Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-07-08
BEHIND THE BARS.

enlng OF the written confession and sen
tence of Stevenson Archer, ex State
Treasurer to FIVE years imprisonment 10
the Maryland Penitentiary. by Judge w
A. Stewart, of the Criminal Court OF Bal
timore city. was received here with great
surprise BY bis many friends.
Ever since the decision Of the Court OF
Appeals, overruling the decision of j. &c
Stewart, there has been constant inter
views with Mr.. Archer and his personal
and political friends and at their advice,
he finally decided IN confess his crime
and throw himself upon the mercy Of toe
court This decision was 6nally coDcui-
ed on Sunday night, put into execution
early yesterday morning AMI none but
himself. his family aud his cou nsel were
made aware of IL. At O'Clock he took
an sffs ctionate leave OF his wife aud fami-
ly. which Is said was most heart rend-
Ing, saying to them be was going 10 the
Criminal Court Of Baltimore. aud there
surrender himself. receive mis- sentence
and abide bis fate After taking ia
gerlng look at the surroundings OF ''Ha-
eel Dell, his once happy home, with
bowed bead and bedimmed eyes, accom-
pauied by his son-in-law. State Senator
Silver, they entered their close carriage
and were driven 20 the depot. whare they
took the cars for Baltimore. Here they
were met at the depot by Barnard Carter.
Mr.. Archer's counsel, and driven TO the
law office, of Mr.. Carter 10 the neighbor-
hood Of the court house, where the con-
fession was prepared and preliminary
matters were arranged for a speedy trial.
court. From here Mr.. Archer wax DIT the
room accompanied by Col. + I'll. Web
ster, his brother In law; Benjamin Silver,
| his sonrin-law; s. A. Williams, his ne
phew, and Bernard Carter. his counsel.
Mr.. Archer was dressed Ia q dark suit,
with light SLOUGH hat, and carried q
slender cane. Mr.. Carter advanced TO his
colleague, MIR. Cans. who Immediately
notified Clerk W. nj. Cary that Mr.. Ar
cher would plead guilty. The case on
trial was suspe oded when M Carter In
formed the Court be had communica-
tion to make. There was q GREATNESS
silence In the room as Mr. Carter, taking
position near the witness stand, read 10
distinct tone as follows from . manu-
script which he took from bis pc cket:
Honorable VIM A. Stewart, Judge of
the Crimisal Court Of Baltimore City:
II hereby plead guilty TO the indict-
ment which has just been read In doing
so | respectfully ask leave to cay that
when the indictment was found / was
|
examin, the statute upon which the In
dictment was based. and that they were
clearly OF opinion that the statute was
never intended TO embrace within its
provisions the treasurer of the State, and
that therefore my offense, grievous as 1t
Is, was not punishable under that statute.
"But now that the highest court In the
State has decided that IL / am guilty Of
the offenses charged | am punishable
under the statute. desire here, In the
presence of this court, fully TO acknow-
ledge that / am guilty of the offenses
charged against me in the indictment, and
also to confess that have been guilty of
great sin against Almighty God; that /
have proved false TO the great trust com
mitied TO me by my native State that
have deeply and cruelty wronged not only
those friends who because of their great
and undoubting confideBce In my integrity
became the sureties on my official bonds,
but others also who have suffered pecu-
MARY loss because Of that same confidence.
For this my conduct can offer no
excuse or palliation. Now that / have,
enormity and am deeply sorry for, and
/ sincerely trust truly penitent Of, all
have done.
The sorrow and misery which have
been caused by my conduct are shared by
many, but no blame for any part of 1t
attaches to any one but myself. 1t lie all
mine and mine alone.
mo part OF the States money or Sc
curitics was ever used by me In gambling,
stock speculation OF for political purposes.
nor have at this time one dollar of 1t
left. /, therefore. submit myself to the
judgment and mercy of the court.
! (Signed) STEVENSON ARCHER
When Mr. Carter finished reading the
confession, he folded 1t slowly and looked
up at Judge Stewart. Everybody turned
from the prisoner and his counsel and
bent their eager gaze upon the judge, In
whose hands lay the termination OF the
most celebrated case in the history OF
| Maryland. The latter made no comment
at ell, but turning to Deputy Clerk Cary,
simply said: "Mr. Clerk, impose q SEN
tence of five years In the penitentiary. I"
IN THE PENITENTIARY.
AS soon 40 the sentence was pronounc-
ed, the party departed from the court
room, entered hack that was tn waiting
for them outside, and was driven rapidly
to the penitentiary.
AT the penitentiary the prisoner and
his friends were received by Deputy War
uen 4. N. 1WKn6lAs WHO was VA uutF NJ
the gate. The latter admitted the prison
er and those with him and took them into
the warden's room, TO the right OF the en-
trance Mr.. Archer was 50 feeble that he
had to be assisted up the steps Of the
prison. Warden John f. Weyler, was
back In the building somewhere, but was
sent for at once. and In few minutes he
appeared. Mr.. Archer seemed very much
Frustrated, but on Warden Weyler's APP
pearance be shook hands with him and
said: well, John, have come over
here to obey the rules and to do whatever
/ am told to do"
This was the only remark be made.
Deputy Sheriff Roseman produced the
order from the court signed by Clerk John
| +. Bullock for Mr. Archer's commitment
to the penitentIasy. and Warden Weyler,
gave the deputy sheriff . receipt for the