The Red Cloud chief., 1881-01-06
From Prosperity 70 the Peaits ntiary.

From Prosperity 70 the Peaitsntisry.
THE Scranton pal correspondent oi
the New York Tunes writes: A dramat-
ic scene was witnessed in court here
this afternoon when p. X. Bargar. the
former trusted manager Of Mr.. John
Jermyn's extensive coal works, was
called for sentence on the charge o.
forgery and embczzlement. Of which he
had been found guilty on i've counts
There are also five indictments against
him for larceny. but they were not tried
at the present term. In bringing in
their verdict for forgery. the jury ac-
companied il with a recommendation
to the mercy OF the Court The high
social standing of the prisoner. who
owned one Of the handsomest homes in
Jermyn, a thriving own near the head
Of the LackawaDa VALLEY, and named
after the prosecutor IN the present
cause. caused a great ~commotion in the
community At the time OF his arrest. n
year ago. and few were willing 10 be-
lieve him guilty Of ~embezziing the
funds of his c%onfiding employer. He
had been in Mr.. Jermyn's employ sew
enteen years, superintendent a Sunday
school. and wa looked up " by every
body in the neighborhood as a model
man, whose sobriety, industry and
sterling worth elevated him To a posi-
ton Of competence and respect. About
veal ago. however. Mr.. Jermyn had
his suspicious aroused concerning GER
tain entries and alterations made in the
books Of which Bargar had charge.
Tracing the matter closer he discovered
the m of men who had never
worked for him entered upon the pay
roll. He traced this system back for
several years, and in his search was sur
prised to ascertain hat his old books
were missing. He finally found them in
an unused garnet Of his store, and when
brought To light they revealed a
state of affairs against Bargar such rs
was shown by the entries already ex-
amincd. IL "a ascertained that in
various ways, such a false entries,
drawing pay for men who never
worked, and so IN, Bargar had within
five years embezZled $4,000 of his en-
ployer's money. His son. a young man
OF great promise, "a in court this
afternoon when Bargar was called for
sentence. The was well filled,
and there was a full bench, including
Presiding Judge Handley, Judge Hand
and two associates. There was a death
like stiffness after District Attorney
Simrell called Peter X. Bargar forward
TO receive sentence. The prisoner ap
preached slowly. He is a man of fine
appearance, portly frame, handsome
face and brown hair just dashed with
gray. He would pass anywhere for a
wealthy banker Or a man of prosperous
business ventures. lie appeared to
feel the full weight of his disgrace as
he stood bowed before the Court. John
Jermyn, the prosecutor, aman who has
risen out of the depths of obscurity TO
the proud position of a successful coal
operator and a millionaire. sat in the
background. He really looked rs
though he felt for the crushed culprit
upon whom sentence was about to be
pronounced. The motion for 4 new
trial, which was argued so ably a few
minutes before by the Hon. +. w.
Gunster for the defense. and Judge
cCSSuBs VI NloItiosC, 1ol tuC SoIIlti1ol-
wealth, had just been overruled. Mr..
Gunster reminded the Court hat the
jury had recommended his client TO
mercy. The Judge asked Bargar
how old he was, and on an
swering that he was fifty. was
asked whether he had anything
to say as to why sentence should
be passed upon him. lie replied:
Il have nothing to say, your Honor"
Handley then pronounced the
sentence, saying that it was to be re-
GREETED that a gentleman of Bargar's
age and standing in the community
should be called upon to answer i'm Il
case of this nature. which the law of
Pennsylvania recognized TO be as
serious rs murder in the second degree.
man who was engaged in 4 great
enterprise was safe il those he was COM
PEELED to trust betrayed and robbed
him Systematically. The most solvent
men and firms in the country would
become bankrupt if those whom
placed in positions of confidence
practiced false entries and distracted
their earnings in such large amounts.
The sentence of the court, therefore,
was that p. X. Bargar pay the costs of
prosecution, n fine of $500. and
endure period of Imprisonment
1t separate and solitary coniine-
nent in the Eastern P~enitentiary,
1t Philadelphia. for a period of eight
years and four calendar months. Bar
gar was pale as death andappeared to be
unconscious as the Deputy Sheriff led
him away. The severity of the SEN
,ence was unexpected, and there was a
sensation in the court room rs soon as
t was pronounced. There was a look
If extreme anguish in the prisoners
yes as he looked towards his son, a
yell-dressed and handsome young man.
Who sat just outside the railing and APP
reared to be very much distressed. The
'ase has been somewhat celebrated in
his section, and in one way or another
las engaged the attention of the courts
or more than a year.