Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-04-10
Judge Shiras Gives Man Who
Passed Counterfeit Coin
Another Chance
PRISON SENTENCE SUSPENDED
While He is a Good Citizen George
Burke Will Be Allowed His Liberty
Dr.. o. B. Re,Ier Fined $3.50 for Viola
ton Of the Postal Laws.

Cedar Rapids, April lU.-GeofSe
Burke, charged with passing several
counterfeit silver dollars in various
saloons in Cedar Rapids, appeared in
the United States district court last
evening before Judge Shiras, pleaded
guilty to the charge and threw him
self upon the mercy of the court.
In a seat just back of him sat his
sweet-faced little 19-year-old wife, who
has loyalty stood by him during the
three months he has been in the coun
ty Jail and who has been steadily work
ing in the city, hoping that the SEN
tence of the court would not be heavy
and that they could begin life anew.
In spite Of the wrong which he COM
rlitted the officials have come to have
a friendly feeling toward Burke. be-
cause of the frankness of his confess
sion, the apparent sincerity of his pen
itence and his desire to do better in the
future.
The sentence OF this court Is" said
Judge Shiras. that you be imprisoned
in the penitentiary at Anamosa for a
period OF eighteen months and pay a
fine of 81. But in view OF the repre-
sensations that have been made TO me
out of court, taking into consideration
your youth and the fact that you might
not have realized the enormity of your
otfense. I suspend the sentence of i'm
prisonment and leave your fate in your
own hands. II you will seek to obey
the law and be honest and upright
henceforth the sentence OF imprison-
ment will not be executed. But il you
again fall into evil ways, the sentence
stands against you and 1t will surely
be carried out. And you must remem-
Der that this is a sentence by court
of the United States and the arm of
the law is long and will reach out and
take you no matter in which state you
may happen to be. You are young and
should have in you the making of a
good and upright citizen. 1t remains
With you 10 determine. With this
warning, the sentence OF Imprisonment
is suspended and you are discharged"
There was a happy reunion of Burke
and his little wife in the corridors OF
the federal building moment after
ward. Burke said that he would leave
relatives.
The case against Hagenburger the
Davenport NAH charged with the same
offense was dismissed.
The 6cller Case.
In the case of the United States
against Dr. O. b. Beller. charged with
an improper use of the United States
mails, there was read In court u signed
statement by DR.. Beller and his at
torneys, stating that they We're willing
to submit the case to the court.
Judge Shiras said that he had en-
quired into the case with care and had
become convinced that tho the ma
ture of the case was serious. there
were some extenuating circumstances
which put a different light upon it
and tended to convince him that the
ends of justice might be fully served
by the imposition OF much lighter
sentence than might at first seem war
ranted. In view of the fart that the
defendant was a physician and a young
man. with professional career before
him, and because of the further fact
that there were extenuating circum-
stances. he did not feel that there
should be any sentence of imprison-
ment. He had also carefully investi-
gated the defendants financial condi-
ton and concluded that fine of $3.50
would be a weighty punishment in his
case and he therefore would impose
that fine
In the case OF Charles N. Tenny. the
Sioux City postoffice clerk charged with
destroying letter that had passed in
to his hands and converting the dollar
bill enclosed therein to his own use.
the petit jury found the defendant
guilty as charged in the indictment and
Judge Shiras said that as the defend
ant was to be in court today he would
continue the case until that time in or
der that the defendant might have an
opportunity to speak for himself be-
fore he was sentenced, the case against
him being OF serious nature.