Telegram-herald., 1888-07-29
HE PLEADED GUILTY
SIT PROVES MS INNOCENCE.
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There are always TOO slses 81 = story, ana
he case Of y. L. stevens. convicted in ths
uaited states Court yesterday Of snabsEEie-
msnt nom the Firsa National Bsnk Of Pss
Paw l. one in wEich both sides should be
heard.
A TELES HEEALD reporter Visited Nj.
stsssns al ne jail yesterday. hls wife Was
present, having come here from Paw Paw
10 visit hirn Va his troueis. The meeting
Vas snseung. az veil ii mlght De Tor The
poor woman Is ieft with three cAiidrsn st
toe tender mercies OF the world for I'VE
years with not cent - support TIE family
With. She Is an sstlmabls lady and . good
skd faithful wife.
In conversation with Mr. stevens be said
hs vent into the First National B4sk Of
Paw Paw, without experiences ia 1874. 10
January lSss he was made cashier snd
continued IA that position until 1856. lie
ran the bank alone As the president aud
directors only came round twice year.
During the twelve years he paid 70 the
stock holders $4,000. He bought bank
stock and wac permitted 10 90 go. and also
traded IN options. In January, 1850, The
directors found fault with this aud dis
charged him. he owed the bank at that
time GOO and he had personal and real
estate property TO the value OF
~ 500 After bs discharge and an
investigation by the directors they
found s.. 800 for which Mr.. Stevens
signed ONT notes for other parties, which
the directors forced Stevens and hi.
Don smen TO pay, making a total OF lisbih-
| ties sgainst him of about s., 000 de settled
with the bank on that basis, turning Ia
| s.. 800 OF bsnk stock. The company ing
| rec tipt. copied verbatim. will show the
final settlement with the bank.
q For and in consideration of the sum OF
| s5,Ji2 paid TO the Frat National bank OF
| Paw Paw. Mich. the receipt OF which is here
| by confessed and acknowledged, the said
bank does hereby acknowledge that all the
| several covenants and conditions Of this
bond are fully performed, saushed and dis
| charged. The principa Is and sureties there
| on are hereby absolutely released theretrom
and from all liabilities. indebt edness. claims
and demands OF any kind of the said bank
against them or any or either of them for
or on account of said bond and that ali in
| debtedness, liability and defalcaiion of said
+. 4. Stevens. the principal in said bond,
are fully paid, including any such liability
| or Indebtedness on account of the l.. u
Briggs note of $500.
| Dated at Paw Paw, Mich. this % day oil
July, 1886.
lsignsdl First Nat Bank. Paw Paw.
| By L. SMITH. Pres,
| S. +. PARKS, Cashier.
| T. SMITH,
| T.. +. PARKS,
| l.. r. ANABLE,
| Committee of Settlement"
| Mr.. Stevens says that he turned over
every dollar of property that be had. and
left = wife and three small children to the
| tender mercies of the world to make resti-
tution. His uncle, Thomas l.. Stevens. o.
| Niles, who was one of his bondsmen, made
| up the deficiency.
In the complaint against him there
| were four counts-making false entries in
the books issuing false notes, making err
| roneous reports TO the stockholders, and
| embezzling the funds OF the bank. Under
the advice of his lawyer, Edwards. ht
pleaded guilty to the first charge although
| confident of his own innocence. the entire.
referred to being only made in better or
memorandum. aud not in one of the regu-
lar set of books. BY pleading guilty the
case could not be taken out of the hands OF
| the court and sentence followed.
1t would seem, however derelict in duty
or loose in business the young man might
have been. that after full restitution, al
shown. and with family left almost dcsti-
tute. that ii would subserve the interests Of
| society better to allow him another chance,
| and the TELEGRAN-H ERALD is not alone in
moving respite and q new trial for Fit
Stevens