The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-06

Wilmington, Del, Dec. 5.-United
States Senator Richard G. Kenney of
Delaware was today placed on trial in
the United States circuit court for the
second time on the charges growing out
of the looting of the First National
bank of Dover, by its teller. William
r. Boggs. Kenney was last arraigned
on the charge of aiding and abetting
Boggs in misapplying the banks funds
in last July, and after a trial lasting
over one week the jury disagreed
Since then the charge of conspiracy
has been Joined to the first charge.
The discovery of a shortage in the
bank came in May, 1897, when Teller
Boggs suddenly left Dover. The bank
was found to have been looted in the
sum of $107 900. President Richardson
of the bank came to the rescue and
saved the institution from failure.
Boggs subsequently gave himself UP
and admitted his defalcation, at the
same time making statements which led
to the Arrest of Senator Kenney and
several other citizens of Dover. Two Of
the latter have been convicted and are
now serving terms in the Trenton peni-
Tertiary. Boggs pleaded guilty and is
awaiting sentence.
The evidence against Senator Kenney
deals largely with numerous stock
transactions in which he and BoggS
were interested.
During his last trial Senator Kenney
was represented by Senator Gray, his
colleague in the senate, and Levi c..
Bird. Senator Gray is now in Paris
with the peace commission, and ex-
! Attorney John Biggs is assisting Mr.
Bird.
District Attorney vandergrift repre-
sents the government in the prosecu-
ton.
Court did not open until nearly noon
and then took a recess until 2:SO p. m,
when the examination Of witnesses be-
gan before a courtroom that was
crowded to the doors.
! In his opening address to the jury,
District Attorney Vandegrtft said he
would be able to prove that Senator
/ Kenney drew money from the bank to
which he was not entitled, and used it
to tide over difficulties brought upon
him by stock speculations. He said
/ that by an arrangement with BOggs,
| Senator Kenney drew money from the
bank when he had no funds there,
Boggs making the defendants account
balance by the use of other money in
the bank, or in some instances, by
Withholding the senator's checks until
! he had made good the deficit.
| H. a. Richardson. president of the
bank, testified to BOggs' connection
with the institution, and said that it
came to the attention of the directors
| in August, 1895, that BOggs had been
! gambling. He confessed his fault and
was forgiven. Witness had no further
reason to suspect Boggs until after his
/ flight in May, 1896. Mr.. Richardson
/ said the defalcatiOn was $107. 900, and
! that the bank was able to continue by
| himself and others guaranteeing the
stockholders from any loss and reduc-
ing the capital stock from 100000 to
/ $4,000.
A cause of delay and argument at
! the former trial was avoided today by
the admission of numerous checks
drawn by Senator Kenney to the order
of a number of persons and paid by
the First National bank. These COW
cred the period from May to September,
| 1896, and aggregated nearly $4,000. OF
| this amount s5,S6S represented the
| stock dealings with 3. B. Cuthbert &
Co. of Philadelphia. 1t was admitted
| that Senator Kenney signed checks for
! 81 200 of the amount represented in
| stock transactions for Boggs' benefit
The remainder represented his own
dealings.
Numerous kilograms between Senator
/ Kenney and Cuthbert & Co. were also
admitted. These represented calls for
further payment on stock and dealings
| in regard to the stock, but none of the
| kilograms were read to the jury.
| Court then adjourned until tomorrow