The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-03

$1,000.
Barney Ford Gets OFF Easily
at the Hands of the
Trenton Sessions
Court.
LONG LECTURE, LIGHT PENALTY
He Makes Restitution and Offers
to Be States Evidence
A Painful Scene.
LONG LECTURE, LIGHT PENALTY
Spccia. to tho 5crsev cify Nc,ra.

Ford, ex-Superintendsnt of the State
House, who recently pleaded non vult
to five indictments for embezzling mon
eys of the state and oficsal misconduct.
was arrsigrs before Judge Woodruff in
the Asercs y Court this morning
and sen.s ay fine Of $1,000.
a heav.< sament to the old man.
perhaps, was long and severe address
by the judge He was kept standing fully
quarter of an hour while the Court
read to him from typewritten sheets his
views of the offences committed and
finally why lenieney should be exercised.
The Court did not mince words in de-
scribing the nature of Ford's crimes. He
said it was pitiable to see so old man
and one who had borne SO good a charae
ter previously. standing in the criminal
dock. He had been recreant to his trust
ana false to his duty. 1t had been urgel
tssat others who had wronged the State
had escaped and therefore this defendant
shculd be allowed to go without punish
meat That was not logical argument
for leniency. That he had made restitu-
tiaa for the moneys wrongfully taken
was better reason. A fault confessed
vas half rsdressed. At this point the
Court became very severe and little
lase- pathetic when ne described Ford
as fugitive. criminal and an outcast-
Fard stocd with his greateoat on and
h.s sead bowed. and trembling all over.
Ii was an extremely painful sight. Pres
ea.ly re orol.e down and his sobbing could
be heard all over the court room. The
roosz was packed to sufrocation. it being
general. sentence day.
n conclusion Judge Woodruff referred
to the letters he had received from New
ark, Trenton and other places urging mercy
fer Ford. and then the long deferred SEN
tense was passed. and Ford sank back
ilaso his seat and wiped his eyes.
Before he was called upon Joseph Coult
Of NswsTK made Al affscfing plea for
Ford He said ne was not present as a
lawyer. or Tor reward or fee. but in the
capacity of a friend of the defendant and
his family. Ford mad committed
grave errcr and Acknowledged it privately
and publicly He had suffered as no man
could except one occupying his position
and as sensitive. as he of his honor and
reputation. He was an old man now,
and must soon leave for that country to
,;-t,5 al 1isor o7f
involving his Incarceration in felon's
cell would practically end his career. Pub
lie opinion. press and people generally
was that the ends OF justice would be
sufficiently met with punishment milder
than that.
Here MIR. Coult read a letter addressed
TO him by William H. Corbin, counsel
of the Senate Investigating Committee.
expressing the opinion that since Ford
was so old a man, SO contrite, so will,
ing to make restitution and had suf-
fered 50 keeniy and SO long. the imposi-
ton of a fine would be satisfactory
result. All the members of the Senate
: Investigating Committee endorsed Mr..
corbsn's letter.
Mr. coult averred that Ford was not
the chief offender What he had done
was not done through any corrupt mo
tive or bad heart. It was done at
time when public virtue was not SO
He retained money to compensate him