Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-12


pounds His hair was close cropped, but
stylishly cut and his black mustache was
well cared for. He was fairly well dressed.
using good taste in colors. His clothes
were seasonable and his blue striped silk
shirt was ornamented with light blue
silk tie properly knotted. His left hand
was jeweled with two expensive rings
such as prosperous business man might
purchase. But his voice was effeminate for
such big man, and was not pleasing.
From this description of the man it may
be possible for some WichitG citizen to
identify him 1t is quite evident that he
has been IN Wichita a good deal Tor he was
conversaut with the business houses OF
this city, and most OF his forged drafts
were drawn on the Kansas National bank.
In a few days the bank will receive a pho
to graph of the focger.
He had great head" aud studied well
his part IN working for sympathy.
HIS CUNNING.
Have you al Attorney asked the
judge.
NO, sir answered the forger.
"Do you want an Attorney" asked the
court.
4
answered Williamson.
When the clerk finished reading the in
formation and asked if W. f. Williamson
was the defendants true name, he said not
a word and stood with his eyes cast down
as if in deep study whether to make
clean breast of his identity and crime.
But he was doubtless rehearsing his part
to be played The silence was broken by
the court asking for the plea OF the de-
PENDANT.
as this indictment for forgery fell
onyf" asked Williamson, innocently
while sparring for time.
The charge IS a felony" answered the
judge.
After a painful pause, in which the
prisoner had his eyes cast down to his
feeu, he quietly said: l will enter a plea CT
guilty.
He recalled his lines then and said he
would like to make a statement. He
waived time and asked for his sentence.
The court assured him that he could
make a statement at the proper time. and
proceeded to review the case before passing
sentence.
Does that mean that uttered this in
this city?"
Yes answered the court.
81 was an accessory IL passing the check,
there is no question about that" confessed
the forzer. Il did not know the check
was bad I want to make a statement,
Judge"
You will be granted the privilege.
Have you any legal cause to show why sem
tence should not be passed." asked the
court.
wLLIANSON'S STATEMENT.
81 have no legal cause" answered the
prisoner, preparatory to making his de-
sired statement He spoke s.oF and in
broken sentences, said: This i he first
time was ever before court OF justice.
| have always tried to live correct life
but evil associations and the habit OF
gambling threw ME off. But for that
would not have passed this paper. On
Sunday last I went into Peyton's saloon
and lost SIS all l had, under the
influence of the passion for gambling l
offered my watch for money. l borrowed
$40 on the check and lost it. l then bor-
rowed S25 more and lost that But for
losing the money would have made the
check good Monday l went In there and
Peyton had the check. We went TO the
bank. he endorsed 1t, collected the money
and gave me SIS. l sat down again and
lost that lost all had in his house, l
have no lawyer, no money 10 employ one,
and no friends here. 1regret the otense,
being a young man, and know that
gambling does not make my
ofense excusable, but l have an old
mother in the east whom hope TO see
some day, l hope for her sake you will
give me light sentence.
This is very grave charge" remarked
the court. and your gambling Is no ex-
teuuatiug circumstance. Has the prose-
cution any evidence 70 offer N order to aid
the court in fixing sentenes,
As far as We Know said the district
attorney. the facts are jGstas he has stat
ed in this case"
This court is only governed By the plea
and the evidence before it, said the
judge.
81 received only SIS, Judge" put in the
prisoner pieadingiy.
The court sentenced Williamson
to term of three years at
San Quentin The sentence is unusually
light" added the judge, but, If there
had been anything before the court 70
show that you had lpremeditased this
offense the sentence would not have been
less than ten years Icu are
young man and that
weighed with the court You have chance
for reformation. II an old man came here
charged with uttering forged check the
sentence would have been 10 the full ex-
tent OF the law"
Williamson took his sentence Ike an old
offender and appeared as Il be was fortu-
nate in escaping another term He Vas
taken TO San Quentin the same day.
HIS MANNER OF WORKING.
Williamson Is one Of the cieverest rogues
who ever attempted a forgery. From she
papers. letters and blank checks found in
toe valise with the tools Used By him II
committing the forseries- Il was evident
that be had travelled extensively through
out tie western states and territories Ee
was well acquainted with other men who
were IN the same liae Of Business, for on
the back 0. a circular sent out By the Pink
erton detective ag=ncy Offering a reward
for the capture Of forger VITO had swin-
dred the American express company
was written in the handwriting OF
Williamson the name Ford" The officers
gay tia: he was correct il naming his tel-
low-rogue FOR Ford was the name Of a
maa who WAS arrested ooly few days $40