Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-10
COUNTY PROSECUTOR WARY
Not Sure that Young Kaufman Acts in
Good Faith.
MAY TRY FATHER AND SON TOGETHER
YsunE Man Has Consultation with the
Deputy County Attorney and
Reiterates willingness
TO Plead Guilty.

After he had listened yesterday to
Charles f.. Kaufmann's tale Of the alleged
embezzlement OF 81, 09s.S5 due the Traders
Insurance company OF Chicago, Deputy
County Attorney Abbott was as much as
ever at a loss to determine what to do, and
told Kaufman that a consultation with
County Attorney Shields would be neces-
sary before anything could be decided upon.
He would not agree to dismiss the com
plant fled against Charles Kaufman, the
father, and it is intimated that he is not
yet fully convinced that the sons offer to
pleed guilty to the charge is not a ruse, as
his promise would not be binding should
the action against the senior be dismissed
and another against him the son) be under
taken.
The father appeared in county court
Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the
charge OF embezzlement preferred against
him by E. E. Wells, special agent Of the
insurance company. While the bond was
being discussed the son arose, to the APP
parent surprise OF all present, and asked
that the charge be brought against him. in
stead of his father. saying: II am the one.
Have the complaint made against me. 1t
will save a lot of worry and trouble, and
j can stand 1t better than my father"
Son Calls on Prosecutor.
The court could not so change the pro-
ceedings at once, and the son promised
20 call Immediately on the county attorneys
deputy and make a statement. He called
twice Tuesday at times when the prosecutor
was out, and yesterday morning the latter
found him waiting at his office.
In the conversation that followed, Kauf-
mann said that he had worked for his
father from January 10. last, until January
- - - AA--g g. 4. ,a,,
pany was discontinued by Special Agent
Wells. He did no collecting he said,
but worked on books. He did
not admit literal embezzelement. but
said he was willing to plead
guilty to the charge and go to the peni-
Tertiary for 1t. The prosecutor sought
explanation of this conduct and the young
man said he had served In the penitentiary
In South Dakota for a crime of a similar
nature, wrongfully charged by the express
company for which he worked at Dead
wood and Lead, and that having once
gone through tAe ordeal he felt he could
stand 1t better than his aged parent, whom
he holds morally guiltless.
Only One Bank Account.
From statements OF the son and from
extraneous evidence Attorney Abbott has
found that the senior Mr.. Kaufman kept
only one bank account, which was in the
name Of Charles Kaufmann, agent, in
which he deposited his collections for the
company. but from which he appears TO
have checked not only remittances for It,
but payments Of his personal accounts,
even to his laundry bills. The attorney
says that while Mr.. Kaufman may have
been ignorant OF the fact, this in itself
constitutes embezzlement.
When the conference between the younger
Kaufman and Attorney Abbott ended the
latter allowed the young man to go for the
present. but would make no promise until
he could see the county attorney. He die
not consider the propriety of having the
young man plead guilty and then dismiss
the case against the senior, because he Il
not certain that II will not be best to try
both Of them, and at the same time.
Special Agent Wells has stated that his
company holds a 1000 bond of the senior
Kaufmann's and IL is known that oneS the
bondsmen is Phil G. Kunz, a contractor.
Another is said to be Charles Metz. Mr..
Wells says the company will sue on the
bond.