CLIFTON, Benjamin F. - Rev.
Source: Unknown newspaper, probably Crawfordsville Journal
Rev. Benjamin F. Clifton spent last night in the Indiana Reformatory at Jeffersonville. He received his indeterminate sentence of one to 14 years yesterday afternoon with very few persons in the court room. He
was immediately taken in charge by Sheriff Joe Prewitt and departed on the Ben-Hur Traction line for Indianapolis. They arrived in Jeffersonville yesterday evening.
Ref. Clifton former pastor at Kingman and Salem Methodist Churches was convicted for grand larceny December 23 after a sensational trial of two weeks in the Montgomery County Circuit court. His attorneys announced then that a motion for a new trial would be presented. Yesterday afternoon, however, Charles McCabe, chief counsel for the minister, asked the court that sentence be made. No motion was presented.
Clifton's defense in the trial in which he was charged with the theft of the Tom Harwood automobile from the Bob Jones tabernacle April 5 was insanity. Judge West in sentencing Clifton added to the indeterminate term at Jeffersonville a fine of $10 and disfranchised him for two years.
When the sentence was imposed there were very few in the court room. Bert Clifton, of Carroll County who has been his brother's bondsman, was present and wept as soon as the words of the judge were uttered. Bert immediately left the court room. James Clifton, prosecutor of Fayette County, another brother of the convicted preacher, was also present. He was composed as the sheriff took charge of the prisoner. Clifton showed no emotion whatever.