MRS CHADWICK'S TRIAL. [Per Sierra, at Auckland.]

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 4

MRS CHADWICK'S TRIAL. [Per Sierra, at Auckland.]

Mrs Caseie L. Chadwrck was found guilty at Cleveland en March 11 of conspiracy to violate vie TTnited States banking laws by endeavouring to procure the certification of cheques on a National Bank when there r. ere no funds in the bank to her credit. She was found guilty on every count of the indictment upon which the jury was at liberty to judge her. — seven in all. The indictment contained 16 counts, but two of thes? were tulrd out during the trial by Judge Tayler, and of the remaining 14-one-balf charged her with securing the certifieat'on of cheques without having proper entrues made on the books of the bank. Judge Tayler, in his charge, directed the jury to disregard these counts, and consider only the remaining seven, which related to die certification with no funds on deposit. On all of these the jury found against her. According to law ehe can be fined not more than 10,00Cdol or imprisoned for not more than two years on each count. The jury left tke courtroom at 3.35, and ifc was announced two hours later that a verdict had been reached. Word was sent to Judge Tayler, and he set 8.30 p.m. as the time at which he would appear in court to receive the verdict. The court was opened promptly at 8.30. and the verdict was read at 8.33. Mrs Chadwiek came into the courtroom five minutes before the jury, and she was accompanied by her son and two trained nurses. She sank to the seat she had occupier} during the trial, and rested her face in the palm of her right band — a pos'tion «he had held almost constantly throughout the sessions of the court. At first Mrs Chadwiek failed utterly to grasp the meaning of the verdict. She is slightly deaf, and Clerk Carleton read the> verdict in a tone so low that it was nearly inaudible l&ft away. As the people around her began -to move and talk, the prisoner grasped the fact that her fate was decided, and she shot a quick glance at Judge Wing. "We have lest, Mrs Chadwiek," be said. This time c-he realised it, £>nd she turned half round io look at Emil Hoover behind her, and reading there- confirmation of the> words of Judge Wing, she flushed deeply, and raised her hand in bewildered fashion to her head. Suddenty her limbs seemed to give way beneath her, and she sank feebly into her chair. Her head fell forward on her hands, and a suceersion of strangling sobs came from her. while Emil Hoover and Judge Wing- sought vainly to comfort hrr. " The Government moves for sentence, your Honor," said District A'.torney Sullivan. "We desire to enter a motion for a new trial," said Judge Wing. "I will at a future time set a date for argument on the motion for a new trial," said Judge Tayler, " anc) I presume the matter can rest until that time." "That is satisfactory to the Government," said Sullivan. Judge Wing bowed silent assent, and', stepped back to the aide of his distracted client. Mrs Chadwiek soon composed herself, raised her hand, wiped her eyes, and rose to her feet. Attended by Emil Hoover and the marshal, she walked steadily to the elevator, but it was not there, and in the slight delay most of Mrs Chadwick's composure deser.ted her utterly. She was carried into the elevator, and was taken into the office of Marshal Chandler and placed on a sofa. [Mrs Chadwiek was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. — Ed. O. D. T.]