The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-02-27

SENTENCE DAY AT THE MERCER COURT
TIE SENTENCE PRONOUNCED UPoN FREEsl
AND OTHERs-AN INrEREsTISG SPECTACLE
Long before the opening of the Merce
Court on Monday morning. the Court room
was literally packed, with the most deeply in
terested crowd that has filled the Court Hous
for some years. Every available inch of spac
was occupied, and those who were compelle,
to stand in the aisles seemed almost to b.
standing on each other. The outer halls ant
the stairways were jammed with writhipg
struggling mob that was pushed up from th,
portico of the building until many were lifted
from their feet
Behind the bar were gathered nearly all oil
the members of the legal profession of tn.
city and the representatives of the press, and
pressing closely toward the front aud along
the wall, were many who, judging by 81 the
detected lIayior of the yisage, had more thar
a momentary interest or morbid curiosity tc
call them there.
Soon after the opening of the Court, Chiei
Justice Beasley ordered those persons who
were to receive sentence to be brought for
ward. Jacob r. Freese, Louis X. Freese,
Harry G. Freese, Walter r. Bartlett, Joseph
A. Beecher, and others, we're brought into the
Court room. The elder Freese with his sons
took their places behind the bar, and as soon
as seats could be had the father and Harry
were seated while Louis remained standing
beside them, with decidedly downcast face
AS soon as Jacob II. was in his chair he COW
cred his face with one hand, and remained in
that posture until he was called upon to stand
up and receive his sentence.
Chief Justice Beasley then announced that
he was ready to listen to any appeals from
cc1nsel in behalf of their clients. Mr.. Ed
ward T. Green then arose, and in the most
eloquent terms, addressed the Court in behalf
of Walter F. Bartlett.
Mr.. Stevens arose in behalf of Joseph A..
Beecher, of Newark, and stated that although
Mr.. Beecher stood indicted for libel against
Mr. Henry s. Little. Clerk of the Court of
Chancery, and was obliged by the Circumstance
es to plead guilty, that he had no malicious
intention in publishing the article setting
forth that Mr.. Little had fraudulently receiv-
ed $1,000 from the New Jersey Mutual Life
Insurance Company.
The Prosecutor then arose to say that of
Mr.. Beecher's previous character he had
nothing to say, but that If there was one
crime that needed the salutary effect of the
Court more than another, it was libel. That
it was not long ago that man was killed for
uttering libel and that his assaiant was
justified by the courts for so doing.
He stated the fact that Mr.. Little had left
the country openly, and that every one who
knew him knew where he was going, and
that while he was in Europe he found that
the newspapers of his native State were fill
led with defamatory articles charging him
with being fugitive from justice.
AS to the motive which prompted Mr..
Beecher to publish these articles Mr.. Beasley
said 1t was clearly shown that he had done it
for money, and that in his own testimony be-
fore the Legislative Committee, he had said
that he had received money as he always
should.
The Chief Justice then called tho name of
Jacob X. Freese. Instantly the buzz and
hum OF the Court room was hushed and Mr..
Freese arose and faced the Court. The Chief
Justice said =" The Court regrets to say that
in your case they find not single circum-
stance of mitigation. You are under two in
dictments, the first for embezzlement and the
second for conspiracy to defraud' the deposit
ors of the State Savings Bank. You have be-
trayed trust confided in you by the poor
people of this city who could lily afford to be
swindled in the manner which you have a.
dopted.
at was no ordinary theft. It was direct
theft from poor depositors Of the banks, many
of whom are widows and orphans, and you
have violated the law by preconcerted and
well-arranged plans, carried out to the end,
and after committing this mean crime, you
have aggravated the offence by laying the
burden on your own children, an offense a.
gainst the law and the common instincts of
humanity.
The Court wish you to understand that
this pretencs is altogether false and that the
Court know that You are the man who took
the money and there is not one mitigating
feature in the whole case, and many circum-
stances tending to ageravation.
The sentence of the Court Is that for the
first indictment you stand committed to the
State Prison for three years at hard labor, and
for the second indictment two years at hard
labor. The second term to begin at the end
of The first, making five years in all.
Harry 9. Freese and Louis X. Freese were
then called for sentence. The Chief Justice
stated that the Court had great difficulty in
meeting their cases that they stood in diff
ferent position from, and had been the mere
tools of their father and that they had behav-
ed we'll in not turning upon him.
The Chief Justice then sentenced Harry G..
Freese, for embezzlement, six months in the
County Jail, and like sentence for conspira-
cy, the two terms to run together
Louis X. Freese, indictment for conspiracy,
six months in the County Jail and to stand
committed until the costs are paid.
Walter +. Bartlett was then called. The
remarks of the Chief Justice were that Mr.
BARTLETT had committed an offence that is
alarmingly common at the present time, that
he had been chosen to assume public trust,
and had purloined the money belonging to
the city, and he wished it understood that
tho courts of this State held that such crime
was State Prison offence. The Court had
heard the eloquent appeal ofhis counselin his
behalf. but that they could not indulge in
COMMUNICATION, that they felt truly sorry for
his family, but that he had himself brought
this sorrow upon them.
The sentence of the Court therefore, was
that he stand committed to the State Prison
at hard labor, for the term of two years
The four indictments to run together.
mr.. Beecher was then called up for sentence
The Chief Justice said that the Court sup
posed Mr. Becchcr was conscious of the cir
cumstanees under which he stood
The Chief Justice stated that respectable
gentlemen Of Newark had written letters to
the Court appealing for leniency.
The case as nresarated To tho Court h.r cos,.,