Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-17
KEL|HER GUILTY,
Jury Holds Him Equally
Cu|pab|e With Coleman
In lootIng Of National City
Bank Of Cambridge.
Court Raises Ball to $50,000...
Counsel Will Take Appeal.

Boston, June 1.-THE further stage
in the governments prosecution Of
those responsible for the wrecking of
the National City Bank of Cambridge
came this afternoon when William j.
keliher, a strapping man. about town
and called by his friends big Bill"
was declared by jury in the United
States circuit court to be equally Gull
pable with George w. Coleman, the 12-
-a-week bookkeeper, who pleaded
guilty and was sentenced. for the theft
of $309,000 from the bank. The jury's
verdict of guilty" was rendered four
hours after it had taken the case for
consideration After it's pronouncemcnt.
United States District Attorney French
moved, and Judge Clarence Hale con-
CURED, in the raising of Kelihers bail
from $4,000 to $4,000. Unable to pro-
cure the greater bonds, keliher was
taken to Charles street Jail to pass the
night.
Charles STREET Jail tonight held two
other persons connected with the case,
Coleman, who is within a few days Of
beginning his term of Is years at
Greenfield jail and a new arrival.
Francis j. Wood a grocer, who was
arrested after the verdict had been re-
turned in the Keliher case on a charge
oi perjury. alleged to have been COM
mitted as Il witness in the trial just
closed. It is alleged that Wood falsified
as to a check for 5000 which came into
his hands after it had been sent to
George w. Coleman in Kansas City I'M
der the name of George w. McTag-
gart. Wood stated that he received it
from a Mrs. Taylor mot the friend Of
Coleman who appeared as a witness)
and that when it was decided by the
bank to be irregular, he lost the
amount.
In his instruction to the jury today,
Judge Hale said that it was necessary
to decide whether keliher knew that
Coleman was getting the money with
which they played faro together from
the bank He referred to the mythical
aunt whom Keliher's attorneys con-
tended had been mentioned by Coleman
as the source of his funds Judge Hale
mentioned also the fact that others of
the faro gang disappeared after KEEL
iher'c arrest. 1t is understood that the
government is now seeking to locate at
least one of these, alleged to be the
1t is practically certain that Kelihers
counsel will appeal the case to the SUI
preme court.
Kelihcr heard the verdict of guilty
against him as he was crossing the
court room to get drink of water. He
paled, sat down. gulped the water, and
then steadying himself, went to his
own seat.
keliher's trial began May is. just
after the close of the formal proceed
ings in which Coleman had admitted
his guilt and received a 15-years SEN
tence. During the four weeks since
that time there has been presented to
the public through reports of the court
room proceedings ain interesting mar
alive of the gay life Of the $12. week
bookkeeper. Wine suppers at $500 Sit
ting. women of temporary affections.
and the song of the dollars flying faro
ward figured prominently. In all these
Coleman appeared as the central figure
with Keliher and various women OF
uncertain morals also present.