The New York herald., 1876-10-27
GENERAL SESSIONS-PART
Before judge Sutherland


NE. DABBIrr's EMDEzzLISG CLERK
"Wine, women or Wall street, which OF these three
great NEGATIVES TO such caused this prs
quilt know not, gentlemen but perhaps tho trial will
reveal" spoke Assistant District Attorney Bell 10
jury in this yesterday before Judge Sutherland
when he opened the prosecution OF Charles r. Beck
with, charged with deirauiing his former employer
Mr. Benjamin +. Babbtt, out Of the sum OF S225, ,000
From Mr. Bells opening IT would appear that In the
spring OF 1865 Beckwith, who then at out twenty
seven years old TO this city from Utica, where
be had been in the service OF friend OF Mr Babbitt
and applying TO the latter gentleman Tor employment
was nj once engaged rs confidential clerk anu general
superintendent Of Mr. Babbtt's mandatory. Be-
ginning with low salary, he gradually in the
esteem OF his employer until he was paid
N 1873 about 5000 per year. so great was
hr. Babbhps confidence IN Beckwith that he was in
the habit OF signing checks and leaving them with the
latter 10 he ncd up occas on might require Early
in 1873 Mr. BaDbtts attention was called 10 certain
iacts which led him 10 dismiss his confidential clerk
On the l9th OF February that year No definite
charge could then he brought against Bcckwith and
he VAS lest sight o Tor time. About the LIST OF No
yembcr 1875 Detective Golden became posscssed OF
fomc Information directly pointing TO Beckwth as an
enc ,ezzer. and upon detailing II TO Mr Babbtt that
gentleman and his lawyers determined upon in
vestigatioD Detective Golden transfer red from
the Sixth precinct 10 the Central ONCE and placed
upon the case which he has been working
up indeatigably. MI Babbts business books were
placed IN the hands OF experts and the first blush
II was thought that nearly 100000 had been puroined
BY making iasc entries in the ledger altering checks
tnd paying fictitious bills. In one instance hill
rendered Tor S3Y3 Beckwth paid this and Gllcd up
.heck 10 hD'eli for Si,Ssa. altering the books
hcts had been obtained 10 warrant tho action
Mr no Rabbit procured from Judge Bixny,
OF BcckwIth. The latter had been in the employ OF
the Manhattan Insurance Company When Detective
6oldcn sought him there II was learned that he had
Just asked Tor leave OF absence TOR several weeks,
saying thut his health poor ard lie wished TO 20
West for time HIS name not IN tho directory
. hat al No 9gs SIKH avenue, and il was wnen
emerging from that place he arrested BY tho
detective after tweniysix days constant watching.
the I'd oil January last, ana taken to the TCmbs Upon
civil action TO s20O,O 900 he thence re-
moved To Ludlow street jail, where he has since re-
NAMED The various fraudulent transactions OF the
prisoner probably netted HIM s225. 900 and as II was
mpos sibe by indictment TO them all a num-
Der OF specific indictments have been found Upon
Of these tac prisoner being tred IL charges
aim with forgery IN having altered given BY
Mr j. +, Poole to Mr. Babbtt August IA, 1870
acknowledging the receipt OF payment iull or two
hogsheads O aliow, so TO make II appear that tho
bill was presented and paid on the corresponding date
In ISL and changing the amount make read
$6os o5 and that he made an entry the cash book Of
The payment OF the amount and purioincd the sum
rom cheek OF s2Ooo when he drew on that day Tor
The payment OF number OF expenses AT the conclusion
" his opening address Mr. Bell called TO the stand Mr..
Edward II. Barton, who since the dismissal OF Beck
with had been tho confidential clerk O Mr. BAbhitt,
who testified that the receipt and other documents
question in tho handwriting OF the prisoner aud
Mr. Frederick r. Hyde son-in law OF Mr. Babbtt who
testified 10 the fact that the prisoner had general
iro OF the business and books When the latter gentle
man had been closely cross examined by Mr. uerton
Me Court adjourned until this morning
PLEAS AND SENTENCES.
on the night OF tho 1lth inst Daniel St Clair
broke into the cigar store Of John Msiewicy, No. s
Market street. and stole 50 worth Of cigarette holders
He Yesterday pleaded guilty to the offence and was
sent to state Prison lor two years.
John shardon, OF No. 50 DIVISION street, who, on
Saturday last stole piece OF cloth from the store OF
Mayer May No ls3 Church street, pleaded guilty, and
was sent 10 State Prison for eighteen months.