Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-25
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IpscIalI1 Reported Coz the Daily Globe.
KEEN SENTENCED.

That the Way Of The Trans1ressor i!
Him in the Face.
As announced in the GLOBE Sunday morn
ing, William W. Keen WAS brought into cour
yesterday morning to have sentence passed
upon him, for having been found guilty OF
stealing al enormous sum of money from the
Northwestern National bank of Minneapolis.
HIS APPEARANCE,
at 10 O'Clock, accompanied by the deputy
sheriff. created quite stir among those pres
ent, He was dressed in q business suit of light
color, and wore light fall over
coat. His confinement has changed
him but little, ard but fol
the absence of color in his face one would
scarcely think him at all concerned as to his
future or the predicament he ID now in. Step
ping up before the iudge, his hands were fold
ed and with bowed head the criminal awaited
for the awful words that were to snatch hin
from his family and former friends, and con-
sign him to fate many have suffered before,
but in other cities than this.
Standing before the judge in court room
so silent that few dared to breathe hard for
fear Of marrlng the solemn stiffness, the
doomed man was startled by these void
spoken By the clerk in clear but low tone:
''Have you nythiDg to say why sentence
should not be pronounced upon your Il have
nothing came slowly from the lips of MI.
Keen. A moments pause, in which one could
almost fancy the beatlngs Of his heart could
be heard across the room and
JUDGE YOUNG DELIVERED HIs CHARGE.
''lt is perhaps unnecessary to say to you, LIZ.
Keene, that pronouncing the sentecce OF the
law upon you in this case, is a duty from
which the Judge OF this court would, if posi-
HE oiaTIv he ralieveG The oh
we have sustained to You 4 business Inau for
several years, and the confidence growing out
Of such relations. renders the duty more than
ordinarily painful, aud were l to yield to that
natural apathy and pity. which all who have
known and respected you in the position which
You have SO long occupied, feel for you, such
feelings would ind expression in q light SEN
tence pronounced. Ard not only is this v1l-
pathy entertained for YOURSELF, but there are
others whose hearts saddened by your un-
fortunate condition, vino were not partakers of
your crime, but who must to the fullest extent
share in your fall and toward whom we can
have but the kindest feelings. There are,
however, other considerations which must de-
termine in the administration of The law, and
of which intelligent business man you
cannot be unmlndfnl; and to execute the law
i5 the Office of the court.
The crime OF which You accused by this
indictment, and to which you have entered Z.
plea of guilty, involves q serious offense
agsins. the law, and in its commission
breach of confidence and trust ward those who
had conhded important interests to your keep
ing.
The crime Of which you are guilty is one
which perhaps more than any other disturbs
business, by creating general dlstruss among
Easiness men. Confidence in, and reliance
upon the integrity of those to whom great
business interests are entrusted, is essential in
the prosecution Of tn Sc varied branches of
bnsinaSs in which the country il erpaoai and
any thing which disturbS this relation by Great
ing distrust in the honesty OF those persons
who from necessity occupy confidential reia-
tiOns strikes at the very foundation of bust
ness prosperity. Now the Law seeks to protect
these interests, and the only way in which it
can give such protection is by severely PUNISH
ing those who violate the law, and to this end
the severity of the punishment should bear a
reasonable proportion TO the magnitude Of the
offense.
You stand convicted by your own plea Of the
larceny of over SAT ,OUO from the bank in which
you held an Office if confidence and trust. The
crime is therefore more dangerous one to pub
lie interests than though as professional bur
glar you had broken into the bank in the night
time and abstraced like amount; in the
latter case it would have been the act Of an en-
envy, whereas your wrong was perpetrated
der the guse Of friendship. The one can
usually be guarded against, but the other
not. Now, 1t scarcely seems possible that, in
your case, this crime should have teen the
result of sudden TEN alton. but must have
been rather that Of systematic and skillful
plan on your part to rob your mpluyers OF this
large sum of money, and which your conf
Dental position afforded ample opportunity to
successfully carry out. This to you may seem
to be harsh view to take of the case, but
yours Is but one OF class Of crimes which
have for the past few years cursed this country
in its business relations, and there reason
to that = eyrPntinuat n its
character. We may, perhaps in char
lty to yourself, presume that the
moral turpitude which this great crime evil
dences must be the result of gradual growth
extending over perhaps months, and developed
step by step, rather than a natural depravity
of heart. If this be true, it certainly gives
additional proof Of fact Of which you cannot
have been ignorant that it is very unsafe for
one to famiiarize himself with those practices
which are 50 incom patible with legitimate hon.
esty. 1t is but sing lie step from strict in
tegrlty to the deepest disgrace, for when one
purposely steps over tho line which separates
honesty from dishonesty there is no limit to
the possible crime which such step may induce
to cover up the first wrong-decep forgery
and other like otfenses are the natural out
growth of such wrongful act. Whether such
has been your experience in this case the conrt
is not advised; we have ouiy here to deal with
the crime charged in the indictment.
In view of these facts, the court would be
dlrelect in the discharge of this important
duty did it fail to make the law effective as
possible for the suppre ssion of crime in gen.
eral, and in OBTAINING others situated as you
were from committing like effense. This
can only be done by imposing a penalty as
nearly commensurate with the gravity of the
oftense as the statute warrants. as before
stated, great confidence was reposed in you;
you have proved yourself unworthy of that
confidence and rcCreant to your trust, and the
offense of larceny with which you are charged
is greatly aggravated by this unfaithfulness on
your part. Now, 1t Is not the purpose Of the
court by these remarks to render your burden
less bearable, for with your intelii ;ence and
sensitive nature, this is not for you easy one
to carry, but 1t is IN receiving the sentence of
the court proper that you shall fully under
stand the enormity of your otfense viewed
from the standpoint of the law and of that of
public morals
In rronouncing this sentence the court de-
slres to assure you that. while the law which
in this regard ,airly reflects a healthy public
sentiment, will not tolerate allow any excuse
for your crime, but requires that the penalty
which You have invited be imposed and fully
paid; yet when you shall have paid this pen
atty, when you shall have served your term ir
prison, you will be allowed to again take your
place as a citizen, with all your rights and
privileges restored, and you will receive all the
aid and encouragement which You may need,
to regain and reestablish the good name which
you have so unfortunately lost. You are COM
paratively young man, with fair prospect
of many years, in which to engage in active
business for which You SO well qualified,
and if this sad experience shall have the effect
to correct the errors into which you have fallen
and establish you upon D foundation of truth
and honesty, and lead you to higher and
better life, you may yet be n honored, respect
full and useful member Of society; and
feel warranted in assuring you, that if such
shall De your purpose and desire. You will never
want for faithful friends to stand by and en-
courage you in the prosecution of such pur-
pose. True public sentiment will not tolerate