Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09
10 YEARS FOR BARDSLE\
Solitary Confinement and Hard LabOl
His Lot.
FINED THE SUM OF HIS THEFT
Nearly Collapses Under the
Judicial Lecture.
His STATEMENT WAS MISLEADING

PHILApELpHrA, July 2.-John Bardsleyf
ex-city treasurer OF Philadelphia. MA
brought into court this morning beforsl
Judge Wilson to have sentence passed.
upon him for the confessed crimes M
having speculated with and receiving in.
terest on public funds entrusted to his careI
as the chief fiduciary officer Of the muniCi.
pality. As on the previous occasions Tint
Bardsley has faced the court, when he IVA,
brought In this morning he was not PLACED
in the dock, but was allowed to sit besils
his counsel within the space reserved IA,
members of the bar. The fact that Bards;
ley would come up for sentence to-day wal
not generally known, so that when BIZ
trict Attorney Graham arose to address IN
court and ask that sentence be passed upopI,
the prisoner, there were not more tharI'
fifty people in the courtroom.
The district attorney spoke but brienyh
But III the course of his address he deni,dI
Bardsley's contention made in his stale|
inent to the court week ago that the ex
treasurer had not misappropriated dollar.
Mr.. Graham showed that by Bardsleys
own statement he must have at least mis-.
appropriated the sum of 500, 600 as that
amount was required to be made good by
his sureties, according to their bond to the
state and city
Mr.. Graham practically admitted that
Bardsley's declaration that he placed $685.
0O0 in the Keystone Bank taking due hills
for the money was true and that lie
money was deposited in the bank although
not able as yet to specifically show where
the money has gone. Mr.. Graham said
that Bardsley's embezzlement wonld
amount to between i00,000 and $500, 600.
Mr.. Alexander, counsel for Bardsley re.
viewed the statement made by his client
and appealed to the court for mercy on tbs
ground Of Bardsley's plea of guilty AID
ms, past services to the city. MIR. Alex.
9nder said that Bardslcy did not get d
dollar OF the money he put into the Kes
stone bank and that within six months Il
would be shown who did Mr.. Alexander
vehemently declared that his client ms
not stolen dollar, but that he had only
pleaded guilty to the statutory offence ~
loaning, specializing with and RECEIVING
interest on the public funds. Never Wifi
his consent, said MIR. Alexander. should
Bardsley appear before the investigating
committee Of councils to testify, but If ii
any time the district attorney desired any
information or assistance his client was
willing 70 aid him in any way he could.
While his counsel had been speaking
Bnrdsley had sat with bowed head merry.
ously tracing imaginary lines with the
back Of pen upon the table before him,
With the exception of his brother-n-law
ilpt one OF inc hundreds OF friends that
Bnrdsley had year ago were present
when he arose to receive the sentence Of
the court.
AS Bnrdsley got up, Judge Wilson
motioned him to be seated while he do
liycred the lecture and words Of nj.
monition that the judge usually prefaces
his sentences with. Judge Wilson's severe
but just words caused Bardsley the most
pitiable distress. When Judge Wilson
spoke Of the past friendship between him.
self and the man awaiting his sentence.
Bardsley's hands opened and shut conyul.
siyely, his face flushed and paled, and his
head sank upon his breast.
As Judge Wilson proceeded and plainly
said that he could find no paltiation for
Bardsley's malfeasance; that his offence
was the more open to censure from his
abuse Of his official position, the prisoner
almost collapsed and seemed about to sink
to the floor from his chair
Nevertheless before Judge Wilson had
concluded and ordered him to arise to re-.
ceive sentence Bardsley had completely
regained his composurc and received tile
words that sends him to prison Is years
with a stoicism that was almost indilYer.
enee in its utter absence of any emotion.
The sentence Of Judge Wilson was that
Bardsley undergo Is years solitary con
tinement in the Eastern Penitentiary and
that he pay a fine in the sum eqnal to the
amount of his embezzlement arising from
the transactions to which he had pleaded
guilty.