The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-26

NEW YORK. Dec. 24-Samuel c. See
ley. who, on Monday last, pleaded guilty
to the charge Of abstracting funds and al
tering the books of the National shoe and
leather bank. was today sentenced to eight
years Imprisonment in Kings county peni-
tertiary by Judge Benedict in the United
States circuit court. The total amount Of
the defalcation was S3j4O but the specific
charges against Seeley involved only S5,0S0.
The moment Judge Benedict pronounced
the sentence Seeley was escorted from the
court room to United States Marshal Nc
Carty's office in the federal building by
deputies. He was accompanied by his un-
cla. Wilforl Hallanback wa stood beside
him during the trying ordeal Seeley threw
himself on a sofa Wlsn ne reaca5d t-e mar
shals office. and when asked by an Asso-
ciated Press reporter if he had anything
to say replied:
Il feel much better than I have felt in
ten years past. am glad it IS all over and
that l will be confined in the Kings cOun-
" penitentiary as my wife will be able TO
visit me and this viii tend to make my
term of Imprisonment seem somewhat shor-
ter"
The defaulting bookHeaper looked much
better when he emerged from Ludl0w-st
Jail this morning than on any day since he
was brought back from Chicago Deputy
Marslals McAviney and Lawless had him
in charge and they stood on the front
platform Of a horse car. Seeley lit a cigar
and chatted with his guards and to an As
sociated Press reporter, but refused to say
anything in reference to his case. When
prisoner was placed Marshal McCarty's
Office where he was Immediately Joined by
his uncle. Wilford Hallenbeck. and Law
yer Frank w. Angel. A few minutes later
Chief Clerk Kennedy announced that Judge
Benedict would not pronounce sentence un-
til o'clock in the afternoon. Vice-Presi-
dent George L. Peace and Director John !.
Beach Of the National shoe and leather bank
called about an hour later and had a talk
with Seeley The latter said that even if
he should be sentenced to the full limit of
ten years he would most willingly assist
the officials Of the bank in Strengthening up
the accounts.
Lawyer. Angel asked the gentlemen to in
tercede with Judge Benedict in Seeley's be-
half. but they refused.
I'VE are not in the least vindictive," said
Mr.. Beach. but the case is now in the
lsfed to let the law take its course"
At few minutes before O'clock Seeley
was brought into the United States circuit
court. He was not placed in the pen with
the other prisoners. but sat between the
deputies near the counsel taDla in the front
Of the court. His uncle kept up a c0ntin-
uous conversation with him, but Saeley
| seemed to take very little interest in his
surroundings. He was very nervous and
twisted and untwisted a white handkerchief
lxr~ifh haff
tered 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 national bank.
A couple Of Italians were first called for
sentence; they had pleaded guilty to cleo
ton frauds and We're sentenced to three
years each. When Seeley's name was called
he arose slowly from his seat and walked
up to the bar with his uncle on one side
and the lawyer on the other Lawyer
Angel made an earnest plea for clemency
and said that although the crime charged
was a serious one he thought the ends of
justice would be served by the infiction Of
the minimum penalty Of five years. He
| spoke Of Seeley's willingness to plead guilty
from the day he was brought back from Chi
cago and said that so pleading he had
saved the government a great deal Of ex-
| pense. Lawyer Angel then went into the
history Of the case and said how Seeley, in
| the beginning Of 1885. had made an honest
mistake. Dut uldI ne COIunlJeu q ldl1l error
| in not reporting the matter TO the officials
of the bank at once. He was weak and
| easily fell a victim TO Baker, a man of iron
nerve and peculiar ways. Lawyer Angel
| then referred to Seeley's family and asked
that the court would grant a favor, that
whatever the term of Imprisonment the
court infict. Seeley would be allowed
] to serve it in the Kings county prison SC
| that his wife could visit him. When the
| lawyer had finished there was not a sound
| in the court room and Judge Benedict looked
| at the prisoner for fully minute before he
| said that he admired Seeley for pleading
| guilty, but the large amount involved and
| the position which Seeley held in the bank
made it necessary for him TO inflict a Sc
we're sentence in the hope that it would
| deter others following in mis- footsteps.
| 1.-The sentence of the court is said Judge
Benedict. "thst you be imprisoned in the
Kings county penitentiary for the term Of
| eight years"
! Seeley meekly bowed his head to the
| Judge and left the court room with the
| deputies Seeley, by good behavior. car
| earn a Communication Of thirty-two months
| which will reduce his term of Imprisonment
to five years and four months.
He will probably be taken TO the peni-
| tertiary next Saturday, but the marshal said
| that he might not be sent until next week