New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-07
SENATOR KENNEY'S TRIAL.
TESTIMONY AGAINST HIM BY BOGGs THE
BANK TELLER WHO MIsUsED
FUNDS IN HIS CARE


Wilmington. De-. Dec. s.-rhis was the second
day OF the trial OF senator Kenney. charged with
conspiracy. and aiding In the misapplcation OF
the funds OF the First National Bank OF Dover.
William y. Boggs. the defauting teller. was the
first witness He said ne was teller OF the bank
from 1891 to 1897 when he fed from Dover. The
shortage In his accounts began In 1898. when he
agreed 20 carry A check for Thomas s. Clark now
. serving sentence in the Trenton pen.tent!ary.
This act was concealed from the scrutiny Of invcs
tigation by Withholding deposit ticket OF Gus
toner for n similar amount until Clark had paid
the money back In the next year and up 10 1885.
the witness said the deficit constantly Increased.
and witness endeavored 10 recoup the shortage
by horseracing operations with Clark and others
Boggs said his accounts in such bad shape
that in Octobsr. 1925. he called on Mr. kenney and
consulted with HIM 10 whether he had betters
confess 10 the bank officials or endeavor 70 collect
on his evidences 81 Clark's ard others Indebted
ness. II decided make an enort 10 coiiect
the money. and Clark promised settle his In
debtedness. From this time until May. 1886. MI
Kenney knew that the witness was short in his
accounts. At this time the witness said Nr. Kerr
ney told him that ne had been dealing In Bay state
Gas. and the results had not been as he had ex-
pected Mr. Kcnney all this tire and there
after a customer OF the bank. and had been making
deposits and dra wing money In the regular way
Referring TO checks OF Cuthber' & Co.'S. amount
Ing to over s. 600 the witness sale they first came 20
him In May. 1886. the result OF a Conversation
with the defendant, in which Mr.. Kenney SAID ne
needed money a result Of his sp"crlations IN
Bay State Gas and asked Mr. Boggs to carry
checks for him. which Boggs did These cheeks.
tho wituess said we're all paid from The bank
funds and Mr. Kenney knew ne had no funds In
the bank 10 pay the checks when they came IN
Another check FOR s9o. made payable Cu,h-
bert & Co. by Senator kenney. witness said. Pep
resented his stock speculation in Bay State
Gas. The check given AT the fequest OF Bogss
70 cover suspicion that might arise In the
bank II A check OF his came N.
Boggs stated that in July lss ne Withheld N.oo
check ~ Kenncys from Saturday 70 Monday vneh
Cashier Bateman T. lying on the Witness desk
and spoke 10 him about II Witness told the cashier
Kenney would he all right Boggs then told Kenney
Of the danger discovery. and urged him 20 deposit
sufficient 10 protect this overdraf, To aid him in
this Boggs borrowed check drawn 10 Kenney's
order and gave him some money also.
The checks also given by Kenney for the use or
Boggs In his dealings with Anderson e. Co, which
aggrega ted 81 go and In his purchase o. farm fer
81 50 sherrs sale given byKenney. he said.
when ne had not sIfficen, FUNDS In The bank. ard
knew that the witness would carry him over. with
out the knowledge OF the bank officials. Kenny
knew he carrying other persons checks as vel
as Kenney's Among them were Colonel Cooper ara
Thomas S. Clark. both Of whom are now undersohs
sentence resul, o. their transactions with
Boggs. The witness told how on one occasion Kei.-
ney posted draft for 1850 person living III
some other state II placed to his credit an,
made his accounts balance wher the bank examine
made his examination. In a few days time II came
hack dlshonored and ne told the bank officials Re
believed Mr. Kenney would make II good. He san
Kenney and arranged 10 make the draft good r.
the Of bank funds. and matters were then -
before the bank examiners visit.
Dlstrlct-Attorney Vandergrift told the Cour, re
had directed the defence 10 produce all the stuts
OF KeIneys checkbook for 1896 He said they he
dore except for the period between March ana
October which represented the operations covered
b. the checks named in the Indictment Counsel
for the accused stated in reply that the defence
had been unable find them. although diliger.
search had been made
Continuing. BOggs said that all the money Sens
tory Kenney got from the bank was subsequently,
made good by the defendant and the only loss !
funds TO the bank for the time kenney ma
thu Of the bank money.
Coming down 10 February 1897 the witness SAL
ne found he could no longer continue his manipr'
lation OF the funds without discovery. Under
new system instituted he could no longer withhold
by altering figures in the ledger totals Discovery
was bound to with the first attempt at Il
vesiigation This about the time that NJ.
Kenney was chosen Senator The Senator'S az
counts were by this time all in good shape. and he
financial condition better than II had been IN
him. and he had just reached a position OF ii'
fuence the witness went to him. and Mr.. Kennc.'
expressed his regret Boggs told him he wou.o
have 10 take flight He put II of until May and ~
an interview with Senator Kenney the latter ad.
vised him as the best place 10 go suggesting
Cuba He told Soggs there would soon be peace
thore and new treaties would have 10 be made
which would render mis- chance OF arrest slight.