New-York tribune., 1907-10-29
JAIL FOR DIR. GILLETTE.
4ged Insurance Prisoner Gets Sen
tence of Sir Months.

"As mucn as can regret anything in my life
regret this my present duty; but il is the wis
dom of this court that this aged prisoner be SEN
fenced to serve six months in the penitentiary."
With these words. spoken in broken voice.
Justice Dowling. sitting yesterday in the Criminal
Branch of the Supreme Court. sentenced DR.. Wal
ter r. Gillette, the ex-vice president OF the Mutual
Life Insurance Company On Thursday DR.. Gil
lette, who is sxty-seven years old. was convicted
of perjury. During the insurance investigation he
had first denied and then admitted the existence
of yellow dog fund
When DIR. Gillette was convicted he was re-
manded TO the Tombs to await sentence. An effort
was made to have him released from the Tombs
on bail but this denied by Justice Dowlng
when the was argued before him
EX-Judge Hatch. who defended the aged insur-
ance official appeared in court yesterday for DR..
Gillette to have sentence suspended District At
torney Jerome was there to oppose this motion.
The first move by ex-Judge Hatch to call
upon DR.. Alexander Lambert TO testify 10 the
impaired health Of the prisoner. DR.. Lambert said
he had examined DR. Gillette in the Tonbs He
had known the former vice-president for twenty
five years and had been his physician for two
years The physician said Dr. Gillette suffer
ing from aggravated heart disease, and that the
shock Of going TO n prison would be likely 10
cause his death.
District Attorney Jerome was on his feet as
soon as Dr. Lambert had ceased speaking
1T is seldom" said Mr.. Jerome. that a dis
trict attorney has anything TO say IN a question
Of sentence. This IS q time. however. when both
the District Attorney and the have n duty,
even though It he unpleasant duty. 7 nppre-
ciate the unfortunate position of this man at the
bar His long and honorable life practically ter
inmates at this bar. The learned doctor who has
just testified says that 70 sentence this man may
be his death sentence. II this is to be sentence
Of death, then he has brought IL upon himself.
The crime is a serious one In spite Of his age
his reputation and his physical condition. some
prison sentence should be imposed. I would say
too. that II should not be long a long sentence
IS not requisite
With tears in his eyes ex-Judge Hatch made his
plea for suspension OF sentence
There lacking any moral turpitude in this
case" he said We contend that no crime has been
committed by DR. Gillette. This is not the case OF
ordinary who makes perjurious statements
No one suffered by DR.. Gnette's statements before
the grand jury. The Mutual Life Insurance dd
not suffer; the poicyholders OF that company did
not suffer and there IS public camor insisting
upon this mans sentence and imprisonment He
never intended TO do wrong 10 the company or TO
the poIicyholders. to the community II he did
wrong it out OF loyalty to his superors and
those TO whom he was subordinated. lie suffers
here for the sins Of others"
He didn't state that before the grand jury"
broke in Mr.. jerome.
Justice Bowling then pronounced sentence.
This is indeed tragedy in the life Of this old
man 10 be branded felon' he said We cannot
forget his sixty-seven years and his thirty-sx
years with the Mutual Lie Insurance Company
without a loss OF any money the company or 10
the policyholders. However perjury strikes at the
very foundation Of the law. 1t is not answer
10 say that else indicted with him for
the same crime"
DR.. Gillette flushed deeply when he was sentenced.
HIS two sons stood beside him. one of them placed
his arm around the old mans back reassuringy.
Argument will be heard this morning ap
plication for certificate of reasonable doubt.
DR.. Gillette was first indicted June H. 1906.
when the grand jury handed down six indictments
against him. for perjury and five for forgery in
the third degree He charged with having
committed the perjury when. his first appear
ance before the grand jury, he swore that
count in the Dobbs Ferry Bank which stood In his
name as trustee, consisted of his own money. II
was found that the money really came from the
funds of the Mutual Life Insurance Company and
was intended for yellow dog fund"
He was also charged with having caused fraudu-
lent entries be made in the books of the Mutual
Life while he vice-president of the company,
from which place he resigned March g. 1906
lust before the Truesdale committee had rendered
q report severely censuring him and Robert A.
Csrannss who resigned at the time Gran
Miss was also indicted Some time after his retire
rnent as vice-presdent $4,000, part Of the funds
placed IN Dr. Gillette's hands. returned to the
cornpany