The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-06
REMARKABLE CONSPIRACY,
Two New York Lawyers Sentenced
TO the New Jersey state Prison,

In the Essex county IN. J.) court of ses.
slons, Monday afternoon. sentence was pro-
nounced by Judge Ellsworth upon Gilbert
f. Raisbeck and Charles II. Raisbeck. for.
merly New York lawyers, who were en-
gagged in conspiracy to defraud the Gard
ner heirs of Brooklyn out of valuable
estate in that city. In 1868, John Gardner
died, leaving his estate, valued at upward
OF $4,000, TO his brothers. Some of them
were minors, and George Gardner. an adult
brother, procured the appointment of him
SELF as trustee. He conspired with Ber-
trand Raisbeck and man named Cooke to
acquire possession of the estate, and through
number of skilful manipulaiions. they
finally got 1t into their hands. They were
indicted in Kings county, N. V. for the
conspiracy, but Winchester Britton.
then district attorney for Kings
county, had Leen Raisbeck's counsel
and the indictment. as is allered
was "pigeon-holed.' The neglect to pros.
ecute Raisbeck and his fellow conspira,ors
was one of the charges made against Brit
ton by the reform committee, and the
principal Of those which subsequently led
to his removal by Coy. Dix They were
also in several counties in New Jersey for
transactions growing out of the fraud. but
succeeded each time il, evadmg the law.
Having secured possession of the estate,
the. cQnspirators Qnarelcd about the diyi-
sion of the spoils. Gardner. 50 it is said
received n smaller share of it than he OK
pected, and he threatened to lay the whole
scheme bare to the public. In order TO oct
rid of him, ii was resolved by Rojsbeck
and the Others to trump up charge
against him that. upon his conviction.
would send him to the state prison ; and.
in furtherance of this dcsign, man named
Davis, at their instance and in considera-
tion of $40 paid by them to him. made
affidavit charging that Gardner had offered
him 500 if he would periure himself in
his (Gardners) interest. Armed with this
affidavit, Ralsbeck and his friends under
took to procure Gardeners Indictment for
subornalion of perjury. Instead, however.
OF indictlng Gardner, the grand Jurors
found bills for conspiracy against his
would-Le prosecutors. Davis turned states
evidence. Rais,eck was arrested. and
after long and careful trial, was convic-
ted. Bertrand was not present Mt the
trial. but was aitrrward captured. and,
on being arraigned, pleaded guilty.
Cook He'd and no trace Of him
has since been discovered. Judge Tits
worth deferred pronouncing sentence for
some weeks in order to allow the defend
ants ample opportunity to make expana-
tions in mitigation of sentence, of their
connection with the case. They were
unable to offer anything in cxtenuation of
their crime. Judge Ellsworth said that the
court had heard all that the friends of the
prisoners had to say in their behalf Both
were men OF great intelligence and hgh
social position, but the facts developed in
the trial showed Il wickedness that the
court could not overlook. The statute
would not permit the court to impose a
heavier penalty than two years imprison-
ment and $500 fine on each The punish
ment was very inadequate for the offense
which they had committed. The court, IN
conclusion, inflicted the extreme penalty
of the law upon each -Ne,o IOyh Tines