Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-06-20
SILAS M. WAITE.

In accordance with previous under
standing between the district attorney
and counsel for the respondent, S. NJ.
Waite, pleaded guilty in the United
States district court to the charge of
making false returns to the controller
of the condition of the First national
bank of Brattleboro, and was sentenced
by Judge Wheeler to six years in the
Rutland county Jail, which is the house
of correction
At an early hour Waite, accompanied
by his wife and deputy marshal, left
the private house where he was tempo
rarily confined. and the party slowly
wendell their way on foot to the court
house. Upon the opening of the court,
District Attorney Haskins asked that
Waite be put to plea, and in answer to
Judge Wheeler's guilty or not guilty."
Waite slowly rose and asked to be per-
mitted to make a statement. He was
apparently very weak, and addressed
the court with great physical difficulty,
but with clearness and considerable pre-
cision of language. He said he had
never been guilty of defrauding any
one, but was guilty of the offense charg-
ed IN the Indictment; but he had been
drawn into it by trying to save others.
Reviewing the history of the bank briefly
he said that the directors had never
held directors meeting nor made
themselves acquainted with the affairs
Of the institution. that they had never
been prevented from SO doing by him,
and further they had never been deceiv-
ed by him with reference to the banks
condition or in any other particular.
He had sacrificed himself for others,
having raised and paid into the bank
from outside sources and exertion more
than 100000 In his effort to carry the
bank through. and he is now left by
others equally guilty with himself, so
far as any guilt exists, to suffer the en-
tire consequences. The capital of the
bank when changed from state to ma
tional was $4,000 cash. The old
= =
bank was put in at $4,000 more, and
before the first dividend was paid the
assets of the old bank had shrunk $780,
500. The bank went into the organ
business in Chicago soon after its organ
ization as national bank, and would
have retrieved the prior loss but for the
fire. The robbery was another draw
back. But despite all this he claimed
that had not the great organ suit been
appealed he would have saved the bank
Waite had prepared statement cover.
ing IA closely-written pages, which was
rather desultory and repetition Of
much already printed; but in Difference
to the wishes of counsel, it was not reaC
in court.
After Waite had concluded, his coun
sci, E. J. Phelps, arose and said that h,
had but few words to add to the state
ment made, except to express his belle
in its truth. If an intent to defraac
was necessary to be shown, this indict
ment could not be sustained, but tn
act was made crimal, irrespective 0
motive or consequences. The respond
ent was therefore guilty, and SO plead
cd. He referred to the long imprisor
ment that Waite had undergone, i
which, by the inhumanity of the stat
officials, his health had been destroyed
e to the crushing effect upon his fam
q ly, and to his total ruin in fortune an
e reputation, and claimed that the ca:
d was one for the lightest sentence ALLOW
n ed by law, which was five years.
r Waite received his sentence calmly
e first, but later, while in the presence
'e counsel. he wept freely and was final
9r supported back to his place Of confn
IS ment.
Re The prisoner has been taken to Ru
= . D.
es land. His sentence does not impo
Ct manual labor.
M ~ f lsEE lLa-a