The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-24
BARDs1EY,s CONFESSION.
He Blames Bank Examiner Drew 10
Much OF His Trouble-sentence Post
n....h

poned.
PHIIADELpH1A, PA, June 28.-Atough
and malodorous crowd that daily
throngs the court of quarter sessions
was supplemented to-dayby men prom
inent in every walk of life. They had
come into the hot and stuffy court
room to witness what they thought was
to be the crownfng degradation OF the
man who few months. ago they all
considered their friend5fJDhn Bards-
ley, the iaithless treasurer Of the city
aud tho self-confessed violator OF law.
Two weeks ago, when Bardsley pleaded
guilty to the many charges against him,
the court fixed. to-day as the time to
pass sentence upon him. Public expec-
tation has been wrought up by a prom
ise that when he was brought into
court Bardsley would make o full aud
free confession OF his malfeasance. By
many IL was thought that in his state
ment or confession" Bnrdsley would
implicate men high in business and
official life, men whose names have only
been limited at, who are supposed to be
his contederates. Such expectations
proved groundless, for Bardsleys CON
lession practically confessed nothing
that has not been made public through
the columns OF the daily press, The
confession" was more in the line OF
defense OF his own conduct, and was ex-
ceedingly spacious and fair seeming,
giving in detail his various transactions.
II bristled throughout with figures, and
showed whore every dollar he has been
accused of misappropriating has gone
to. To the charges to which he has
pleaded guilty, OF loaning the public
funds at interest and specnlating with
them, he frankly acknowledged, but he
emphatically denied that he had bene-
flted by his transactions to the extent
OF o dollar.
National Bank Examiner Drew came
in for severe scoring at the hands OF
Bardsley and he laid to his door that
he sunk his money in the Keystone
bank.
Bardsley said that 1t was through Mr..
Drew's plausible statements Of the
banks condition that he had deposited
his money there. He further charged
Mr.. Drew, through m acknowledge.
ment by President Marst, OF the Key
stone Bank, that Mr.. Drew knew
of the banks condition. Accord
ing to Bardsley's statement, his present
plight may be accounted for by trusting
too much in the statement OF others
and can be epitomized in his own
words on telling the history Of his de-
,,ogifs In tha KpVstnna RINK.
II did not get the money, and have
never Cotton any part OF 1t, and 1t is
still in the bank or should be there. l
knew that the closing OF the bank
meant great loss to the city and State,
and personal destruction to myself. /
therefore made every effort to sustain
the bank, and its closing has resulted in
my absolute ruin"
Bardslcy came up from prison this
morning in n carriage and on entering
the court room was placed in the dock.
The rest and quiet that he has had in
prison has done him world OF good,
and he looked again like the John
OF his happier days. He
looked around the court room, bowed to
some acquaintances, and entered into
with his brother.in-law.
At the request OF his counsel the court
allowed Bardsley to leave the dock and
take his seat within tho bar. Tho pro-
ceedings were opened by District Attor
ney Graham addressing Judge Wilson,
and stating that he wished to call some
witnesses 50 that the court could get
some information on which to pass
sentence.
Mr.. Graham called Taylor Faunce, an
expert accountant, to the stand and he
testified that Bardsley had used $500, 600
in speculation and had loaned 5000, 900
to one banking firm and 100000 to an
other He also loaned 100000 to tho
Bradford Mills Company, OF which he
was the owner. Bardsley also sold and
to his own use $500, 900 worth
Of government bonds that he held for
the city, but this money was subse-
quently returned. The experts had
found Bardsley's stock operations had
cost him in the netghborhood of
100000.
Lawrence Brown, another expert ac-
countant, was next called. Before
Mr.. Brown finished his testimony he
was badly riddled by the cross-examina'
ton to which he was subjected by Mr..
counsel for Bardsley. Mr..
Brown testified that about $l,S00,0 600
to be accounted for.
Mr.. Alexander then asked: "After
all this investigation and assistance,
want you to say has a cent gone into
Mr.. Bardsley's pocket?"
"The investigation has not gone far
enough to show that" replied the Wit
ness 81 can't say it has, and / can't
cay it has not"
Mr.. Browns examination was con
tinued at length and he was forced to
that thereSRas an actual
profit to the city of about $4,000 be-
tween tho money BardsleY received at
interest and the money he lost in
stocks, as this money has been turned |
over to the city. Mr.. Bardsley rose to
make his promised statement. The |
statement consumed m hour and
quarter in reading. As Bardsley read !
bis voice was clear, distinct and audible |
in every part OF the court room. Twice |
he ialtered and wos compelled to cease
reading when he spoke OF his family, !
but otherwise he read firmly to the end. |
The sentence Of Bardsley was indefin-
itely postponed.
Where German Must IJo Taught.