The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-06
SENATOR ON TRIAL
CHARGE GROWS OUT OF LOOTING
OF FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF DOVER
KENNY IN PRISONERS DOCK

On the First Hearing the Jury Dis
agreed - Conspiracy Has Now
Been Added to- the Charges Pre-
ferred Against the Senator
Banker Richardson Tells of the
DefaIcatiOn.
WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. 5.-United
States Senator Richard Kenny, of Del
aware, was today placed on trial In the
circuit court for the second time on
charges growing out Of the looting Of
the First National bank, Of Dover, by
its teller, William N. Boggs.
Senator Kenny was last arraigned
on the charge of aiding and abetting
Boggs in misapplying the banks funds,
IN last July, and, after trial lasting
over one week, the jury disagreed.
Since then the charge Of conspiracy
has been joined to the first charge.
The discovery Of q 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, or a little over its capt.
tai stock. President Richardson, Of the
bank, came to the rescue and saved
the Institution from failure. Boggs
subsequently gave himself up and ad-
mitted his defalcations, at the same
time making statements which led to
the arrest Of Senator Kenny and sew
eral other citizens Of Dover. Two Of
the latter have been convicted and are
n in I1a
itentiary. Boggs pleaded guilty and is
awaiting sentence. The evidence
against Senator Kenny deals largely
with numerous stock transactions, in
which he and Boggs were interested.
During his last trial, Senator Kenny
was represented by Senator Gray his
colleague in the senate, and Levi s.
Bird. Senator Gray Is now in Paris
with the peace commission, and ex-At-
torney John Biggs is assisting Mr..
Bird. District Attorney Vandergriff
represents the government in the pros
ecution.
Court did not open until nearly noon,
and the accused senator was on hand
early. After the usual preliminaries
the jury was quickly seated. 1t Is said
and five Republicans.
The court took recess until 2:30 p.
M, when the examination Of witnesses
began before a court room that was
crowded to the doors.
CASE OF THE STATE.
In his opening address to the jury
District Attorney Vandegriff said he
would be able to prove that Senator
Kenny drew money from the bank to
which he was not entitled and used 1t
to tide over difficulties brought upon
him by stock speculation. He said
that, by an arrangement with Boggs,
Senator Kenny drew money from the
bank when he had no funds there,
Boggs making the defendants ac-
count balance by the use of other
money in the bank, or in some in
stances by Withholding the senator's
checks until he had made good the de-
ficit.
H. A. Richardson, president Of the
bank, testified to Boggs' connection
with the institution, and said it came
to the attention of the directors in
October, 1895, that Boggs had been
gambling. He confessed his fault and
was forgiven.
Witness had no further reason to sus-
pect Boggs until after his fight 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 stockhold-
ers from any loss, and reducing the
capital stock from 100000 to $5O,OOo.
cause of delay and argument at
the former trial was avoided today by
the admission Of numerous checks
drawn by Senator Kenny 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 $5,S68 represented stock
dealings with E. B. Cuthbert & Co.,
of Philadelphia. It was admitted that
Senator Kenny signed checks for $4,20g
of the amount represented in the stock
translations for Boggs' benefit. The
remainder represented his own deal
ings. 1t was not developed what the
stock was mainly dealt in, although
counsel for the defendant tried to get
Mr.. Richardson to say the defaulter
had dealt in Bay State Gas.
Court then adjourned until tomor-
row.