Smyrna times., 1877-10-24
A Court in Tears.


VIM. c. Gilman, the New York forger.
when he surrendered and made his confes,
sion IN court last week, caused a touching
sensation to come upon bench and bar.
lie surrendered himself on Friday. the
18th, and pleaded guilty to the indictment
which had been found against him bv the
Grand Jury 1t appears that he had re-
NAMED IN the city, at the house Of a friend
near his own residence. and had been in
communication with his friends ever since
his disappearance on the 2nd inst. The
report Is fully confirmed that those who
had lost by his forgeries were Cndcavorng
10 remunerate themselves by giving UP the
forged securities to receive in their place
the sums they had lost. 70 do this openly
would be crime before the law. COM
pounding felony, but the effort it is said.
was made to eVade the letter Of law for the
sake, on the one hand of securing the
money, and on the other Of enabling the
lorger to escape punishment The money,
however, could not be raised, and at length
the fugitive resolved to deliver himself M.
On Friday, the 18th, he entered the Court
OF General Sessions, attended by several Of
his friends and appeared at the bar before
Recorder Hackett. In accordance with
the usual formula, the clerk said, civilian
{. Gilman, you have been indicted for
forgery in the third degree; are YOU guilty
or not guilty?" q am guilty" re-
Piled the accused. ''What have Won
now to say why judgment should not
be pronounced against you according to
law continued the Clerk, to which Gil
man, with deep-drawn sigh, replied.
Nothing" His counsel, Mr.. Chittenden,
then read his statement or confession
During the reading Of the confession the
silence IN court was almost painful, and
many OF the spectators were deeply moved
Inc prisoner scarcely moved during the
recital OF his crimes; but when counsel al
luded to his wife and family, his features
twltched neryously and he appeared to ex-
pcrience considerable difficulty in main.
tanning outward composure.
District Attorney Phelps then arose. and
with much emotion, said: "Your Honor
| do not desire to say anything except that
under all the circumstances which surround
this case, growing out of my personal asso.
cations with, and attachment to. many of
TINS mans friends, and my own ac,
qualntance with himself, it is the most
painful duty | have ever discharged otfici
ally to ask the judgment Of the court on
this indictment"
recorder lIackett, who was also affected
to tears, said, addressing the prisoner:
The confession you have made to those
you hold dearest in life is the saddcst re.
cital that has ever met my ear. cannot
control my own feelings at this time. but
have one OF the graycst duties to perform
that belongs to Judge. In view of the
enormity of the crime that you have com.
mitted, while sympathizing to the utter
most with your wife and family, and re-
grettng that crime Of so great atrocity
has been perpetrated by you, feel it my
duty to pronounce upon you the sentence
OF this court, which is that you be confined
in State Prison, at hard labor, for tho period
of five years"
The prisoner was then allowed three
hours in which to visit his office and ar
range some business. He remained over
night IN charge Of the officers of the court.
and on Saturday morning was taken to
Sing Sing Prison, where he is now incar
cerated.