The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-03
CONVICT BARDSLEY.
Philadelph:a's Ex-Treasurer Re-
ceives His Sentence.
FIFTEEN YEARS AT HARD LABOR.


PHILADELPHIA, July 8. - Ex-City
Treasurer John Bardsley was yesterday
sentenced to fifteen years at hard labor
and solitary confinement in the eastern
penitentiary, and to pay fine aggre-
eating the amount he embezzled. Bards-
ley.Yas brought up from the county
prison ina carriage, taken through the
trap in the new court house and con-
Quoted to an ante-room by court officers.
AS the fact of his appearance had been
kept secret very few persons were
present.
A few moments later Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Kinsey and City Solicitor
Warwick entered. They were followed
by A. s. L. Shields, counsel for Yard;
Robert Alexander, Bardsley's lawyer,
and District Attorney Graham. In the
meantime Judge Wilson had taken his
seat ON the bench.
Graham Moves for Sentence.
Bardsley was brought into the court
room and took seat at the lawyers
desk beside his counsel. He sank de-
jectedly on his chair and rested his brow
on one hand, while with the other he
uGTNOuSly plbteu Will tu6 CONtTluk VI
the table before him.
The proceedings were begun by Dis
trict Attorney Graham, who arose and
said that as this was the last day OF his
honor's term in this court it had been
thought desirable to have Bardsley's case
disposed of at once, as he was unwilling
that it should remain in its present con-
dition until tho fall. After formally pre-
senting the case Of the commonwealth
against Bardsley, with explanations as
TO the amount Of the defalcation, etc.,
he moved that Judgment should be
passed on the prisonor.
Alexander's Plea for Mercy.
Mr.. Alexander, counsel for Bardsley,
appealed to the court for mercy on the
ground of Bardsley's plea of guilty and
bis past services to the city. Mr.. Alex
ander said that Mr. Bardsley did not get
dollar Of the money he put into the
Keystone bank, and that within six
months it wsuld be shown who did.
In passing sentence Judge Wilson re-
5, viewed the prisoners public life, spoke
Of his past friendship, and i'll conclusion
said
''Itwas deliberate ACT, for which you
are responsible, however guilty others
may AaSsimu been who aided you in your
Y = 1hs riHIsu sliteer ~ aoetJd'i qoId into 10
direeS ,Sg oy Your oath Of Office and all
sense of honor and rectitude. You
proved yourself unworthy Of the con-
kdence which had been reposed in you
by your fellow citizens. l regret to say
that am unable to discern any palia-
ton or excuse for any use OF public
moneys by their custodians for private
advantage or in spsculations of any sort.
You have thus brought great disaster to
your city, involving distrust of public
officers and suspicious concerning pri-
vate citizens. Yours is a conspicuous
instance of breach of trust in high
office.
The Sentence.
at becomes my duty, therefore, to
.mpost sentence which shall, in some
degree, correspond to the gravity Of the
crime o. which you have pleaded guilty,
and also serve as . warning in the fu-
ture aga lst like unfaithfulness on the
part of others. Tho sentence of the
court is that you be imprisoned in soli-
tary con inement at labor, in the Eastern
penitentiary, for terms which, in tho ag-
gregate, will amount to fifteen years.
and that you pay fines aggregating the
sum of SGT $780,"
When Judge Wilson, in administer.
fng sentence, spoke of the past friend.
ship between himself and the prisoner
Bardslcy's hands opened and shut con,
svulsiyely, his face flushed and paled and
his head sank upon his breast As Judge
Wilson proceeded the prisoner almos
collapsed, and seemed about to sink II
the floor from his chair. Nevertheless
before the judge concluded Bardsley had
completely regained his composure anC
received the final words with utter alb
sence Of any emotion.
The prisoner will be allowed to remain
In the county Jail for two or three days
for the purpose of arranging his privata
affairs and bidding good-by to hi
family.
Bardsfey's Rise and Fall.
In 1865 John Bardsley formally en-
tered into public life in this city, through
his ell ition as q member of common
council from the Seventh ward. o.
January 8, 1885, after continuous ser
vice of twenty-four years in common
council, in which he became its financia
oracle, he resigned to enter upon hi
duties as city treasurer, position h
had striven to attain for very many
years, and which finally became his b.
election in the fall of 1885,
When Mr.. Bardsley retired from com
uloM Couiltu III d diudfyt looo, Glo ui6iu
bers Of both branches of the city legisla
ture met in joint session and adopted re,
olutions In which his brethren placed O
record their estimate of Mr.. Bardsle
- a wise, conscientious, courageoul
and incorruptible councilman"
"Honest John'ss Portrait.
s--o.After city councils had adjourned a
Informal meeting was held, with Mayo
Filter in the chair. President Smitl
then presented 102 solid silver knives
spoons and forks to Mr.. Bardsley. Cit
Solicitor Warwick received the gift
was resolved to place portrait of MI
Bardsley in the common council cham
Der, where il still hangs.
On May 81, 1891, he resigned Office a
city treasurer, by reason of his allege
inability to meet fiscal demands due
the failure Of the Keystone bank.
On the night of Saturday May %
1891, he was arrested at his home i
: Germantown, charged with embezzlin
khe public moneys.
On June 0, 1891, in the criminal court