New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-28
SENTENCED WITHOUT MERCY


ELIZABETH OFFICERS SENT TO PRISON
CoXrnrILER LZGGETr RECEIVES SEVEN YEARS
INpRisoxMrNr AND CLERK LEEDS FOUR
HEAVY FINES IMPOSED.
Controller Thomas b. Leggett and Daniel W.
Leeds clerk 10 the city trcasurerof Elizabeth De-
whose long trial for conspiracy to defraud the city
was fully reported IN TnE TRIBUNE were arraigned
for sentence yesterday at Elizabeth At an early
hour IN the morning persons who were anxious 10
obtain seats began to fill the osurtroom, and every
train added 10 the dense crowd front of the build
ing numbers of eager spectators from various parts
of the county and even from cities distant many
hours ride.
The time for pronou1cing the sentence had been
put at o o'clock, but il was well on toward IL
when the Prosecutor OF the Pleas rose and moved
that the defendants be placed at the bar lhe prS-
oners were then brought in by Sheriff Ryder Leg
ectt looked much worn and was very weak al
though both men stated that they hau
been placed in comfortable quarters In the jan
Tie Prosecutor, by request of the Court, stated the
substance of the other indictments besides the ono
On which the defendants were convicted bv tnal'
and which charged them with having deirauded
the CITY of Elizabeth OF June o. 1873. TIE
otber jndictments,r he said are for similar Of
fences at other dates The indictments against Mr..
Leagett 10 which he has pleaded guilty. charge
him with having used the cty'S money for private
purposc s-expcnses to New-IOrk, payments 10
news papers for articles therein, dinners debts con-
tracted without authority, and eXolDlant bliS LOT
repairs"
Richard V. Lindabury, counsel fol the defence
then explained these charges, rs Judge van SScNe
afterwar4 stated. t. the full satisfaction OF the
Court He showed that wheneve! MI l,ecgett h'u
charged expenses to NewYork. the trip h1d been o.,
business for the city; that the dinners charged
we're furnished only to clerks at times when press
ing business for the city required their con
not partaken Of by Nj Leqset hiil-
self; and that, although in some ca4 si., he ne
ID carelesslv paid bills without presenting thcni
Nh, Cpuucil frSt as be should have done, tie biliS
were not contracted without aathoriir. hui a'WlNS
by order of some one hisher IN aN,no ~ ,i'n ii,
self: In short. that Mr.. Loggeit WAS not E'Ia.H
cuiltv-he had only been careless.
- Rcp1irs that cost only 5000 were ch21g, = M
$1,000 interrupted the Prosecutor, ana eleven
ca~oeniers we're kent at work m ote small room,
with sandpapcr and nails. ! don't soe how they
could al find work. unless they were set at sAii''
paDcfiug the nails"
Judge Van Svckle accompanied nv his ass ciatcs
Judges Bovine, Mccormick and Nuli0rd-!heu Ie-
tired to talk over the ceand 10 con, ger may
letters ard petitions for mercy. Among tnese were
letters from Attorney General Stock tOn, Augustus
Scholl. John X. Porter aud judge Brady. mere
were also petitions signed by several huhdTef resi-
dents of Elizabeth. One with SHY names attached
came from Eugewood \. j. the former hom. OF
Mr. Leeds. After halt-hou deiDe.ail"A III. IIg
In yonr trial" he said addressing tine prisoner,
"vou have had the stance OF able counsel, " 10
have presented the only posSha defence. lst ihe
evidence against Won overwhelming ana tne
verdict was quickly rendered. f0U then Wisely
Withdrew your former plea OF = not GuttN 70 tIe
indictments thus saving the comfy much expense.
This however. is the only act Of yours winch the
Court can commend. You have occupied
nosition of high trust. and tie public looked
10 Won as its sentinel. If, under temptation. you
ha,i committed Single crime lnlght nave Ieit
justified III listening 20 the appeals OF your ilehdS
1Ormercv. But Won have pursued az orsaii'"c SEN-
TEN of plumber for Which there IS no pailiatloh OF
excuse. Such crimes az yours are too COMMON. ana
/ cannot show YOU any mercy For me offence OIL
which YOU were tried the Court aGJudgcs yoH I'M
prisoEmcnt nj hard labor IN the State Prison for TWO
wears and thPnccfOwaTl until the costs ofthc pr s.
ccuti0n are paid On each Of five OF the
other indictments you are sentenced 10 one wear
imprisonment. making total OF seven years AT
hard labor. And on each of The remaining nlne IN
dctmcnts Won shall pay fine of 500. OF T2,ZoO III
all For caIeessneSs in the performance OF your
official duties. fine yOn 81 for each ms ance OF
neglect, or SIT IN all; ald you are 70 DC connned
until all the fines paid"
Tie Judge then ordered Leeds to stand MP,
and told him that he was as guilty as
Ieggett. except that he was not PAD
officer Of the city. He was scnte1eed to tour ears
Imprisonment at hard labor and to pay me m Ea
custody of Sheriff Ryder who VIII remove them 10
the State Prison at Trenton AZ some time within Tue
next twenty DAYS, as required By Inc law. during
their STAY mt tie jail they have received nearly a
score of visitors. They will probably appear rs wit
nesses in the ria OF DaNlu j. N4och,!' go
of the Mechanics Savings BANK On the TINA tues
day in April =, C..l
Alter The prisoners had been removed the Grand
Jury of Union County fled in. The Jurors dd not
present any more indictments, rs laG Oech eA.
Ipacfed but they seriously censurcd the Sinking
Fund Commissioners for their carclcssness III al
lowing an opportunity for such raid, on the treas,
nrV aud suggested that the Controllers Once ana
the CITY Treasurys Office be hereafter mainiained
separately. They were then discharged by JudSS
Van SICKLE who thanked them for their long ana
arduons services, and spoke of them as "a memoir
able Grand Jury"