The Republican., 1890-07-11
His Confession Made In a Written
Statement.
FIVE YEARS IN PRISON
Imposed Upon Him by Judge Stewart.


Criminal Court in Baltimore, plead
guilty to the indictment charging
him with embezzIing State funds,
aud was sentenced bv Judge Stewart
to five years in the penitentisry.
The sudden and unexpected ending
of this celebrated case caused c0nsid-
erable commOtion in court circles.
The trial of the case was set for Tues.
day, and large number of witnesses
had been summoned. Mr.. R5Seer,
however, decided not to stand trial,
but to plead guilty. Accompanied
by his son-in-law. State Senator
Benjamin Silver, Jr., he came into
the city from his home. near Belair,
this morning, arriving at $3.50 o'clock.
He Immediately drove to the Office
of Bernard Carter, one of his coun-
sci, on Courtlandt street, where Mr..
E. H. Cans, another of his counsel,
was summoned. After a consulta-
tion, it was decided to go into court
Immediately and end the case. Judge
Stewart and the States officers were
accordingly notified.
THE ACCUSED IN COURT.
Soon after Judge Stewart had
taken his seat upon the bench, Mr..
Archer. accompanied by Messrs.
Carter, Cans and Silver, appeared
in the court room. He seemed to be
bowed down by realization of his
terrible position and looked extreme
ly careworn and haggard. States
Attorney Charles G.. Keer was there
to represent the State, and the case
was Immediately taken up. Mr..
Archer was placed in the dock. and
the indictment charging him with
embezzlement was read. He was
then required to plead to the indict.
ment. Mr.. Carter then arose and
read to the court statement signed
by Mr.. Archer. pleading guilty and
throwing himself upon the mercy of
the court. The statement was as
follows;
MR.. ARCHER's STATEMENT.
To Hon. Wna. A. Ste,0art. Ju0gs of
the Criminal Court:
l hereby plead guilty to the indict.
ment which has just been read. In
doing so, respectfully ask leave to
say that when the indictment was
found l was advised by my counsel
that they had examined the statute
upon which the indictment was
based, and that they were clearly of
the opinion that the statute was
never intended to embrace within
its provisions the treasurer of the
State, and that, therefore, MY Of
fense. grievous as it is, was not pun
ishable under that statute, but now
that the highest court in the State
has decided that if l am guilty of
the offense charged, 1 desire here. in
the presence of this court, to acknowl-
edge that 1 am guilty of the offense
charged against me in the indict.
ment, and also to confess that l have
been guilty of q great sin against
Almighty God !; that have proved
false to the great trust committed to
me by my native State; that have
deeply and cruelty wronged. not only
those friends who. because of their
great and undoubted confidence in
my integrity, became the sureties
on my official bonds, but others also
who have suffered pecuniarily be-
cause of that same confidence. For
this. my conduct, can offer no ex-
cuse or palliatiOn. Now that l have.
so to speak, come to myself. l realize
its enormity and am deeply sorry,
and, sincerely trust, truly penitent
for all / have done:
The sorrow and misery which have
been caused by my conduct is shared
by many. but no blame for any part
of it attaches to any one hut myself
it is all mine. and mine alone.
No part of the States money or
securities was ever used by me in
stock speculation. or for
political purposes nor have I at
this time one dollar of it left. I,
submit myself to the good
Judgment and mercy of the court.
(Signed) STEVENSON ARCHER.
THE SENTENCE.
When Mr.. Carter finished Judge
Stewart sentenced the ex-treasurer to
Eve years in the penitentiary. Mr..
Archer Immediately left the court
room, and, accompanied by Messrs.
Carter and Silver. and Deputy Sheriff
Roselnan was driven to the peniten-
tiary.
THE SCENE IN COURT.
When Mr.. Archer and his party
entered the courtroom, Judge Stew
art was engaged in trying another
case. The ex.treasurer entered first,