The times., 1898-12-24
SENTENCE WAS IMPOSED |
Frederick S. Cobura to Go to
the Penitentiary.
POSTAL LAWS VIOLATED YI,l
Efforts to Avoid the Penalty-Jus-
tice BradIey's Remarks - The At
torney's Plcn for Mercy-Thc Pris-
oncr's Request Denicd-Thc Gov
crnmcnt Hns Eeen Reimbursed.


ager of the postoffice substation which
was located in the drug store at the
southwest corner of New York Avenue
and Ninth Street, was yesterday sem
fenced by Justice Bradley, of the Su-
preme court of the District of Columbia,
to imprisonment for a year and day
in the penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.
Coburn was convicted about six weeks
ago of violating the United States postal
laws in connection with the management
of the postofce substation of which he
was in charge. the specific charge being
the issuing of postal money orders with
out having first received the money for
them.
Since his conviction great influence has
been brought to bear to have his sem
tence suspended during good behavior.
and in the event of this failing, TO have
the slightest penalty required by law i'm
posed. This is inferred from the re-
marks of Justice Bradley, who, in review
ing the case before imposing sentence,
said that a large number of the friends
of the defendant had interceded in his be-
half, some of whom are officials of high
standing.
Taking all things into consideration. he
said, he would be very glad IL he could
have seen his way clear to grant the ap
peals which were made, but he could
not.
As soon as Coburn was brought into the
court room Assistant District Attorney
Laskey. who. with Mr. Shillington, con-
Quoted the prosecution, informed the court
that motion had been made for new
trial and arrest of judgment, but that no
argument was offered in support of 1t.
and moved that it be overruled. Tracy
l.. Jefords. Coburn's attorney, stated that
there were many arguments to be ad
vanced in support OF the motion, but it
was not his intention to do So
Mr.. Jeffords then made plea for mercy.
saying that the prisoner erred In iudS-
ment and not in purpose. and had done
all in his power to rectify his serious er-
rors
wheE his attorney concluded Coburn
rose, and on being asked h.Sthe court
why sentence should not vs. imposed an
swered. NO, sir.
After referring to the fact that many
prominent persons had Interested them
selves in behalf of the defendant, Justice
Bradley said that. while the imposing of
a sentence was most unpleasant under any
circumstances. Ii was especially so in this
instance, for aside from, intercession Of
many prominent persons, a most touching
and pathetic appeal had been made by an
other whom he would not mention. II Is
well known that the person referred to is
a lady and was in the court room at the
time. nz
When Justice Bradley announced the
sentence Coburn asked THAI. in cons!dera-
ton of the fact that forty days had
apsed since his conviction. his term of
Imprisonment date from that time. This
request the court refused and CoburH
made another appeal that the term OF i'm
prlsonment should date from yesterday.
instead of the time of his arrival at CO.
Iumbus, o.
The ofrense for which Coburu was con-
yicted was committed in the Summer of
1897, while he was in charge of postoffice
substation No. IL located at the corner
of New York Avenue and Ninth Street.
He was charged with issuing postal
money orders, without receiving the
money for them. During the trial, 1t
was developed that he had issued orders
for large amounts which he sent to per-
sons to whom he was indebted for small
amounts and have them return him the
balances. An examination of his ac-
counts showed that he had issued postal
orders in this way aggregating $500.
As soon as he learned that he was
suspected he left for Canada, where he
was apprehended shortly after. He,
however, made no protest against coming
back In fact. 1t is said he stated that he
was glad he had been found and readily
returned with the officer who arrested
him.
When he arrived in Washington he
rendered all the assistance he could to
the district attorney, in getting posses
sion of every dollar he owned TO pay
back the amount of his shortage. II is
understood that he so far succeeded that
there is now only the sum of $500 due
to his bondsmen, who have made good
the losses of the Government.