New-York tribune., 1914-11-24
ParOled in Custody of
Counsel to Make Resti-
tuition to DepositOrs.
SENTENCE ALSO
CARRIES $1,000 FINE
Defence Put in No Evi-
denCe, but StanchfieId
Pleaded for Him.

with grand larceny, tonight found him
guilty Of a misdemeanor in obtaining
credit on false financial statements.
The offence is a violation Of Section
1898 of the penal law passed in 1912.
in finding a verdict on this charge the
jury took a course outlined by Justice
Clark in his final instructions.
Justice Clark said he had serious
doubts as to the validity of the grand
larceny charge and permitted the jury
TO find Siegcl guilty of the less serious
offence.
SiegeI was sentenced to pay fine of
81 900 and serve ten months in the
Monroe County Penitentiary.
Justice Clark granted a stay of exc
cution with regard TO the prison SEN
tence until the second Monday in June.
Bail was fixed at $4,000. Siegel must
then appear in Geneseo before Justice
Clark.
If Siegel has then substantially pro-
vided for his depositors, ii will be
taken into consideration. said the JUS
tice, in determining whether the prison
sentence shall be enforced. IL the de-
pOsitors then have not been provided
for substantially. no further stay will
be granted.
Siegcl was found guilty on the third
ballot :aken by the jury, the two pre-
ceding ones being practically informal.
The verdict was reached at ll:45.
Conviction Blow.
The conviction was a hard blow to
Siegel. He seemed stunned. and his
face was drawn and hsggard as he was
placed before the bar to go through
the routine proceedings following the
verdict. lie did not appear TO share
in the Joy Of John B. Stanchfeld, OF
his counsel. who said the convicted
mans attorneys considered the verdict
great victory" and would not ap-
peal.
Before answering the questions
asked him by the court Siegel turned
10 Stanchfield and asked him what he
should say and then replied to the
Judge in cultural, scarcely audible,
tones.
MIR. Siegel. have you anything to
say why sentence should not be pro-
nounced ?" the court asked.
"No, sir" Siegel said.
81 have been told in this trial that
YOU expect to make payment the
court said.
81 hope to be able to-" Siegel re-
piled. in a scarcely audible voice.
rs there any reason for you to ex-
pect to be able to make substantial
repayment
81 hope to try" Siegel said.
"The verdict was fully justified by
the evidence" the court went on. "The
Jury has dealt mercifully with you.
You have been very careless in your
business. There was evidence to war
rant conviction for larceny"
When the court stopped speaking
there was applause in the courtroom
which was crowded, large number of
women being present.
When Judge Clark said that siegel
was paroled in the custody Of his coun-
sci. Mr.. Train called the courts atten-
ton to the fact that he had once fled
the jurisdiction Of this country, but
the court refused to change his ruling.
Mr.. Train said: 81 regard SiegePs
conviction Of any degree Of crime as a
victory of New York justice. His of
fence was highly technical, and the
case unique. At any rate. it has been
demonstrated that simply because a
man is head of vast business organi-
zation he cannot violate the criminal
law and hide behind the complexities
and intricacies Of his dealings. Any
conviction of a criminal offence aris-
ing out of business dealings IS bound
TO put the fear Of the law into the
hearts of business men who may be
tempted to do wrong.
"The suspension of the prison SEN
tence pending restitution will, ! hope,
result in a substantial repayment Of
the depositors.'
Under what seemed practically like
instructions from Judge Clark to bring
a verdict. should they find Henry Siegel
guilty of wrongdoing, Of misdemeanor,
instead of felony, as charged IN the in
dictment. the jury recei' ed the case at
7.3O tonight, after an Unexpectedly
sudden wind-up Of his trial.
Satisfied from rulings made by the
Judge earlier in the day that the ques-
tion Of grand larceny would be to all
intents and purposes ruled out Of the
case. Siegels lawyers did not pus in u
word of defence for him. They con-
tented themselves with disputing the
contentious of the prosecution by
means of or tory and general denials
from their own mouths.
Judge Clark told the jury that TO
mako ont larceny, as charged, the
toto must prove beyond all reasonable
doubt that, first, the defendant made
false financial statements and knew il;
secord. that the National Bank of
Commerce relied upon these statements
in making its loan 20 Siegel; third.
that. so relying. it parted with some OF
is money; and, fourth. that the false
statements were made with the feloni-
ous intent a the time TO defraud the
hank Of it's property permanently
Little Choice for Jury.
Each of these propositions must be
Contiuued on page 4, column .