Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-09
son SEEKS TO SAVE FATHER
Charles F, Kaufman Practically Admits He
is an Embezzler.
SENSATIONAL SCENE IN COUNTY COURT
Aged Man Arraigned on Criminal
Charge when His Son Demands
that He he substituted
in tho Dock.

Charles f. Kaufman, assessor OF the
First ward, openly attempted yesterday
10 shoulder the troubles that hang over his
aged father, Charles Kaufman, a former
councilman. by reason of the latter having
been arrested on the complaint Of E.. f.
Wells, who charged him with the embez-
element of $2,O0S.S5. Mr.. Wells is the
special agent in this territory OF the Trad
ers' Insurance company Of Chicago, and the
funds alleged to have been held from that
company were those collected by the senior
Kaufman as it's Omaha agent.
The incident was afterward described by
Judge Vinsonhaler of the county court as
the most remarkable he had ever seen in a
court room. The warraDt OF arrest was
served on the senior Kaufman at the fam
lily home, sol Pine street, Monday night.
tuesday he appeared in county court
and with him came his attorney, Charles
futile. and his son, Charles F. Kaufman.
Deputy County Attorney Abbott started to
read the complaint, which is long, contain
ing Ave counts, but futile waived that as q
waste of time and entered a plea Of not
guilty.
"well, what shall the bond be-" asked
the Judge, turning to the states representa-
tive. Abbott suggested So, 900 and futile a
lesser sum and they were still discussing
this when the junior Kaufman. who had
been sitting at the side Of the court room.
suddenly arose and stepping nearer to the
Judge said: 'Ill plead guilty to that. l
I'm the one. Let this action be brought
against me-, not my father"
Insists on Being substituted.
For a moment there was absolute silence
end the Judge stared at the young man
in evident amazement, as did the attorneys
for the state. Counsel for the defense was
the first to speak, and he said quickly:
''You can't do that. Don't try it. Sit
down."
NO" said the Judge, "you cannot be
substituted for your father in this par
ticular complaint"
well, them" swere the young man,
'make out a new complaint and make It
against me. 1 am the one. 1t will save
n lot of worry and trouble and might as
well be done now"
While he was speaking the father sat
mo1onless and with his yves on the floor.
The sons hands twltchsd nervously on the
book that he held in one hand and the hat
he held in the other. His face was red.
his eyes were infamed as IL from loss Of
sleep and there were tears on the lashes.
Finally the Judge set the hearing for
April Is at $3.50 o'clock and accepted from
the senior Kaufman a 81 900 bond signed
by Ed Howell of the democratic county CEN
trial committee. The proceedings came to
an immediate close and the younger Kauf-
mann, walking straight to Attorney Abbott,
said: 81 wish to make a full statement to
the county attorney. It's the shortest and
quickest way and 1 don't want father to be
worried any further. / have been in trouble
something like this before and l can stand
It better than he can. 1t was up in Dakota
a few years ago, but l wasn't to blame.
And in this case we can fix It up all
straight and right. 1 want to have my
name put in, for l am the one. My father
doesn't know anything about that money.
And the folks-my folks at home-have had
all the worry they can stand"
Kaufman was true to his promise and
called at Attorney Ahbott's Office twice yes
terday forenoon, but found the latter out
both ines.