The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-27
SEELEY SENTENCED
EIGHT YEARS IN THE KINGS
COUNTY PEN.
Was the Sentence Pronounced BY the
Judge-The Prisoner Well Pleased
With the Sentence-Thirty-Two
Months Deducted For Good
Behavior.

New York, Dec. 23.-Samuel Seeley,
who last Monday, pleaded guilty of de-
falcation and altering the books of Tie
National Shoe and Leather bank of New
York. was today sentenced to years in
prisonment in the Kings County peniteA-
tiary by Judge Benedict. The total !
mount of defalcation was SS54,0OO, but
the specific charges against Seeley il
volved only $5,0S0.
The moment Judge Benedict pronoune-
ed sentence Seeley was escorted from the
court room 10 United States Marshal No
| Carty's office in the federal building by
deputies. Seeley threw himself on a sofa
when he heard the officers depart, ami
when asked by an Associated Press NJ
porter if he had anything 10 say, repliet:
Il feel much better than l have felt in ID
years past. l am glad il is all over and
that will be confined in the Kings counE
prison as my wife will be able TO visit ne
and this will tend to make my term of in
prsonment somewhat shorter. The d.
faulting bookkeeper looked better this
morning than on any day since he was
brought back from Chicago. Vice Pr
sident Peace and Director John l.. Beach,
of the National Shoe and Leather bank
called and had a talk with Seeley befoie
court opened. The latter said that even
if he should be sentenced 10 the full
limit of 10 vars he would most Willingly
assist the officials of the bank in Straigh-
tening out the accounts.
Lawyer Angel asked the gentlemen 10
intercede with Judge Benedict in SeeleyS
behalf, but they refused.
I'VE are not in the least vindictive said
Mr.. Peace but the case is now in tie
hads of the government and we are salts
fed to let the law take its course
4 few minutes before > o'clock Serlty
was brought into the United States Cir
cult court. He was not placed in the pen
with the PRISONERS, but sat beneath, near
the counSel's table. Seeley was very ne7
vous and twisted and UNFINISHED a white
handkerchief. When Judge Benedict en-
tered the court all the chairs were filled
with spectators. among whom We're Pre-
Sident Crane. Vice President Peace AID
Director Beach. of the Shoe and Leather
bank. 4 couple of other prisoners were
first called for sentence. They had plesd
guilty Ia election frauds ana were SrnlcD.-
ed TO three years When Seeley'S name
was called he rose Slowly from his seal
and walked ND 10 the bar With his 'lnre
on one side and LAWYER Angel on The
other. Lawyer Angel made al earnest
plea for clemency, and said that 81
though the crime was very serious one.
he thought the ends Of Justice would be
served by inficting the minimum penalty
Of five years. He spoke OF Seeley VIII.
ingness 10 plead guilty before he was
brought back from Chicago. and said that
by so pleading he had saved the govern
,,,oDr a rrAer deal Of pNppnSe.
Lawyer Angel then went into the story
of the case and said how Seeley in the
beginning Of 1885, had made an honest
mistake, but that he committed 4 ser
ions error in not reporting the matter IL
the officials OF the bank He was weak
and easily fell 4 victim 10 Baker 3 man
Of iron nerve and peculiar ways. Law
yer Angel then referred 10 Seeley ; falhll!
and asked that the court would grant
rs q favor. that whatever the term Of I'M
prisoument the court would lnhlci. that
Sselev would be allowed 10 serve Il IN me
Kings county penitentiary, 50 that MS
wife could visit him. When the lawyer
had finished there was not q sound IL the
court room ana Judge Benedict locked at
the prisoner for fully 4 minute before ne
spoke In few brief sentences he Salu
that he admired Seeley for pleading Eullt!
but the large amount involved ana the
position which Seeley held in the BANK
made il necessary for him to indict q
severe sentence. The sentence Of the
court is" said Judge Benedict, THAT you
he imprisoned in the Kings county pG,ni-
Tertiary for eight years" Seeley meeSly
bowed his head and left the cour; room
with the deputies.
Seeley by good behavior. can earn
comuUJatioD u g. months, which VII! Tt
duce his term 10 I'VE years ana iour
months.