The New York herald., 1878-12-18
Pennsylvania Reads High-Toned
Criminals a Lesson.
BETRAYAL OF SACRED TRUSTS.
How the Conyicts Robbed the Philadelphia
Passenger Company Of $e,OOO,O 600.
II N EARS E OH.
[By TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

PHILADELPHIA. Dec. II. 1873
The last act in the saa history Of John s. Morton
was performed to-day. Mr.. Morton until September
1877, was president OF the West Philadelphia passen
ger Railway Company He was greatgrandson Of
John Morton. one Of the sgncrs OF the Declaration
Of Independence. occupied the highest position in
business and social circles aud was universally
esteemed and valued Of Philatelphias
favorite representative men OF affairs. His
ability and high probity unqiestioned. He had
shown great executive talent in managing the
finances Of the large railroad company Of
which he was the head. had taken a very prom
incnt part III organizing and conducting
the Centennial Exhibition. and became 80 popular
that he WAS mentioned Candidate for the Cover
norship Of the State He had wealth, position,
friends and every means OF gratifying reasonable
ambition.
THE OLD. OLD STORY.
1t was like thunder clap from clear sky when,
In september. 1877 John s. Morton discovered
to have forged and overissuod thousands of shares
OF tho atock Of the railroad company ntrusted to his
direction. For years he had been systematically
stealing the money of the corporation by forgery
and fraud and. in conjunction with several
others. applying it to private purposes The
community fairly appalled,. The shock Of the
discovery the greater because Mr. Morton ad-
itted the truth of eveEy charge and the HERALD Of
September 2J. 1871 contained interview In which
the unhappy man recitsd the details Of his crime. 1t
was one Of the most remarkable events Of the day.
and involved the losa Of $20000o0. Morton was ar
rested with Huhn Vickers and Stokes other officers Of
the road. and ono Nagle. publisher. Morton and
HUM pleaded guilty, but sentence suspended to
enable them to be used as witnesses against the
others Stokes went mad from his trouble and is
vet in au insane asylum. Vickers and Magic have
just been tried and by one OF those curious hap
penins which shake public faith III the jury system
tho palladium Of our liberties. they acquitted
much to the general surprise.
JUDGE THAYER PASSING SENTENCE.
! To-day the District Attorney caused Morton and
1Iuhn to bo brought into court and moved for SEN
tence to be paesed upon them. For HUM there is
not much sympathy: but MIR. Morton WAS very gen
orally pitied q foolish man, who had been merci
lessly bled and entangled by his friends. Morton
has grown prcrnaturely old and careworn. He
| has shown great remoree since tho discovery
of his crime and sincere desire to make reparation
| extreme Judge Thayer. however. administered the
full penalty Of the law. The IN the court room
was impressive and dramatic. and the room was
crowded. In passing sentence Judge Thsycr said:-
Is hardly necessary for anything with regard
ss% ss. s ws. s. s'ss .ss %
81 e s Which yu ySa n sds
selves. Nes.sthesss; is nesos,sry ior me to say
y ' Il. :Af .s 'sss 20 "'ts h 'Esrs
diction. Yca the chosen snsrdi.ns aud trs.ees
e :: :s ;sys
spread ruin those who had trusted IS
aary shauld this much in order that II be
borne In mind that II tho penalty which the law i'm
| p9ses Is heavy the crime Is great ono For the
tho Csurt 10 thst you and each ct you undergo
the period Of ten years that pay fine OF cent
the and tho costs OF and that
you comxnted until this sentence ia compiled with.
About months have elapsed since You pleaded guilty
and during that timo you have been imprisoned 1t but
inst that that period during which you we're in conhnsment
counted In sentence f0nr period of
ansment will date from the day which you
pleaded guilty tho bill of Indictment 0he l4th Of Febru
| ery