The Financier a novel by Theodore Dreiser

particular world. He is a man of distinguished social standing and of notable 
achievements. Only the most unheralded and the unkindest thrust of 
fortune has brought him here before you today—a fire and its consequent 
panic which involved a financial property of the most thorough and stable 
character. In spite of the verdict of the jury and the decision of three-fifths of 
the State Supreme Court, I maintain that my client is not an embezzler, that 
he has not committed larceny, that he should never have been convicted, 
and that he should not now be punished for something of which he is not 
guilty. 

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"I trust that your honor will not misunderstand me or my motives when I 
point out in this situation that what I have said is true. I do not wish to cast 
any reflection on the integrity of the court, nor of any court, nor of any of the 
processes of law. But I do condemn and deplore the untoward chain of 
events which has built up a seeming situation, not easily understood by the 
lay mind, and which has brought my distinguished client within the purview 
of the law. I think it is but fair that this should be finally and publicly stated 
here and now. I ask that your honor be lenient, and that if you cannot 
conscientiously dismiss this charge you will at least see that the facts, as I 
have indicated them, are given due weight in the measure of the 
punishment inflicted." 
Steger stepped back and Judge Payderson nodded, as much as to say he 
had heard all the distinguished lawyer had to say, and would give it such 
consideration as it deserved—no more. Then he turned to Cowperwood, and, 
summoning all his judicial dignity to his aid, he began: 
"Frank Algernon Cowperwood, you have been convicted by a jury of your 
own selection of the offense of larceny. The motion for a new trial, made in 
your behalf by your learned counsel, has been carefully considered and 
overruled, the majority of the court being entirely satisfied with the propriety 
of the conviction, both upon the law and the evidence. Your offense was one 
of more than usual gravity, the more so that the large amount of money 
which you obtained belonged to the city. And it was aggravated by the fact 
that you had in addition thereto unlawfully used and converted to your own 
use several hundred thousand dollars of the loan and money of the city. For 
such an offense the maximum punishment affixed by the law is singularly 
merciful. Nevertheless, the facts in connection with your hitherto 
distinguished position, the circumstances under which your failure was 
brought about, and the appeals of your numerous friends and financial 
associates, will be given due consideration by this court. It is not unmindful 
of any important fact in your career." Payderson paused as if in doubt, 
though he knew very well how he was about to proceed. He knew what his 
superiors expected of him. 
"If your case points no other moral," he went on, after a moment, toying with 
the briefs, "it will at least teach the lesson much needed at the present time, 
that the treasury of the city is not to be invaded and plundered with 
impunity under the thin disguise of a business transaction, and that there 
is still a power in the law to vindicate itself and to protect the public. 
"The sentence of the court," he added, solemnly, the while Cowperwood 
gazed unmoved, "is, therefore, that you pay a fine of five thousand dollars to 
the commonwealth for the use of the county, that you pay the costs of 
prosecution, and that you undergo imprisonment in the State Penitentiary 

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for the Eastern District by separate or solitary confinement at labor for a 
period of four years and three months, and that you stand committed until 
this sentence is complied with." 
Cowperwood's father, on hearing this, bowed his head to hide his tears. 
Aileen bit her lower lip and clenched her hands to keep down her rage and 
disappointment and tears. Four years and three months! That would make a 
terrible gap in his life and hers. Still, she could wait. It was better than eight 
or ten years, as she had feared it might be. Perhaps now, once this was 
really over and he was in prison, the Governor would pardon him. 
The judge now moved to pick up the papers in connection with Stener's 
case, satisfied that he had given the financiers no chance to say he had not 
given due heed to their plea in Cowperwood's behalf and yet certain that the 
politicians would be pleased that he had so nearly given Cowperwood the 
maximum while appearing to have heeded the pleas for mercy. Cowperwood 
saw through the trick at once, but it did not disturb him. It struck him as 
rather weak and contemptible. A bailiff came forward and started to hurry 
him away. 
"Allow the prisoner to remain for a moment," called the judge. 
The name, of George W. Stener had been called by the clerk and 
Cowperwood did not quite understand why he was being detained, but he 
soon learned. It was that he might hear the opinion of the court in 
connection with his copartner in crime. The latter's record was taken. Roger 
O'Mara, the Irish political lawyer who had been his counsel all through his 
troubles, stood near him, but had nothing to say beyond asking the judge to 
consider Stener's previously honorable career. 
"George W. Stener," said his honor, while the audience, including 
Cowperwood, listened attentively. "The motion for a new trial as well as an 
arrest of judgment in your case having been overruled, it remains for the 
court to impose such sentence as the nature of your offense requires. I do 
not desire to add to the pain of your position by any extended remarks of my 
own; but I cannot let the occasion pass without expressing my emphatic 
condemnation of your offense. The misapplication of public money has 
become the great crime of the age. If not promptly and firmly checked, it will 
ultimately destroy our institutions. When a republic becomes honeycombed 
with corruption its vitality is gone. It must crumble upon the first pressure. 
"In my opinion, the public is much to blame for your offense and others of a 
similar character. Heretofore, official fraud has been regarded with too much 
indifference. What we need is a higher and purer political morality—a state 
of public opinion which would make the improper use of public money a 
thing to be execrated. It was the lack of this which made your offense 

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possible. Beyond that I see nothing of extenuation in your case." Judge 
Payderson paused for emphasis. He was coming to his finest flight, and he 
wanted it to sink in. 
"The people had confided to you the care of their money," he went on, 
solemnly. "It was a high, a sacred trust. You should have guarded the door 
of the treasury even as the cherubim protected the Garden of Eden, and 
should have turned the flaming sword of impeccable honesty against every 
one who approached it improperly. Your position as the representative of a 
great community warranted that. 
"In view of all the facts in your case the court can do no less than impose a 
major penalty. The seventy-fourth section of the Criminal Procedure Act 
provides that no convict shall be sentenced by the court of this 
commonwealth to either of the penitentiaries thereof, for any term which 
shall expire between the fifteenth of November and the fifteenth day of 
February of any year, and this provision requires me to abate three months 
from the maximum of time which I would affix in your case—namely, five 
years. The sentence of the court is, therefore, that you pay a fine of five 
thousand dollars to the commonwealth for the use of the county"—
Payderson knew well enough that Stener could never pay that sum—"and 
that you undergo imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for the Eastern 
District, by separate and solitary confinement at labor, for the period of four 
years and nine months, and that you stand committed until this sentence is 
complied with." He laid down the briefs and rubbed his chin reflectively 
while both Cowperwood and Stener were hurried out. Butler was the first to 
leave after the sentence—quite satisfied. Seeing that all was over so far as 
she was concerned, Aileen stole quickly out; and after her, in a few 
moments, Cowperwood's father and brothers. They were to await him 
outside and go with him to the penitentiary. The remaining members of the 
family were at home eagerly awaiting intelligence of the morning's work, and 
Joseph Cowperwood was at once despatched to tell them. 
The day had now become cloudy, lowery, and it looked as if there might be 
snow. Eddie Zanders, who had been given all the papers in the case, 
announced that there was no need to return to the county jail. In 
consequence the five of them—Zanders, Steger, Cowperwood, his father, and 
Edward—got into a street-car which ran to within a few blocks of the prison. 
Within half an hour they were at the gates of the Eastern Penitentiary.