The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-09
F.W. PETERSON
 IS SENTENCED Former Bank Clerk Gets .,, Five Years.
 HE MAY BE PARDONED EmbeZZlad Large Sum From Montgomery Bank. Pleaded Guilty to One Indictment, and Other Cases Were Dismissed. Has Spent Some Time In Jail.

Fred w. Peterson, formerly collection clerk of the Merchants and Planters Farley National Bank of Montgomery, yesterday afternoon entered plea of guilty to one of the nineteen indictments against him, charging embezzement in the United States Court for the Mid dle District of Alabama
 Five years in the United States peni- tentiary at Atlanta was the sentence of Judge Thomas c. Jones, presiding over the court. This is the minimum sentence allowed by the law. Peterson was assured by the court, however, that if he gave good account of himself at the end Of the first year. the judge would recom- mend his pardon to the President
 Court was opened formally at o'clock In the Judges chamber on account of building work going on in the court room. Peterson was brought into the court by deputy marshal He looked emaciated after his long confinement, and was nervous throughout his short stay in the court room.
 Peterson Pleaded Guilty.
 The details had already been agreed upon by counsel for Peterson, District Attorney Warren S. Reese and Judge Jones. As soon as court was convened counsel representing Peterson entered a plea of guilty to one of the il dictments. The court announced that tie other eighteen cases would be mol pressed Judge Jones told Peterson that if at the end of his L. st year of imprisonment the authorities gave good account of his conduct, the court would recommend his pardon to the President He sentenced him to five years imprisonment
 Peterson's health is in a wretched con- dition, and his trouble has driven his mother, an estimabe woman who for meriy lived in Selma. almost to the grave. These facts had much to do with the leniency of the court.
 Peterson came to Montgomery and the Merchants and Plantcrs-Farley Bank about five years ago from Selma. where ms mother. a widow, was highly res pected resident Peterson was a hard worker and had genial personality He was widely known throughout Mnntgom- cry and moved in the best circles.
 Embezzled Large Sum.
 Last August he asked his employers Tor vacation. It was granted him and Peterson gave 1t out that he was going to the Carolina mountains for the benefit Of his health. He never returned to Montgomery until he was brought back in the charge of a special officer under charse or embezzling about 5000 of his employers money.
 
 Peterson for several weeks, bank officials made close examination of his ac- counts He was little less than S5. coo snort. The trust company which was on the bond of the defaulter, made the shortage good, but from that time until ne was hnalIy arrested in New Orleans AnlerIr1 was secured by detectives of that company on a hunt for Peterson
 Alter leaving Montgomery. Peterson maue ms way to New York. He began workihg on race tracks and was success 9Veiy at Saratoga, Chicago, Salt Lake Clty' Memphis, and finally went to New Orleans Tor the winter meeting. Here he was arrested an. brought to Mont gomery. '''
 Nineteen indictments were found asainst him by the Federal Grand Jury Tn January. Peterson has been contin- uousIy confined in the Montgomery col1n- " Jall since early in December Tie expressed relief yesterday, after noon on the elimination of the tragedy m ms. his --fe He will probably be taken to Atlanta to-day.