St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-30
'4HAVE Been IN HE'LL"
Was the RemorSeful EXclama-
ton Of Treasurer John
Bardsley.
He Goes to Prison in Default
Of Fifty Thousand
Dollars Bail.
Omaha Surgeons Are jailed
on Sensational Charges
Of Murder.
Students at a Southern Col
lege Fight a Fatal Duel
With Knives.

y
gentlemen, l have been in hell for the
past six monthsn' This was the start
ling exclamation of eX-City Treasurer
Bardsley to-day after his examination
had been ended, and he had been COM
mitted to prison in default of $4,000
bail. Bardsley was alraigned at noon
to-day in the Central police court to an
Swer to the triple charges of misappro-
priating $4,000 of city money, the en-
bezzlement of 100000 and upwards of
state funds, and perjury in violating the
oath of his office by loaning the city
money out at interest. Since his arrest
week ago Mr.. Bardsley has been con-
fined to his bed, suffering from
prostration. incident to the ter
rible mental Strain that he
has been under for the past few
months. District Attorney Graham ap-
peared for the city and commonwealth
and conducted the prosecution. When
the accused man was brought in crowd
that filled every available foot of space
in the hearing room was present. When
Mr.. Bardsley was called, he plainly
showed in his appearance the mental
agony he has been subjected to, and
owing to his enfeebled condition, was
allowed to take chair facing the mag
istrate's desk instead of being placed in
the prisoners dock. Mayor Stuart,
City Solicitor Warwick. Attorney Gen
eral HenslaW, Auditor General Nc
Camant and State Treasurer Boyer
were all present when the hearing be-
gan. District Attorney Graham
Opened the Case
by stating the charges against the ac-
cuSed. Lawrence Brown, an expert ac-
countant, who has been going over
Bardsley's accounts, was the first wit
ness called. Mr.. Brown testified as to
deposit and withdrawal of money from
the Keystone and Third National banks
District Attorney Graham explained
that the commonwealth proposed to
show that the money drawn from the
Third National was intended to be
placed in the cash drawer of the city
treasurer so as to make up his cash
balance before he was called before the
council investigating committee. Mr..
Graham also said that the books of the
treaSurer'S Office showed that there was
a balance in the Keystone bank
of 5000, 200, while in fact there
was only 100000 there. In
the cash drawer of the treasurer
were checks on the Keystone for $780,
GOO. These Mr.. Bardsley took to Bank
Examiner Drew and asked to have
placed to his credit IN the keystone,
stating that he was willing to take his
chances with the rest of the depositors.
After several other witnesses were
called. District Attorney Graham said
that he now asked that the prisoner be
held on the specific charge of misappro-
priating $4,000. Mr.. Graham said al
though he did not intend to try to prove
that the money went into Bardsley's
pocket, still it was clearly a conversion
TO his own use. Magistrate Pole de-
cided that
The Case Was Proven,
and said he would fix the amount of
bail later. Mr.. Graham next took up
the charge of the embeZZlement of the
state fund. Lawrence Brown, account
ant, testified that in the past three
years Bardsley had collected taxes for
the state amounting to S4, ,242. .SS7. This
was deposited in rumber of banks,
but the Keystone bank was not among
them. Mr.. Graham said he proposed to
prove that Ba1dsley had loaned the
state funds out at interest to q number
of banks and bankers, among which
were DreXel & Co., and the keystone
bank. Counsel for Mr.. Bardsley said
that it was true that his client h ad de-
posted S945,000 of state money in the
Keystone bank, taken due bills for it.
received interest on it, and when the
bank failed lost his money as any other
deposition would have done. Mr.. Ora
ham asked If Mr.. Bardsley was willing
IN make this statement ooI
was told that he was. Mr. Bardsley
arose from his chair, tottered to the
witness stand, and in a trembling voice
said: Il admit all that my counsel has
said. | did put the money in the Key
stone, and will have to take what The
law gives me. l got as high as 4 per
cent interest for the money. | depos-
tied the money and took due bills for it.
as is done every day, aud when the
bank failed
Lost the Moneys
In answer to the questions whether he
received interest from any other banks.
Mr.. Bardsley said that he did. but ONLY
mentioned the Spring Garden. District
Attorney Graham attempted to get him
to tell what other banks paid him in
terest, but did not succeed Edward T.
Stolesberry, member of the firm of
DreXel & Co., was called and testified
that BardSley came to their firm and
asked what interest they would pay on
deposits. He was told per cent. and
received this interest on four checks of
S22 GOO each that he deposited there al
different times. Mr.. Alexander said
that at this stage of the case
he did not propose that any
one else should be incriminated.
But after it had been testified to that
Mr. BardSley kept personal account
in the Seventh National, the Manufac.
turers' National, the Chestnut Street
National, the Peoples National, and the
Farmers and Mechanics National, Mr.,
Alexander held consultation with his
client and decided that he should tell
the names of the banks that paid him
interest. Mr.. Bardsley again took the
stand and SAID that he had been paid
interest by all the above-named banks
with the exception of the Farmers and
Mechanics. At this point the district
attorney rested his case aud said that as
ne was unable to prove to-day the
charge OF perjury, he asked that 1t be
continued until June u.
Bail Was Fixed
at $4,000 on the charge of misannro.
priating the city funds, S35. 600 on the
charge of embeZzling state fnnds and
5000 on the charge of perjury. After
the hearing Mr.. Bardsley was taken
into the magistrates private Office. His
ounsel notified Chief Detective Wood
that he did not expect to secure bal
and arrangements were at once made
70 take him down to prison. After al
Interview with his counsel, Mr.. Bards