The New York herald., 1877-11-15
PERJURED.
CONVICTION OF

CONVICTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SECURITY LIFE coMPANY-sENrENCE TO BE
PASSED TOMORROW
rho trial OF Robert L. Case, President the Security
Lie and Annuity Company in the Court OF Oyer aud
Termner, yesterday resulted in his conviction TOR
crimo OF perjury, IN having sworn falsely to the
annual statement setting forth the condition OF the
company tor 1885, forwarded the Insurance Depart
ment at Albany. Long before the opening OF Court
The defendant was In his seat, wearing confident
expression and occasionally making remarks to his
daughter pens,ve looking lady, who sat besiae HIM
throughout the closing scenes OF the trial The wio
and sister the defendant were also in Court and
watched the proceedings with unwavering attention.
Charles n. Winfield, in summing up Tor the defence,
n said that the prosecution had ssnaily tailed TO show
and urged that his client not TO DO convicted and
sent to prison because the company with which he
satisfied that defendant made an oath before they
could properly convict He closed with pathetic
auson to the advanced age OF the defendant and the
good character he had borne adding that 1t would be
very hard TO convict HIM on mere suspicion.
District Attorney Phelps then addressed the jury In
behalf OF the prosecution. He traced the history OF
the Security Life Company from Its organizltion six
years ago. with tho defendant as its president
down TO the that the insurance examiner pac ID
his finger on It, when It crumbed TO dust. He spurLed
!bc ldea that its chief officer, drawing salary OF
$4,000 per annum, did not know what the cash
balance to their credit in bank was December, 81
1915 he felt appalled, at The utter shamelessness OF
the defence, which was plain English they lied
when they made out the statement, but that they
now recoected for the first time THAT they did not
hold up their hands or KISS the book when the a1i-
aavit was made. "lf you arc robbed by highway
man. lie said, "you may IN time make up your loss
but the man Who under the guise oil Tespectablty
nj the head OF great corporation like this insurance
company, takes from you your money, which you in
tended should comfort and support those whom you
may leave alter you, that man robs the dead, the
widow aud iatheriess, his head will descend
the heaviest curse"
THE cHARoE AxD VERDICT
After recess Judge DAVIS delivered MS charge to the
jury. He commenced by quoting the statute, which
Rays that every person whe shall wilfuliy testify
affirm falsely TO any material matter III any Case where
oath or affirmation Is required by law shall be
guilty Of perjury "A great deal ~ he sad, shas been
heard both sides in regard to tho character OF this
ease. We can all easily see It's grave public import
ance. II you put at the head OF Institutions OF
this character men of known bad character
the public arc vastly safer than when
oil known good reputation are there and are not
OF sufficient character to maintain their Integ
rity In the lrsl institution would
al and these frauds would not be pcrpctratcd unless
tho men at the head oil them stood in public estima-
ton 5 pure and honest men. But when II IL deve-
upcd that they wcre in point OF TRUTH guilty OF
frauds and committing crimes against the laws OF tho
country and Of moratStne TACT that they mad good
sLinent which the law launches, or should launch. at
their offences SO In this fthi man is guilty per-
Jury IN taxing oath 10 statements which are untrue
matter what people thought OF him or what the
public thought oil um, NO matter now high he stood
he resided, thai Is not TO shield him, that
TO affect your verdict. Ii he be shown 10 DO
VI he particular offence charged II Is your duty
acquit, even although his guilt OF other offences BIO
thereby established"
hour, brought In Il verdict OF "suilty." judgment
was sus pended the prisoner until tomorrow
Ing. The prisoner wus led away TO the Tombs by an
officer