Court was aDe 70 iay is hah9S upon YOU
But looking ut the whole thing aud surveying inc
whole your conduct IT. respect TO the raDsac
ton there is that degree Of deDcrdtOD consideration,
and preparation that there could be no two opinions as
10 TIE Justice your conviction and the sente nee to be
urOnOnced upon you. We veIy unfortunate In this
Stale having laws that enable courts 70 properly
punish crimes TINS character. mean, not forgery,
bGt Csmes that officers commit in violation OF Official
duty, involving OF necessity moral perjury ana IhVo.V-
Ing deberaOI and intent We are, a. sdld, very IN
fortunate not having laws adequate To puhsh mat
class OF crimes. ! trust another Legislature Will not
pass through its session without enactuE laws 10 pre-
official purity and 10 levy penalties against crimes
All the Court can do in your case is TO make
PIE of you the extent the statute permits IL seems
very small penalty, considering the character OF the
crime. You occupy good position IN society. Your
friends ana relatives, / informed not only
respectable but estimabe citizens OF tins community.
You have wife whom the Court pies, tenderly pites,
this terrible calamity. You have friends who vii
feel this blow more deeply, perhaps. than you DO; but
they the hour Of tner deepest agony. must adj
init the justice OF the and the sentence pronounced
upon you. The sentence Is that you be imprisoned IN
the prison at Sing sing at hard labor TOT the term OF five
years which Is the utmost penalty That tue statute per-
mite the Court TO INLET
An through tue sentence Il plain that the young
man had fortified himself by determination not TO let
MS emotions conquer him. friend of mis- subsequently
stated that IDgerso had made up his mind 10 the
tence, so that there nothing surprising or unex
pected it. IL only when Judge Davis alluded 10
the suffering hs wife and family that be showed any
noticeable emotion, and then he ooly took his pocket
handkerchief showed the swift observer pair OF
unhappy looking He had hoped that his frank.