Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-06-04
BARDSLEY A BOLD PLUNGER
Speculated ReckIessly on the
City'S Money.
JAILED IN DEFAULT OF BAIL
The Treasurer Condemns
Marsh for CoWardiCe.
sI have Been In Hell Six Months hut
VIII Accept Whatever Punishment the
Law Imposes'--All the Banks Paid
Him Interest on the City Deposits.

PHILADELPHIA, May s0..-John Bardsley,
Philadelphia's ruined treasurer, and
Francis W. Kennedy, president Of the de-
funct Spring Garden National Bank, were
taken to Moyamensing prison yesterday
afternoon in default of bail, to answer
charges of fraud and embezzlement Mr..
Bardsley's bail was fixed in all, upon three
accusations, at $4,000. Kennedy could
not secure bondsmen even for S2O,0OO. No
more pathetic scene has ever been wit
messed in the courts of this city than that
presented at the Central Station hearing
room, when Mr.. Bardsley, broken IN
health and spirits, bankrupt in reputation
and financial wreck, appeared upon tle
stand to testify to his own shame; The
developments at the hearing, and before
the investigating committee Of councils,
showed the desperate chances which Mr..
Bardsley has taken during the past year TO
extricate himself from reckless invest
ment Of public funds intrustcd to his care;
He, himself, just before he was called
upon to testify, gave utterance to the
terrible mental sufferings he had been and
still was undergoing.
Nothing quite so sad has appeared IN all
the developments so far rs Mr.. Bardsleys
almost despairing words TO the. detectives,
his keepers when he said; tell YOU
gentlemen, have been in hell for the past
81
come out all right. but they didn't, and
am glad that the thing is ended. Pres-
dent Marsh's action has been great dis
appointment TO me.
'He should have been more courageous
and remained i'll town, but he has proven
himself coward ny running away,
never had thought of going away, nut
will remain where ! am and accept what
ever punishment the law places upon me.
A moment afterward he stood bowed
and broken, before many men ~ whose
presence he had been accustomed m years
gone by to hold up his head proudly as
their peer and often as their master, a
complete antithesis Of the once bold, ag
Eressive and masterful custodian Of the
citys financial interests in the municipal
council chambers.
The DEVELOPMENTS at the hearing before
Magistrate Pole and those in councils
investigating committee were significant.
1t seems from the testimony that 20 pre-
vent an impending discovery, when coun-
ellis committee for ascertaining the cor
rectness Of cash balances in the treasury
had been stirred up to action MIR, Hards-
ley had drawn moneys from the Fhird
National Bank to the amount OF S39,u00,
and had sacrificed securities placed with
Robert Glendnning Il Go. to balance his
cash accounts.
II also appeared from the testimony be.
fore the councils committee that the Glen
dinnings had borrowed from Mr.. Bardsley
large amounts of money, some Of winch
was obtained in the form of checks and
keystone Bank due bills on the clearing
house at MIR. Bardsley's office, in the city
hall. At one time the Clendinnings' in
debtedness TO him amounted 10 ovel
S50DoOO. secured, however,, II was claimed
by collaterals, Some Of the testimony be
fore councils committee showed that MIR
Bafdsley's transactions with the tlendin
4 IL I,,a ,.,fl ~
like 100000.
A curious fact was disclosed in connec
ton with the charge before Magistrat
Pole of Mr.. Bardsley's alleged perjury il
violating his oath Of office in using an,
receiving interest on state funds that hi
oath of office, so far as the records uppea
to show. has never been filed, or If tllei
cannot be found MIR. Bardsley also test
fed before the magistrate that he had bee
maid interest by several of the Philadelphia
banks for stale moneys deposited Wit
them.
The scene i'll Magistrate Poles pryat
office after the hearing was very pathetic
The ruined man sat alone on Il big l0ung
crying bitterly. his counsel having gon
downstairs to make d last GlfOrtt9 sectn
bail After a few moments he rtturne
and announced that this last appeal ha
bcen in vain Port Warden lohn
Pierce, Of Bristol Mr.. Bardsleys brothe
with little success.
In passing ont Mr. Graham eypresst
his sympathy with a hearty shake Of II
hand, and City solicitor Warwick laid Ii
hand on the prisoners back and aske
John can't YOU get bnil2n The ansW
Of Bardley was lost iii his sobs A fe
moments later he was removed 10 Chi
Woods private room, whence he was takt
to Jail.
City Treasurer John Tardslev, broken
spirit and utterly Frustrated was aduittt
IL Moyamensing prison 1t $50 O'Clock "
terday afternoon.
Dr. B. hutoher, tile prison surgeon, ~
sent for and pronounced l|arHsley II i'll
he put in ah ordinary eel and ORDER
him to tile hospital. The prson hosIt
S situated on the third floor, and cnnsi.
If a series Of SIX cells all communicate
Each cell is about II feet square and Gu
aims small iron bedsead, wood
ehair and a wasli-hilsin Inside the "a
WI nurses are constantly Oh the watch
When Bardsley was put in the hQspil
cell he fell ON the bed and again gave "
too fit If weeping. This seemed To relic
his feelings, and, recovering Int
shortly afterward he sat upon the edge
the bed and rested his head On his han,
BY slow degrees he seemed to become M
accustomed to his situation and before t
hour for retiring seemed relieved az il
thought the worst had come and "
passed,
ilr Butcher says Bardsey Is eYiden
suffering from great nervous pr0strutit
and it will be necessary 10 Keep him III
hospital a day or So before he can he
into an ordinary prison cell Neither
the hospital nor the cell will BRih!Stpy
treated IN amy way different from
poorest prisoner.