New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-24
BEDELL'S HEAVY SENTEN CE
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS AT
HARD LABOR IN STATE PRISON.

fhOBABLr LIFELONG CONFINEMENT 10
MAN OF HIS YEARS AND DELICATE HEALTH
-Goss THE PoLIcY-DEALER ONLY FINED.
The series of great forgeries, aggre eating nearly
100000, the discovery of which startled tho
community two months ago. had their appropriate
sequel yesterday, when James z. Bedell, formerly
clerk for the law firm of Shipman, Barlow.
Larocque q Choate was arraigned for sentence
in the Court Of General Sessions. Bedcll had
been held as a witness against Emerson and Goss,
the policy dealers, at whose Office he lost many
thousand dollars, and Emerson had been
victed and Goss was ready to plead guilty, the
Dlstrict-Attorney desired to have the sentence
of Bedell fixed by Recorder Smyth, before whom
the prisoner pleaded guilty a month ago to
indictment charging him with forgery in the
first degree. Any term Of imprisonment between
ten years and for life might be imposed under
the plea and Bedell has sent many communications
TO the Recorder In which he has asked for =
mitigation of the punishment
Bedell was taken to the General Sessions build
ing at about IL o'clock and placed in tho
prison pen of Part Ill Soon after he had arrived
Recorder Smyth entered the courtroom By the
judges entrance and was followed by District-At-
torney Fellows and by Clerk Sparks who carried
two additional indictments against Bedell on
which no plea had been entered The courtroom
was crowded with spectators. Dlstrict-Attorney
Fellows promptly moved that sentence be passed
upon Bedell under his plea OF guilty. Clerk
Sparks called out the name of the prisoner and
Bedel led before the railing of the clerks
desk He was paler than when he testified against
Emerson few weeks ago His cheeks sunken
and he is suffering from painful illness. His
complexion is sallow and his dark eyes are
deeply set. His frame is slight and he is OF
short stature. He appears younger than his
forty-three years. He was, as always perfectly
calm. He had promised the Recorder that there
would be no scene, and there was none
REFUSING TO PLEAD TO OTHER INDICTMENTS
Il ask that the defendant be called to plead
to two other Indictments Mr. Fellows said
Clerk Sparks took one OF the papers in his hand
and said to the prisoner James Il. Bedell the
Grand Jury have found this indictment against
you, other than the one which you have pleaded
How do you plead to this Indictment
Il must seq the paper first,' Bedell said
He scanned the pages of the document slowly
and said, calmly: A" cannot plead to that in
dictment." He made precisely the same answer
when called on to plead 10 the second indictment
The two indictments charged the forgery OF mort
cages, while the one TO which he pitaded guilty
charged the forgery of n satisfaction piece. Re
corder Smyth directed that plea OF " not guilty
be entered both of the indictments.
In answer TO the clerks question, what nave
you now to say why iudament 50 shGna y n8 Rda 1g
said, have no legal plea, Your Honor, 10
offer why sentence should not be pronounced
against me Assuming that Your Honor has
gwen consideration to tire communications wmch
/ have sent 20 you in the hope that you might
find some mitigating circumstances therein,
simply await my sentence
he spoke and as he ceased Speaking he turned
his eyes toward the floor and stood with bowed
head while the Recorder was passing sentence.
On ban ted on
betray any nervousness. Not muscle qdlVered,
though this self-control must have caused some
effort. The Recorder IN low Du' dlstinct 'oico
said:
have given very great consideration TO sne various
communications have sent me In regard to his par
ticular case also read much OF your testimony
as deemed necessary myself in possession OF all
the facts also considered the letter which re-
ceyed from a clergyman Of eninencc and one for whom
entertain highest respect; but am forced 70 o
conclusion the crimes you have committed from sne
to time through series OF crimes oil very gea'
enormty When you engaged in the commission OF
these crimes you knew perfectly well what the conse
Quences would be- In the case covered by the ihdeeno
to which you have. pleaded you not only comnhttn
OF forgery in the first degree bus you aoea ,'
crime OF perjury swearing to the acknowledgment De-
fore notary public So that in this are guilty
Of forgery perjury and larceny So it is in large num-
ber OF other which prosecuted against you
soMETHING IN HIS FAVOR.
There IS this however be said in your behalf; that
made confession putting your employers IN
Of all in connection with the various
offences YOU have committed You have also voluntarily
testified on their behalf am inclined give you the
benefit a. far as possibly Of what you have done
I'm that respect this community has been recently
startled by large number OF cases almost similar 10
yours and something be done to deter others iFo
the commission OF similar offences. Nothing remains Tor
mo now to do but to impose the sentence which deem
under the circumstances Of this 10 be proper one and
that sentence is that you imprisoned hard labor In ths
State Prison az Sing for the term of twenty years
and four months.
HURRIED OFF TO PRISON
Bedell obeyed motion of the deputy-sherih
as soon the sentence had been pronounced and
went quickly to the prison pen in the rear OF
the room commitment 10 the State Prison
was quickly prepared and DcpUty-Sherln Bu-~e
took Bedell AT once TO the Grand Central station
walls of the State Prison fong before nlght;
Bedell il was said, not greatly surprised
at the severity OF the sentence. by good behavlor
he may earn while in prison cOmmutaton OF
nine wears ten months and twenty days HIS
tcrm of IMPRISONMENT would thus be less than
fifteen and one-half years lie will be released,
if he lives and does not violate the prison rules,
in May, I9O4. Taking into account his age ana
the condition of his health, the sentence Is proDa-
bly, equivalent to one for life:
Philip Goss the partner OF Herman D. EMERSON
the policy dealer who was recently sentenced 10
one wear in the Penitentlarw was called 10 the
bar Immediately after Bedell. lie and Emerson
had been indicted on Bedeps complaint Goss
pleaded guilty 10 a charge OF keeping 2amphng-
room and the Rec order sentenced hm TO pay
fine of 81 900 Goss had certified check In
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