Evening star., 1897-06-11
NOW A FREE MAN
Broker Chapman's Term Of Imprison-
ment Over.
A DEDUCTION FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR
He Leaves the Jail Accompanied
by His Children.
TIL ANkS TO THE WARDEN

MIR. Elverton r. Chapman the contu-
.nac.ous sugar trust witness, is once more
a free man. He completed his term of i'm
prisonment at midnight last night. but re-
mained over night at the Jail. leaving the
prison a few minutes after 10 O'clock this
morning in the company of his children
and a friend or two.
Legal History of the Case.
Mr.. Chapman was twice indicted for the
same offense. June % and October l. 1894.
but was tried only on one Indictment. the
second. The first one is still pending, but
District Attorney Davis will probably en-
ter a nolle prosequi to that. To the sec
ond Indictment, Mr.. Chapman's counsel.
Mr.. Jere N. Wilson and ex-senator Geo. F.
Edmunds of Vermont, filed a demurrer oc-
tober II. 1874, attacking the validity of the
Statute alleged to have been violated, sec
ton fu2. and the 18th of the following
month Judge Cole overruled it, holding the
law to be valid and the indie tment good
An appeal was allowed by the Court of
Appeals, but that tribunal January IL
1915. affirmed Judge Coles decision.
Nearly year later. January 3. 1S.6. the
case, which, by agreement by counsel on
either side vas considered as a test one.
came on for trial before Judge Cole in
Criminal Court No. l. and the 18th OF that
month the jury returned a verdict of guilty.
the district attorney then being Mr.. A. A.
Birney. February l following Judge Cole
ovcrruled the motion for new trial. and
sentenced Mr.. Chapman to pay a fine of
500 and be imprisoned in Jail for one
nionth, the minimum sentence The case
was again carried to the Court of Appeals
and that court. the 4th of last January af-
Iirmed the judgment OF the trial court.
Mr.. thapnan'S counsel had the case before
the United States Supreme Court on a writ
OF error from the first decision of the Court
of Appeals. but the Supreme Court declin-
ed to interfere and again refused to inter
fere when the case was carried up after the
second decision of the Court of Appeals.
Term of imprisonment.
Mr.. Chapman declined to file petition
for a pardon, and the 18th of last north
h. surrendered himself to Marshal Wilson,
paid mis- fine, md that afternoon entered
upon his term if Imprisonment. Under the
rules of the prison. a deduction of five
days a month is allowed prisoners who
properly behave themselves That Geduc-
ton Mr.. Chapman earned, and yesterday
afternoon Warden Leonard SO reported to
Chief Justice Brigham. Thereupon the
Chief justice signed an order. reciting the
good conduct of Prisoner Chapman, and
directing that he be released from prison
June II, 1897. June IL. 1851. came into its
being the moment the bells ceased ringing
Il o'clock last night, SO had Mr. Chapman
liberty to then depart from the jail. a free
man again. But he informed Warden
Leonard yesterday that he preferred to
remain in Jail over right and that he
would not leave the prison until after
breakfast this morning
A Model Prisoner.
Mr.. Chapman, according 20 the warden,
has been a model prisoner, offering no COM
plants and submitting quietly and grace
f,,tI
hardship of Imprisonment. That he has
suffered 10 some extent his pallor and list
lessness evidence. and his greatest concern
Is as TO whether the malaria which infects
the vicinity in which the Jail is located will
permanently affect his health. Every day
of his twenty-five days of Imprisonment,
by order of the jail physician. he took about
ten grains of Quinine to counteract the
dreaded malaria, ana Mr.Chapman's friends
hope that in that way he will escape 1t.
Mr. Chapman has five interesting chill
dren. and they visited their father in prison
yesterday.
His Departure From the Jail.
Mr.. Chapman's. release this morning was
simple leave taking of the jail officials.
devoid of any demonstration by him or his
friends save that of gratitude to Warden
Leonard and his officers.
Visited by His Children.
MIR. Chapman arose at his usual hour
this morning, shortly after : o'clock and
stated that his last night in prison had
been most pleasant one. After partak-
ing of light breakfast, furnished by the
Arlington Hotel, MIR. Chapman cleared his
table of his papers. and had just about
concluded wneII his five children arrived at
the Jail, having driven down from The Ar
lington. They were no less delighted than
was their father over his departure from
jail, and they were particularly well pleased
when the scales showed that their father
had actually gained two and one-half
pounds in weight since his incarceration
He stated that he felt very WELL and
showed no impatence to get away from
the jail He chatted with his children and
the prison officials until a few minutes of
II o'clock, when he smilingly informed the
warden that he feared he could remain no
longer
Meantime Mr. Chapman had remembered
several of his fellow prisoners in a sub
stantial manner, and in taking leave OF
Warden Leonard and his officers he took
occasion to compliment them upon their
cCHduct of the prison. He told them he
deeply appreciated their kindness to him,
promising to always gratefully remem-
ber them. His children also thanked the
jail officials, and then they escorted their
father to the carriage and drove Off with
him to the Arlington Hotel. There Mr..
Chapman expects to remain until Sunday,
when he will return to New York and
settle down to business.