Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-12-06
BANKER GOES TO PRISON.
His Infatuation for Woman Makes
Him an Embezzler.

Chicago, Dec. z.-Charles Warren
Spalding, ex-president of the Globe
Savings bank, was yesterday sentenced
to an indetermi1sate term in the penl-
tertiary. He was charged with embez-
cling funds of the University OF liz
inois, CT which he was treasurer.
Under the indetel inmate sentence law
in operation in this state, the convict
ed bank PRESIDENT may be kept I'M
prisoned from one to fifteen years
The length of sentence above one. year
rests with the board OF prison COM
missioners
The court proceedings which termi-
mated in Spalding's sentence were OF
highly dramatic character. Judge
Horton reviewed the case in an elab-
crate opinion which he had prepared
beforehand. One assertion in that
opinion seemed to unnerye Spalding.
This was when the court said that
Spalding admitted his guilt.
L wish, cried Spalding, to deny
that / or my counsel ever admitted
my guilt. 2
Judge Horton had asked Spalding
if he had anything to say why SEN
tence should not be passed on him.
Yes" exclaimed the banker, standing
up. His face was pale and he spoke
as If Iaboring under strong agitation.
In a few VIC rds he made denial of ever
having q united guilt and then said:
every dc lar l 4eceiyed from the uni
versity mas been applied to it's benefit.
| | protest against this unjust verdict
Which | feel would not have been re-
! turned had your honor perrlitted GER
tain facts TIC be considered by the jury.
! These facts had relation to the ques-
tion of 1ntent-intent To commit en-
bezzlem 1t. l am proud OF my bus
mess career OF 80 Jears-ffteen of
which have been passed in this COM
mun1ty l challenge any man to
stand up before me and say l ever
did him a wrong. Your honor may
abridge my days of usefulness, but You
cannot take from me the honor of the
past
At this point Spaldlng's voice failed
him ard be began to choke with emo
ton. Judge Horton then imposed
sentence. 1t was announced in behalf
of the ex-banker that an appeal would
be taken to the supreme court, pend
ing which he will be kept in the Cook
county jail where he has been con-
fined since last spring.
The charge on which Spalding was
convicted Yves the enlightenment of
! $28, 600 Ct Maucoupin credit bonds, the
property of the university. Banker
Spalding made a stubborn fight IN the
courts in the endeavor to preserve his
good name. Besides being in the JUS
tlce courts and before masters in chan
Gerry several times, he twice stood
trial on the charge Of Illegally divert
| ing funds intrusted to his care. The
first time the verdict was not guilty,
but on his second trial, which was on
different point, the jury brought in
an adverse decision.
| The Indictment and subsequent con-
victicn, the romantic love story under
, lying tie dry details of his alleged
| offense ard his 81 lf-possession under
the most trying circumstances, all COM
! bined to make his case an unusually
interesting one. The woman in the
case was Miss S. Louise Erwin, for
merly Mr., Spalding's stenographer.
His lavish expenditures in her behalf
are said to have had an important
| bearing on the wreck OF his fortunes,
| lis reputation and his life. After his
acquaintance with her he became