New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-18
FORD PLEADS NON VULT.
,,r, &c Unwilling TO STAND TRIAL ON
FIVE INDICTMENTS.
ADMITS OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT AND FALSE PRE-
FENCES. BUT DENIES CONSPIRACY WITH
,,,.,,,,s-u MITCH SPECULATION AS TO


TEMPS Brrr DENIES CONSPIRACY WITH
Ntu1LNs-MUCH SPECULATION AS TO
WHAT HIS SENTENCE WILL BE-
,rran,on Feb II (speciaD.-Bernard J. Ford. once
49,. r.ocr.t Of the New-Jersey State House. was
1ay arraiened before Judge Woodruff in the
Mercer County Court. and through his counsel ex-
Senator Michael Barrett pleaded non Vuit u "'o
criminal indictments upon each OF which he can NC
sent to tn. State prison for term OF years. DIS
vcu as being fined. Ford was indicted upon seven
charges growing out of the exposure OF the stu
pendous State House frauds by the "e""'e " W.
eating Committee.
Two Indictments charged him with conspring
with John Mullins the Jersey City, Brooklyn anu
Newark furniture dealer. to defraud the state ny
unnecessarily refurnshlng the various departments
Ford to-day pleaded not guilty. This, it was un-
derstood mis- counsel advised, because the uial oi
Mullins on the same charge resulted In acquitta'
and the prisoner could not of conspre with
himself.
Ford was next arraigned charge OF official
m,econduc In office and upon four indictments FOR
obtaining money from the State under false pre-
tences To each OF these indictments his couhsei
answered that he pleaded non vult. In entering the
Meas Senator Barrett stated to the Court that ne
and Joseph Coult. of Newark, counsel Tor me prs
oner would ask to be heard In Fords peha.l on
the sentence day. Tho Court replied that sentence
day was not as yet fixed, but that he would near
what counsel had TO say at the proper time a.,
There has been much wire-puling here In Ford
behalf for several weeks The politicians trying 20
save Ford have been anxious 10 know just what ms
sentence would he in he should enter plea OF
guilty or non vu.t. Judge Woodruff has been un-
Communicative the subject. much to tho chaBrln
Of Ford and his friends but there was no use IN
going to trial. the prosecution had DOCUMENTARY
evidence showing Fords guilt In fact IL IL an
omen secret here that the Court and court officials
would rather have seen Ford stand trial ana nave
the Jury return verdict Of guilty than TO nave MIN
throw himself on the mercy OF the Court 49,
The prisoners tried at this term or court VIII
nrobablv be sentenced week. Ford with the rest
The Prosecutor said this evening II Is understood
that Ford will make restitution to certain eX,
tent He viii return the amount ne oVercnarseu
in the transactions In which Alex j. Relly. OF new
ark figured. This will he about $50 II Is sara;
lie will also return something IKE Sfo Tecelveu
from old furniture a few weeks before ne was
ousfed from Office. but these sums are only snaii
norton Of Ford's delinquency. The value OF me
goods he nched from the state can De toih oiny ny
himself An interesting point now 10 whether y.
not the Attorney General will proceed against
Torls bonismen 10 receive the full amount which
Ford took The father OF United states senator
James smith jr. is FOrd's bonisman his pea OF
non yult to Official misconduct caves MS bohdsiheh
60