Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-08
ALL co TO PRISON,
The Philadelphia Bank Wreckers
Give Up the Fight and
Are Sentenced.
AFFECTING COURT SCENES.
Pfeifer Almost Faints and Aged
DUNCAN Hides His Face.
WORK IS NOW APHISICAL WRECK.
His Very Painful Parting With His Son
in the Courtroom.
AFFECTING COURT SCENES.
WORK Is NOW APHYSICAL WRECK.
His Very Painful Parting With His Son
in the Courtroom.
TERN EACH OF TIE MEN WILL SERVE

yEPFc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCE.I
PHILADELPHIA, March THE wreck
ers Of the Bank of America and the Ameri-
can Lie Insurance Company were sentenced
this morning by Judge Arnold. George +.
Work is condemned to four years IN the
Eastern Penitentiary. James S. DUNCAN to
three years and Louis E. Pfeifer to two
years imprisonment Only few persons
were in the courtroom, probably because no
one expected for a moment that sentence
would be passed so soon, but it was day of
surprises.
The prisoners entered the courtroom to-
gether, and Immediately entered into an
earnest consultation with their counsel.
PfeifTer and his LAWYER sat apart from the
rest, and for a short time whispered anx-
iousiy TO each other Then both settled back
in their chairs, awaiting the end. 1t was
evident from The whispered conversations
among the lawyers Tor the convicted men,
which was participated in by the District
Attorney aud the Presiding Judge, that
something unexpected w@s about to happen.
The conversation continued for a long time.
Then Judge Arnold resumed his seat on the
bencd.
Bl2 surprise sprung
Amid a breathless silence, Lawyer Moon
arose, and addressing the Court, said that
the motion FOR new trial EN- braeed prlncl-
pally matters which had been passed upon
at The trial, and that the Court had ruled
upon them all. In view of this fact counsel
had agreed, after looking at the matter from
every side, that they would submit them
without 'urther argument. An exclamation
OF surprise ran through the court room at
Eh;s juncture, and the excitement was inten-
s6ed when Nj. Terry, on behalf OF DUNCAN,
acuuiescel IN Nr Moon 5 statement.
Works counsel again consulted mysteri-
ousIv. and al The end OF the conversation
LAWYER Moon again arose and, addressing
sae Court, said thai Oh behalf OF Work he
desired 10 withdraw the motion for 8 new
triaL Again q, LAWYER Terry follow Mr..
Moons cad, anu on behalf of DUNCAN also
desired leave to Withdraw the motion. Judge
Arnold looked surprised for a moment, and
The most intense excitement prevailed in the
courtroom. Everybody was wondering
what would come next. Again Mr..
Moon arose ana stated that both Work
and DUNCAN desired to change their
pleas on the indictment for conspiracy.
Both defendants had pleaded not guilty,
and they wanted to change that plea to that
of noio cou-endere, meaning that the de-
PENDANTS wik not oppose The charge.
Practical Plea of Guilty.
The pleas were :hen formally entered, and
District Attorney Graham explained that the
plea was practically one OF guilty, and conse-
queRtly the defendants stood as If convicted
Of the offause charged in the bill. The ex-
pert accountant, Taylor Faunce, for the en-
lightenment Of the Coart, then explained
how the books of the bank had been falsifei
Dy the prisoners.
Before calling the culprits up for sentence
Judge Arnold directed the ladies OF their
families, who were present, 10 withdraw
The men received their sentence in a pain
sul manner Pfc fer almost fainting as he
turned toward his counsel, who stood close
behind him. His fee WAS ashen white and
his parched lips moved conVulsively for
4 few moments, as he attempted to regain
cOmposure DUNCAN is an aged man. His
face IS srruaken and his cheek bones pro-
crude as if he had barely escaped death bv
starving Frequently during Judge
Aruold's brief address, he nodded his head
IN acquiescence 10 the scathing denuneia
tion of the Judge, and when the sentence
was received he fell back in his seat and
buried his ace in his hands.
Father and Son Part.
Work has percep.iblv changed. He is
thinner and his eyes have lost their anima- |
TioD, which characterized him throughout
-he trial. Not for moment did he take his |
eyes from the Judge, from the moment he |
entered the courtroom to the time sentence |
was passed. Then his composure left him,
and the dark, heavy line beneath his eyes
seemed 10 deepen. Slowly he lifted his
hands TO hIs mead, and in a weary fashion |
pressed them against his forehead.
His son Charles was sitting near him. and |
for a moment The two looked into each others
ewes in silence. Then the spell seemed TO
break, and they arose, clasping each others |
hands. Tears rolled dowp the old mans
face, but he did not speak a word. He
slowly resumed his seat and waited for the
transfer to the scene of his punishment. The
prisoners we're at once removed to the East
ern PenitentIarv.