New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-14

BENEDICT ARNOLD TRIED BY THE SONS
OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
THE TRAITORS CAUSE PLEADED so ABLY BY
COLONEL. EDWARD 4. SUMNER THAT CHArN-
CEY NJ DEPEw. THE JUDGE. rs FORCED

THE TRAITORS CAUSE PLEADED SO ABLY BY
COLONEL. EDWARD 4. SUMNER THAT cHArN-
cEY NJ DEPEw THE JUDGE Is FORCED
TO GIVE AN ANOMALOUS DECISION.
The regular monthly meeting of the Empire State
Society Sons Of the American Revolution which
was held last evening at the Hotel Normandie, was
an unusually interesting and entertaining one.
This is accounted for largely by the fact that the
literary exercises consisted OF informal trial OF
Benedict Arnold q charge OF treason. 1t Will De
remembered that Arnold never captured, ana
tried for treason: consequently. the legai
proceedings las; evening the first in which his
cause was ever pleaded before judge ana jury
Uhauncey NJ Depew. president Of the society. pre-
sided and acted In an impressive manner the PARK
OF Judge. while all the members of the society VINO
were present were included in the jury. Colonel
Henry W Sackett. of Governor Blacks military
stat appeared a. prosecuting attorney. while the
defence was conducted by Colonel Edward \. Sum
nor.
The Indictment against Benedict Arnold was In
troduced bv Richard II Clark and read by Colonel
John =. Scharf. by whom il had been prepared
Colonel Sackett in his address TO the jury. made
notable plea. He rchearsed the career OF the man
charged with treason from the days OF his boy
hood through the war and up TO the time OF his
death. He admitted that for all his brave deeds
and noble acts Arnold had received due credit. but
when that had been done there remained alone In
the memory his Infamous treason and betrayal OF
bis country. He had been unscrupuous N plotting
Of loyalty in the midst Of constant auarreliinS Win
2lGers taG ne died aer me 1 Dae have bnen
remembered. but lfe Of lavish and extra yaeant
lowed and led 70 his treason This fact left him
without apoogist or defender He gioried IN
his shame. he lived TO show the world that he was
the only American TO be tempted to desert the
cause Of the Revolution.
Colonel Sumner made an eloquent appeal for his
client. He took Colonel SackettS arguments
and showed on the evidence OF a historical work
which he carried in his hand that important points
had not been correctly stated. In the MAN. IL may
be said that Colonel Sumner based his arguments
for the defence of his client upon his record
soldier prior the time Of his downfall He led
his listeners with him over the expedition 10 que
bee the naval battle upon Lake Champiain ICON on
shone start OF great brilliancy Colonel sum
ners address a mixture Of fact fiction. humor
and pathos and when he had finished the nan re-
echoed with applause.
The proceedings had taken up so much OF the
time allowed for the exercises that the learned
Judge not permitted 10 sum up the evidence az
any length He said that Arnod was one OF ,no~e
numerous examples Of which class could be found
in the present day and generation; His decision
mold were lust he was entitled the credit OF the
perpetual punishment that comes from brave DEEDS
Among those present were Chauncey NJ. Depew.
General Horato King. Judge Advoca ie-cien
Z. Roberts c. A. Pugsley Edward Wells. r. W.
Poor Charles A. Treat, Robert Treat Colonel r.
W Sackett Ralph T.. Prime Rear Admlral II
ben r. II Clarke H. r. steels. D. NJ
Green. W. Hamilton Henry Henry Han fr9
fessor Carrot T. Serviss. John Wood. l. b.
stewart. Colonel John p Scharf r. RI: Clark. Jr
William A. Marble and r. Hagaman Han .
The Nominating Committee reported the ro
lowing names be voted on next month; Presi-
Rober, p Roosevelt; second vce-president. Wal
ter : Logan: third vice-president General Ralph
F. Prime secretary Stephsn NJ Wright; treas
ure- Ira p Stewart: registrar. Edward II. Hall
historian. Walter BENJAMIN Sha ,l a Ho9DI'
Henry Hall General Thomas Wilson. Colonel
Frederick d Grant Edward = cone MILAN Sydnitn =
KIM A J G. Foye j. Lawrence McKeever. Nor
ris K jesnP. Colgate H0yt james nlaTe D. b1aen
Warren Richard H. Clarke. William ". kenly. Q.
b Bridgman. oswald 7. Baekus + j. chanse;
nate General Stewart WO0dford.