The sun., 1898-06-28
CLARK GETS
FIVE YEARS
And is Fined $4,000 and Costs
Of the Prosecution by
Judge Bradford.
LIGHTNESS OF THE SENTENCE
Was a Surprise to the Prisoner
and His Friends.
TIE COURT WAS LENIENT
LIGHyNESS OF THE SENTENCE
THE COURT WAS LENIENT

Clark Has Recovered His Nerve and
Babe Number of Persons
I Good Bye-.-A Rumor That
He Had Confessed ~
is Denied.
Thomas s. Clark, who on Friday after
noon OF last week, was convicted in the
United States District Court Of aiding
and abetting William N. Boggs in looting
the First National Bank of Dover, was
Yesterday morning sentenced in the Fed
eral Court by Judge Bradford.
The sentence of the court was that he
be confined in the penitentiary at Tren-
ton, N. j., for period of five years, be-
ginning June 26, 1898, and ending June
26, 1908. At the same time Judge Brad
ford imposed fine Of 5000 on Clark
and the costs of the prosecution, which
will sum up $4,000 additional, making
the entire amount $ll 900.
The imprisonment was on counts Nos.
p, 25 and 36, which charged him with
aiding and abetting and the fine was im-
posed on counts Nos. 43 and A, charging
him with conspiring.
Clark was brought to Wilmington early
yesterday morning by Sheriff Finn and
turned oyer to the custody of United
States Marshall Short. He remained in
the Iatter's room until about 1920
O'Clock, when he was taken into the
courtroom. .
Clark was accompanied by his counsel,
John Biggs, ESQ.,, and had apparently
recovered from his fit of dependency.
His corntsnance was wreathed in smiles
and he was chatting pleasantly with Mr..
Boggs. District Attorney LewisC. Van
degrift had preceded them and when
Judge Bradford took his seat on the
bench they, with, a few lawyers, were
the only ones present when sentence
was pronounced.
Prior to this Judge Bradford held
short conversation with Mr.. Biggs, after
which Mr.. Van1egrift moved that the
Judgment OF the court be pronounced.
He was informed that the time for max
ing application for a new trial had not
yet expired, but Mr. Biggs stated that
bis client waived all rights for an arrest
Of Judgment. ...,
After this announcement Judge Brad
fore addressed Clark and informed him
that he had teen found guilty on sundry
counts in tie Indictment presented by
the grandgjrry ON April 25th and asked
him if he had any reason why the judg-
ment Of the law should not be imposed.
Mr.. Biggs replied for his client, stating
that there was no objection, and asked
that the sentence be tempered With
mercy, in view Of the fact that the slx
checks upon which the defendant had
been con 1icted aggregated only 5000. He
requested that the minimum sentence be
imposed He also asked that in regard
to the conspiracy counts the mprison-
ment, if sentence be imposed on account
of them, be made to run concurrently
with the terms OF imprisonment pre-
scribed by section 300, United States
Revised Statutes.
Mr. Vandegrift stated that in view of
the fact that justice had been vindicated
by the:verdict of guilty, he did not feel
otherwise than that the Judgment might
be tempered with such mercy as the
court might deem proper, and he thought
it would be perfectly satisfactory to the
government to have the terms Of i'm
prisonment run concurrently under sec
tions 500 and $40, United States Re-
vised Statutes. ..a
The Judge announced that he would
pay regard TO the representations OF the
defendants counsel and the district at
torney, after which he commanded Clark
to stand up and imposed the sentence,
as stared above, which is the minimum
under the law.
Clark was Immediately remanded to
the custody OF United States Marshal
Short. who took him to New Castle jail,
he leaving the Federal Building about
10 Is O'clock.
Prior to his departure from the court
room Clark shook hands with q number
of persons and thanked Mr. Nandeglift
for the fairness with which he had cpn-
ductedshe trial and also for the part he
had tat"n in requesting the court to
make liis sentence as lenient as pos.
sible.
He was evidently surprised at the light
sentence given him by Judge Bradford,
as he fully expected to receive heavier
penalty. 7e
When Clark reached the New Castle
Jail at nom yesterday his wife, son and
daughte" were waiting for him and the
m 'rting was very affecting.
The sentenced man will remain at
New Castle until Thursday morning !
when he will be taken to the penitentiary |,
by Marshall Short and Sheriff Finn, who
accompanies them at the request Of the
prisoner VI. |
In the meantime he will adjust his
business affairs and will possibly leave
them in the hands Of his son. He expects
to serve tllne years and six months of I,
his sentence, the remaining year and
half Icing Communication for good be-
havior. 7!
1t is quite possible that his fine and
costs will never be paid and for this he
will only serve an additional thirty days,
at the expiration Of which the poverty
act will entitle him to release.