New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
SENATOR KENNEY on TRIAL.
CHARGED WITH AIDING A DEFAULTING
BANK CASHIER.
CASE BEGINS AT WILMINGTON DEL. ~ THE
UNITED states CIRCUIT COURT. BEFORE


UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT. BEFORE
JUDGE BRADFORD
Wilmington Del. July ia trial probably
unprecedented in the criminal annals n this
country began in the United States Circuit
Court in this city to-day before Judge Edward
@. Bradford The case is that Of a member Of
the United States Senate who is held on
criminal charge. The defendant Is Richard Roll
lin Kenney. OK Dover. junior United states Sena-
tor from Delaware. Indicted upon the charge
~ aiding and abetting william y. Boggs. who
has confessed TO robb!ng the First National
Bank OF Dover. OF which Institution he was
paying teller OF the sum of SlOiovo the
counts In the Indictment 10 which Senator Ken
ney has pleaded not guilty. charge him with
aiding and abetting Boggs 20 the extent or
about So 800
Two men Ezekiel T. Cooper. Of Milford. and
Thomas :. Clark, Of Dover have already been
convicted Of similar charges. and are now serV-
ing terms OF eighteen months and i've years
respectively in the New-Jersey Penitentiary at
Trenton.
Boggs was the principal witness for the prose-
cution in each case His story was 70 the effect
that the greater part OF his stealInes were eA
pended in stock speculations and gambling and
were associated with him by participating in
his deals and that they gave him their checks
when they had no funds in the bank bosss
taking car. OF them from the banks funds.
The high position Of the defendant drew TO the
courtroom A crowd that tested It's capacity ana
overfowed deeply Into the corridors. The session
began at go o'clock when Senator kenney
entered the court accompanied by his counsel
United States Senator George Gray and Levi 9
Pird OF this city. The prosecution was repre-
sented by District-Attorney Lewis G. Eande-
gritt.
AS soon as the defence had renewed the for-
nal plea OF not guilty which had been WIN
drawn pending argument on demurrers 70 the
Indictment as a result OF which fourteen counts
in the indictment. charging conspiracy with
Boggs. had been ruled out Leaving eleven
counts. charging aiding and abetting. the work
OF drawing the jury was begun. II occu-
pied nearly an hour. both sides closely scrutin-
ling each Juror called and exercising their full
powers Of challenge.
The first witness was Harry A Richardson,
president ~ the bank. He testified 70 the DEAL
cation by Boggs. and said that Boggs admitted
n him his crime This was all the Government
brought out from President Richardson but the
defence put him through a long cross-examins-
ton. bearing upon the fact that ne never mao
any suspicion Of Boggs's dishonesty until aiter
his fight. when the defalcation was discovered
He admitted that ne once neard 'hat posss
was addicted 10 playing poker. but mat on oelils
brought before the directors and charged win
this derellction Boggs confessed and promised
to play no more
r Edward Ross Of Philadelphia, an expert
accountant who went over the banks BOOKS
testified that the defalcauon amounted 10 slo''-
GOO He also said that he found that various
.h.oks dravn nv NJ Kenrey had come 20 the
ha,L ord been carhed when ne had not sufr-
c,en, balance 10 his credit 10 meet them
E Page o, Philadelphia. who was man.
ager FOR r. Cuthbert & CO. me nrtn ol plun
,iors testified that checks signed Dy hehrey
vore used IN the stock transactions All w.
PRODUCED and offered IN evidence 'aFr IN -.
s5-o - ~ desance objected to the admission
~ testimony with respect 70 this one. fehd.hs
decision upon this objection the cour, au-
,ourned until tomorrow morning