Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11
Defaulter Bigelow Sentenced
at Milwaukee.
FORMER BANK OFFICIAL
PLEADED GUILTY TO INDICTMENT
OF TEN COUNTS
For Violating the National Banking
Laws-Told Judge He Had
Nothing to Say.

MILWAUKEE, June 10.-Frank G. Bige-
low confessed defaulter in the sum of
81. 100000 of the funds of the First National
Bank of Milwaukee, while president of the
bank, today pleaded guilty to an indictment
of ten counts, each count a violation of the
national banking laws, and was sentenced
by United States District Judge Joseph V.
ouarles to ten years Imprisonment at hard
labor in the federal penitentiary at Fort
LeavenwOrth, Kan, the sentence to date
from noon today.
The former bank president was turned
over to a United States marshal and the
prisoner started for prison this evening.
Judge Quarles, in passing sentence, dwelt
on the circumstances surrounding the case
and with emotion referred to his own long
personal friendship for Bigelow. Bigelow
was visibly affected. although he bore him
self with remarkable fortitude
Bigeow said he knew the nature Of the
indictment. and waived the reading of the
ten counts. At Bigelow's request the de-
PENDANT had no counsel.
Being familiar with the Indictment what
is your plea?" said Judge Quarles Are
you guilty or not guity?'
Bigelow rose, looked squarely at the Judge
and said
Guilty" He then sat down.
Have you anything to say at this time
why sentence should not be passed upon
you?' asked the judge
Nothing replied the former banker
with slight shake of his head and without
rising.
Punishment, Not Vengeance.
The district attorney said that the law
simply called for punishment. not ven
geance and called the courts attention to
the fact that the maximum sentence of
Ipb to no
ing an accumuative sentence. He did not
think the minimum sentence of five years
sufficient for the offense.
Judge Quarles, in his sentence said:
1t is something more than regret 1t is
profound sorrow. that / experience in view
of the stern duty by which | am now con-
fronted. l would gladly have devoIved this
Election 1t has seemed to me that a public
officer ought not to shrink from the dis
charge of any plain duty because of per-
Sonal considera ton.
The suggestions of sympathy that so
naturally arise based upon personal friend
ship. must be silenced by the just require
ments of the law.
The offense charged in the Indictment is
very grave one, when now admitted by
any one. 1t involves the misapplication of
funds that have been entrusted under the
banking law to the care and keeping of an
officer of banking association.
Effect of His Crime.
The crime not only brings great pc
cuniary loss and untold distress to many
individuals, but it exerts a baneful influ-
ence upon society at large.
Here is a man of high intelligence, ripe
experience, enjoying the unlimited conf
dence of the people of this city, occupying
high social station, who appears deliberately
and through series of years to have
been Systematically false to his trust and
guilty of repeated violations of the law.
In such a case the court see no pal
liating circumstance. The offense is rather
aggravated because of the ability, splendid
opportunities and commanding influence of
the defendant.
The ends of justice seem to require and
the court Is constrained to hold, that the
defendant should suffer the extreme penalty
of the law.
The court then gave sentence.