The San Francisco call., 1903-12-24

Albert William McKowen. self-con-
fessed embezzler of funds entrusted to
his temporary keeping as secretary of
the University of California cut a sor-
ry figure when he appeared for ar
raignment yesterday morning in the
court of Justice James ]. Quinn in Oak
land. His weeks Incarceration had
shrunken his form and scanned his face
with care lines, and consciousness of
the disgracefuI position he occupied
was reflected in his shifting gaze as he
faced the bench and listened to the
reading of the complaint. His jaws and
chin were covered with a stubbly
growth of whisker, and he bit his
neither lip nervously and fiddled with
his fingers during the perusal.
After informing him that Albert Will
liam McKowen was charged by Nor
man McLaren with the crime of felony
embezzlement in having appropriated to
his own use the sum of $9515. the prop
erty of the Regents of the State Uni
versity, the Justice asked the prisoner
If he was the Albert William McKowen
there referred to. and the answer was
an affirmative nod. Then the court in
quired If the defendant had a legal adj
WISER and before reply could be given
Deputy District Attorney Everett
Brown arose and stated that ATTORNEY
Harry NJ. Wright representing the de-
tense, was i'll at his home and unable
to appear and had requested that the
examination of the accused be set for
January 6, 1904, a proposal which the
/ State was willing to accept So the
! nearing was accordingly continued At
! torney L. Church represented the
Board Of Regents at the arraignment.
/ but took no active part in the pro-
ceedings.
While waiting in the office Of the pris
on to be taken to the courtroom Nc
Kowen assumed an ill-ffttins air of
nonchalance. He smoked a cigarette
and gazed listlessly through a barred
window at the street life, seemingly
obliVious to his immediate environment
until an incident occurred that tore
away his mask of pseudo Indifference.
A ring of the telephone bell was re-
sponded to by Jailer Harry Clark. and
the ensuing conversation-from what
! could be ascertained by hearing one
side of twas evidently an exchange
Of holiday greetings between the officer
and friend. And a merry Christmas
to you were the words that shattered
McKowen's false pretense They
brought tears to his eyes that could not
be concealed, and he paced the floor in
apparent agitation until Constable Bert
| Hampstead arrived to escort him to the
tribunal
When the constable produced the
handouts McKowen started and a glow
of shame suffused his features, but he
submitted without protest to being
manacled to his custodian. The march
/ to the courtroom was marked by only
one notable incident. A little boy ran
in front of the prisoner and, laughingly
looking up at his face, piped, How do
you do Mr.. NICK owen?" With a smile
of recognition McKowen replied. Very
well, Willie; how are you?" Then he
! Informed the officer that the child was
friend of his.
w. II. Smyth with whom McKowen
| has lived ever since he came to Califor-
mia, twenty years ago, was in the court
room, and accompanied his protege
back to the jail, preventing him as
! much as possible from getting within
I range of the cameras that awaited him
all along the route.