Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-09-22
JIM WHITE SENTENCED.

Ex-Comptroller James s. White, of
Milwauk e ,Was sentenced to state prison
at Waupun for two and half years last
Wednesday by Judge Sloan. The crime
he suffers for was the embezzlement Of
$4,000 of Milwaukee city bonds. It had
been plainly shown in the trial that the
bonds had been in Whites possession
before and after his term of Office, and
there was no question as to his disposing
of them to Chicago bank for considera-
ton. Judge Sloan asked White if he had
anything to say why sentence should not
be passed on him.
81 have but very little to say" said the
prisoner III a clear voice. ''Of course |
feel my posi- ton keenly. I occupied as
good position before the people, socially
and otherwise, as any man. This have
forfeited, but not by any intended Grimm
nal act. Under these circumstances some
men-I may say many-would shed tears
| cannot. [ feel it is as much as If did,
however"
The prisoner hesitated a moment and
then continued:
81 wish i'll justice to myself make a
statement in regard to the taking of the
bonds. When | left the Office [ took
away large quantity of my own effects
-pspers and documents, and did not
know just what | had. Years afterward
| found among these papers the bon DIS
| did not know up to then that ] had
them. I had become the head of firm
of spectators in Chicago that became in
volved. The firm OF McGeoch & Ever
ingham went down in June. 1888, and
was drawn down with it. | tried to keep
up. thought of the bonds, took them
to the bank as collateral, thinking they
would never be presented here in Mil
waukee for payment. The move kept
our firm afoat, but as usual firms that
are hanging by the teeth 60 down with a
crash, and it was SO with us. I know I
had no right to do what I did, but had I
intended to be a dishonest man could
have stolen half million dollars from
the city of Milwaukee while comptroller,
and no one would have been the wiser.
Bonds passed through my hands in such
way that could have used almost any
amount of them. I do not refer to this as
an excuse for what have done wrong.
was simply confident that all would be
right. I have said all l have to say, and
am prepared to take my lot"
THE SENTENCE.
Judge Sloan said: II can well believe
your statement. l think most of the de-
falcstions of public officers occur some
what in the way you say about yourself,
believing they can replace what has been
wrongfully taken. But they keep getting
deeper and deeper, and finally where
they can't get out. The fact is indisput-
able that the bonds in question were con-
verted by you in violation Of the law. You
were fairly treated at your trial, and the
jury found you guilty. You once occupied
position as model officer and as gen.
tleman, and was widely known as such.
l am not disposed to give you the smallest
nor the highest penalty. The sentence
of the court is that James s. White be
confined at hard labor for two years and
six months in the state prison at Wau.
pun. two days of such sentence to be
solitary confinement. Your sentence will
begin at IL o'clock this day."
The Sentinel says:
White never finched while sentence
was being passed. He Immediately left