The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-26
WAS THE SOCIAL SYSTEM
That Forced A. ID. Hubbard to
EmbeZZle That Money
According to an OratOrical Eff
fort of His
Made in the District Court This Morn
ing-Hubbard Makes Plea
for Sympathy.

A. D. Hubbard. convicted of embez-
zling funds of the Hamilton Printing
company, of which he was receiver,
was this morning sentenced to three
years at hard labor in the penitentiary
by Judge Carver, who oftlciated as
judge pro tenn
Almost the entire bar of the city was
present and heard sentence imposed.
Hubbard was a member of the shawnee
county bar 1t the time of his conVIctlon
and the attorneys took a great deal or
interest in the case. He was also pres
ident of the state A. p. A. He says
he has no money to take the case to the
supreme court, but his attorneys, Will
son & Forbes will appeal the case.
Hubbard is still lame from the injuries
he received while he was still receiver.
He was Thought at the time to be par
alyzed. but has recovered sufficiently
to walk without the aid of a cane.
When he was called up for sentence
he made a sensational and well-worded
speech in his own defense. At first he
spoke in a subdued tone, but as ne pro-
gressed his voice could be heard in all
parts of the room.
II am not here asking for sympathy"
said he. II simply ask for justice. I
had every reason to suppose that the
order upon which this suit was based
was suspended. / was so informed by
Mr.. Larimer, and 1 want to say now
that I still have as much confidence In
the honor and integrity of J. b. Lar1-
mer as any man in the world look
upon this as persecution rather than
a prosecution. 1t is the elimination OF
what was started fourteen months ago,
when every obstacle to a civil suit was
thrown in my way. I had never doubt
ed that a civil suit would be necessary
to determine my liability, but it was
never brought, because it would have
destroyed any grounds for commencing
a criminal action, and that was what
was desired. There never was a time
when 1 was not ready to turn over
what money court would say L owed.
This whole suit was built upon a single
order of the court which I had every
reason to believe was suspended" He
termed the proceeding a magnificent
building of moOnshine.''
In speaking of his situation he said:
"I prefer to be confined in a prison
rather than a madhouse. There might
be some excuse for placing me in a
madhouSe, but in a prison never. This
proceeding will force my wife into out
ragged widowhood and my children into
dishonOrable OTphanage, but my wife
never need hang her head in shame,
for no one ever went to prison with a
less feeling OF guilt than her husband.
I am guilty of nothing. @seN
II am declared an outcast, homeless,
friendlesS and pennileSS on general
principles, and not because l am guilty
of any wrong doing. 1t is the natural re-
suit of our social system.
The speaker then hinted that the pro-
ceedings were brought because of his
connection with the "A. +. "A.
IF the prosecution is really based up
on the fact he continued, that am
a member of the American Protective
aSSOciat ton, l am ready to admit that L
am guilty. If that is the reason this suit
was brought, I am proud of it, for 1
will never deny my connection with the
A P A as long as live. You may pro-
claim me an outcaSt, but not a cr1ml-
nal-neVer-
He closed with the statement that he
had never had home since he was II
years old until he had builded one for
himself in Topeka, "and now" said he,
L see before me that home wrecked
and ruined"
At the close of the speech Judge Gar
yer imposed the sentence. Five years
was the limit, and Hubbard said ne
expected to get the limit He was I'M
affected by the sentence
The fact that Hubbard served short
term in the penitentiary for forgery
early in his life may have prejudiced the
case He was pardoned by Gov st:
John upon a showing that he was put
shifted onto him by an older person.