The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-12

Wilmington. Del. July 11.-A trial
probably unprecedented in the annals
OF this country, that of member of
the United States senate on criminal
charge, begun in the United States cir
cult court in this city this afternoon
before Judge Edward ID. Bradford.
The defendant is Richard Rollin Ken
ney, Of Dover, junior United States
senator from Delaware. indicted upon
a charge of aiding and abetting Will
liam N. Boggs, who has confessed to
roobing the First National bank of
Dover. Of which institution he was
paying teller, Of the sum of 100000.
The counts in the indictment to which
senator kenney pleaded not guilty,
charge him with aiding and abetting
Boggs to the extent of about s3,500.
Two men, Ezekial T. Cooper of Mil
ford, and Thomas S. Clark, of Dover,
nave already been convicted of SINH
lar charges and are now serving terms
or 1S months and ) years, respectively,
in the New Jersey state penitentiary
at Trenton.
BOGGS' WARM TESTIMONY.
Bosgs was the principal witness for
the prosecution in each case His
story was to the effect that the greater
part of his stealings We're expended in
stock speculations, the defendants
were associated with him by partic-
| ipating in his deals and that they gave
him their checks when they had no
funds in the hank, Boggs taking care
of them from the banks funds.
The high position of the defendant
orew to the court room a crowd that
Jammed its capacity and overfiowed
| deeply into the corridors, a large num-
Der of women being among the spec
tators. The session began at 23O
| O'Clock, when Senator Kennev entered
the court accompanied by his coun-
| sell United States Senator George
Gray and Levi c. Bird. of this city
| The government was represented by
District Attorney Lewis c, Wander
| grift.
DRAWING THE JURY.
As soon as the defense had renewed
the formal plea of not guilty which had
| been Withdrawn pending argument on
demurrers to the indictment as a re-
suit of which fourteen counts in the
Indictment, charging conspiracy with
Bosgs, had been ruled out leaving elev-
en- counts charging aiding and abet-
ting, the work of drawing the trial jury
was commenced. 1t occupied nearly
an hour, both sides closely scrutnizng
each juror called and exercising their
full powers of challenge.
The first witness was Harry 4. Rich
ardson, president of the bank. He tes-
tified to the defalcs ton of Boggs and
said that Boggs admitted to him his
r. W. oil h.
brought out from President Richard
sen, but the defense put him through
a long cross-examination bearing upon
the fact that he never had any sus.
picion Of EOggs' dishonesty antil after
his flight. when the defalcation was
discovered. He admitted that he once
heard that Boggs was addicted TO play
ing poker but that or being brought
before the directors and charged with
this derelictiOn, Boggs confessed and
promised to play TO more.
CHECKS OvERDRAWN.
T. Edward Ross, of Philadelphia. an
expert accountant. who went over the
banks books, testified that the defal-
cation amounted TO slO7 900. He also
said that he found that various checks
drawn by Mr.. Kenney had come to the
bank and been cashed when he had
not a sufficient balance to his credit to
meet them.
f. d. Page. of Philadelphia, who was
manager for f. Cutbbert Il Co., the
firm of brokers with which Boggs con-
Quoted his, stock speculations. testified
that checks signed by Kenney were
used in the stock transactions. Ali
were produced ana Offered in evidence
save one for $3.50, and the defense OBJ
jcted to the admission of testimony
with respect to this one. Pending de-
cision upon this objection the court ad-
journed until tomorrow morning.