The morning call., 1894-12-25
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
SeeIey Is Sent to the
Penitentiary.
GLAD THE AGONY Is OVER.
The Defaulter Relieved by the
Sentence.
GLAD THE AGONY Is OVER.
BANKERS REFUSE TO INTERcEDE
On the Whole Ii Is a Rather Short
Term for the Enormous
Thefts.


abstrsctiug funds and altering the books
of the National Shoe and Leather Bank,
was to-day sentenced to eight years in
the Kings County penitentiary by Judge
Benedict in the United States Circuit
Court. The total amount of his defalca-
ton was 1884, 600.
The moment Judge Benedict pro-
nouneed the sentence Seeley was escorted
from the courtroom to United States
Marshal McCarthy's Office In the Federal
building by deputies. He was accom-
panied by his uncle, Milford Rallenback,
who stood beside him during the trying
ordeal
Seeley threw himself on sofa when he
reached the MarshaPs Office. and when
asked by an Associated Press reporter il
he had anything 80 say replied:
''I feel much better than l have for ten
years. am glad it 10 all over and that 1
will be confined in the Kings County Peni-
tentiary, as my poor wife will be able to
visit me, and this will tend to make my
term of imprisonment seem somewhat
shorter"
The defaultng bookkeeper looked much
better when he emerged from Ludlow
street jail this morning than on any day
since he was brought back from Chicago.
Deputy Marshals MeAviney and Lawless
had him in charge. and they stoed on the
platform of horseear. Seeley lighted s
cigar and cbatted to his guards and 10 a
reporter, but refused to say anything in
reference to his case.
When the party reached the Federal
build ng the prisoner was placed in Mar
shall McCarthy's office, where he was i'm
me1iately joined by his uncle, Milford
Hallenbaek, and Lawyer Frank W. Angel.
A few minutes er Chief CLERK Kennedy
announced that Judge Benedict would not
pronounce sentence until o'clock in the
afternoon.
Viee-President George L. Pease and
Director John n. Beach Of the National
Shoe and Leather Bank called about IA
hour later aud had iaIk with Seelry. The
latter said that even il be should be SEN
fenced to the full limit of the law he would
most willingly assist the officials of the
bank in Strengthening out the accounts
Lawyer Angel asked the gentlemen to in
tercede with Judge Benedict in Seeley's
behalf. but they refused.
"We are not in the least vindietive,"
said Mr.. Beach. "Dut the case is now in
the hands of the Government ard we are
satisfied to let the law take its course"
At few minutes before o'clock Seeley
was brought into the United States Cir
cult Court. He was not placed In the pen
with the other prisoners but sat between
the deputies near the counsel tables in
front of the court. His uncle kept up a
continuous conversation with him, but
Seeley seemed to take very little interest
.. H.
vous and twisted and untwisted a white
| handkerchief with both hands.
When Judge Benedict entered the court
all the chairs were filed with spectators,
among whom were President Crane, Vice
President Pease and Director Beach of the
Shoe and Leather Bank.
A couple of Italians were first called for
sentence. They bad pleaded guilty to
| election frauds and were sentenced to three
years each.
When Seeley's name was called he arose
| slowly and walked up to the bar, with his
uncle on one side and Lawyer Angel on
| the other. Lawyer Angel made an earnest
| plea for clemency and said that although
| the crime charged was very serious, he
| thought the ends of justice would be
served by the infection of a minimum
| penalty of five years. He spoke of Sae-
ley's willingness TO plead guilty from the
| day he was brought back from Chicago,
and stated that in pleading guilty be had
saved the Government great deal Of
| expense.
| Augel then went into the history Of the
| case, and said that Seeley, in the begin
ming of 1885, had made an honest mistake,
but that be committed fatal error in not
reporting the matter to the officials of the
| bank at once. He was weak aud easily
| fell victim to Baker, men of iron nerve
and peculiar ways. Angel referred TO
Seeley's family. and asked that the court
would grant favor that, whatever term
| of imprisonment the court would infilct,
SeeIey would be allowed to serve it in
the Kings County Psniten tiary. so that his
| wife could visit him.
When the lawyer had finished there was
| not sound in the courtroom, and Judge
| Benedict looked at the prisoner for fully a
minute before he spoke.
j In few brief sentences he said that he
| admired Seeley for pleading guilty, but the
| large amount involved aud the position
which SeeIey held in the bank neeessitated
| a severe sentence, In the hope that ii would
deter others from folio wing his course.
"The sentence OF the court" said Judge
Benedict, sis that you be imprisoned in
the Kings County penitentisry for term
of eight years"
Seeley meekly bowed his head to the
Judge and left the courtroom with the
deputies. Seeley, by good behavior. can
earn a communication of thirty-two months.
and will reduce his term of imprisonment
to five years and four months. He will
| probably be taken to the penitentiary next
Saturday, but Marshal Mccarthy said be
nigh. not be sent there until some day
| next week.