Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
'SEELY SENTENCED.
He Is Given Eight Years 10 the
PeDitenliary.
PLEA IN HIS BEHALF.
Stronger wiii-Power Than
His Own.

NEW YORK, December 2l-Samuel c.
Seely, the defaulting book-keeper Of the
National Shoe and Leather Bank, who
was arrested In Chicago on December llth
hnd last week pleaded guilty TO an IN
uictment against him for defrauding the
bank by false entries and converting the
banks money TO his own use, was ar
raiened before Judge Benedict In the
United States Circuit Court to-day Tor
sentence. The specific sum mentioned in
the Indictment as mlsappropriated by
Seely Is only $3.50, though his pecula-
tions from the bank for the benefit OF
Frederick Baker. which had been golns
on for several years, aggregated sSd'oO'
Out Of this fabulous sum Baker only
gave Seely 500 to get away with after
his crime had been discovered.
Seely was brought from Ludlow-Street
Jail to the Federal building at IL o'clock
this morning by Deputy-Marshal John
l.. McAviney and taken to the office OK
United States Marshal McCarty TWO
directors OF the Shoe and Leather Bank
had a long private interview with seely
in the Marshal's Office this noon Seeiy
told them he would give them all me IN
formation I'm his power 20 help them trace
Bakers missing checks from lSSo 10 lesi'
and aid them as well as he was able TO
straighten out the tangled accounts Tor
that period, even II ne should oe SEN
fenced 10 ten years.
LAWYER Angel made an earnest appeal
TO the two directors 10 intercede with
Judge Benedict In Seely's behalf, but
hey positively declined 10 do so, ana
simply said that they would not speak
word to the Judge one way or the other.
1t was 2:90 o'clock when Seely respond
ed quickly to the call Of his name ana
walked TO the bar with a firm step: but
he looked pale, detected. and crestfallen.
in fact, almost dazed. He was In charge
Of United States Marshal McCarty and
a deputy marshal. His wife's uncle, Mil
ford +. Halenback, stood with him In
court.
LAWYER ANGELS PLEA.
LAWYER Frank w. Angel interceded for
his client, and said that he thought the
ends of justice would be met by the
minimum punishment. He said Seely had
told him openly that he was guilty, ana
deserved punishment. He said Seely had
over 600 accounts under his care. His
have gone to the president Of the bank,
and told him of II, but instead he went
10 a banker, a man Of will-power and
decision. who easily Influenced Seely. He
had not given the government any Of
the expense or trouble Of trial He
asked that the sentence should be exec
cuted In the Kings county penitentiary.
Judge Benedict then sentenced Seely to
eight years in the Kings county peni-
tentiary.
Seelv was at once removed from the
courtroom and taken back 10 Ludlow
Street jail.
The maximum punishment for his crime
under the statute Is ten years lmprlsoh-
ment. and the minimum five years. win
the allowance for good conduct, the ac-
tnal time Seely will serve Will be about
five years and four months.
in passing sentence. Judge Beneulct
said: 'The law must protect the banks,
and is intended to deter others from conf
hitting similar crimes"
Just before seely was called to th9
bar. President Crane. Of the shoe ana
Leather Bank; Vice-President Peace, ana
director Beach entered the COURTROOM
a,,5 took seats in the rear of the gallery.
MO- ara. Peace and Tyeach are the TWO d.
rectors who had an interview with Seely
I'm the Marshal's office this morning ana
refused to intercede with the Judge In
his behalf. after seely had told them all
he could about the banks accounts ard
how to trace Bakers missing checks.
SEELY RELIEVED.
After Seely was taken from the court
roorn hack To the Marshal's office TO get
tbe commitment papers he said to Depu-
tv-Narshal McAviny. who had him IN
charge: II am glad II is over. | would
rather serve twenty years in State prison
than suffer as have done during the
past ten days. The past ten years nave
been terrible to me, and the anguish III
descrlba hle "