Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-11
FIVE YEARS FOR BOGGS
DefauItins Teller Of the First National
Bank Of Dover Sentenced.
TO BE IMPRISONED AT TRENTON
Good Behavior VIII Shorten
His Term 10 Months.
AFINE AMOUNTING TO $500 IMPOSED

William N. Boggs, the defaulting
teller of the First National Bank of
Dover, was sentenced in the United
States District Court yesterday morning
to pay fine of S6, 500 and be imprisoned
in the New Jersey State penitentiary
at Trenton, five years, beginning yester-
day. Early in the afternoon he was
taken to Trenton by United States
Marshal John c. Short and Sheriff
John L. Taylor. Boggs has an OPP
portunity to have his term of imprison-
ment shortened about 16 months for
good behavior. This being the case,
be may be liberated early in 1903.
Boggs was brought into court about
Ills o'clock by United States Marshal
Short He was accompanied by his
counsel, William s. Hilles, and his
brother, Walter N. Boggs of Philadel-
phia Besides District Attorney Vande-
grift and several attorneys, large
number of spectators were present,
although the time for imposing SEN
tence had been kept secret. Sheriff
John Il. Taylor, in whose custody
Boggs has been for some time, was
also an interested spectator, being
there in semi-olficial capacity.
Immediately after Boges had entered
the court room and taken his seat
beside his attorney, District Attorney
Vandegrift moved that sentence be
imposed, calling the attention of the
court to the fact that Boggs had been
indicted on the charge of abstracting
and misapplying $107, 600 of the. funds
of tho First National Bank of Dover
and had pleaded guilty: also that SEN
tence had been deferred from time to
time by consent Of Boggs.
.11doa Rra1forI M Voc On The
bench, commanded Boggs to stand,
and after referring to the Indictment
and the fact that a plea Of guilty had
been entered, asked If he had anything
TO say as to why sentence should not
be imposed at this time.
Attorney Hilles replied for Boggs.
He said he wished to say word on
behalf Of the accused, in whose behalf
but little had been said up to this
time. In asking the court to deal
with him as leniently as can be done
in the judgment and discretion of your
honor" Mr.. Hilles said, I'VE do not
desire to belittle anybody or attempt
to escape from or avoid any Of the con-
sequences of the unlawful acts for
which he has been indicted and
pleaded guilty. There are certain cir
cumstances which appeal to the sense
of Justice and mercy" MF. Hilles re-
viewed briefly the history Of the de-
falcation and return of Boggs, and
continuing, said. "He came back
voluntarily and without any induce
ments, and from the time of his return
until the present the government or
anybody connected with the bank has
not made any promise or proposition
that the sentence be lightened. Before
BoEgs surrendered, on February 10th,
1895, ne had been punished and was
being punished at that time. He was
suffering agony which none of us can
realize, and since his return he has
been abused and maligned. He re-
turned with one end in view, to make
reparation, as best he could, for the
wrong he had at least been instru-
mental in doing. He placed himself at
the hands of the government to dis
close all he knew, to protect nobody or
conceal anything, and how we'll he has
done this the court and government
can be the judge. He has been in
custody since February 10th, 1898, and
! ask that the court make the sentence,
the only purpose Of which is to give to
the public an example, to show that
men must not do these things, that
they must not transgress the law, as
light as possible under the circum-
stances. -
Again the court commanded Boggs
to stand, while sentence was being
imposed. The Judge spoke as follows
The court has listened not unmoved
to the eloquent appeal which has Just
been made by your counsel on your
behalf Without detracting in the
least from the gravity of the offence
you have committed against the laws
OF your country, the court, neverthe,
less, deems it proper to say that your
voluntary return and full confession
Of guilt and your demeanor as wit,
ness in the several cases heretofore
tried and determined in which your
sorroborated testimony largely con.
tributed to the attainment of the ends
Of criminal justice, have favorably i'm.
pressed the court. These considera.
tions, together with the fact that you
have already been in custody for up
wards of Is months, have moved the
court in imposing sentence to deal
with you as leniently as due regard
TO the interests of public justice will
permit.
THE sentence of the court is, that
You, William N. Boggs. do forfeit and
pay to the United States fine Of
$500, and the costs of this prosecn-
ton and further, that you be impris.
oned in the New Jersey State Prison
at Trenton, New Jersey, for the term
OF five years, beginning on this day,
ard ending on the 9th day of May,
A, D., 1904; and you are now com
lnitted to the custody Of the United
States marshal for the District Of
Delaware in order that the foregoing
sentence may be carried into execu-
tion.''
lioggs showed some sign of emotion
while sentence was being imposed, but
~ the main he was collected. At the
conclusion of the ordeal he manifested
|. SIGH of relief to know just what is
before him. Ever since he surrendered
MS future has been matter of un-
certainty.
AT T. 1G O'Clock Marshal Short and
Sheriff Taylor and their prisoner left
% a p, W. & B. railroad train for
Trenton: Very few people at the
station knew about the departure oi
'he men at the time.
l hope" Boggs remarked to a re.
porter of The Gazette, when
come out of this | will come out d
petter man. propose to spend the
balance of my life, when | do gel
oui, to redeem myself"
:; While nothing definite is known, j
y generally believed that there vii
npt he a retrial Of the case against
United States Senator Kenney.
Thomas p. Lynam's Barn Burned.