Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-10-03
PLEADS GUILTY THREE HOURS
AFTER ARRIVAL.
MOB CRIES "HIT HIM"
Gets Immediate Sentence-Mrs lnga
Sandbere, Daughter of Convicted
Banker, Accompanies Him to Peni-
tentiary-PIeads Guilty on TWO
indictments.

Element Oh 34DU,UUu was uuC SiANNs
the COLLAPSE of the Milwaukee Avenue
State bank, was given an indetermin-
ate sentence in the penitentiary With
in three hours after his arrival N
Chicago Yesterday from the east and
before another three hours had
elapsed had begun his sentence at
Joliet. Stensland pleaded guilty on two
indictments, one charging embezlle-
ment and the other the violation OF
the state banking laws. fine OF
$120 was imposed on the latter charge,
which was based upon the acceptance
of $50 in deposit after the bank was
insolvent The sentences imposed,
which will operate cOncurrently, are
from one to five years or from one TO
ten years, making the longest term
that the prisoner will be compelled
to serve not more than 10 years.
Stensland was unaccompanied by a
friend or attorney during the entire
procedure in court. Stensland was
joined by his daughter, Inga Sand
berg, as he left the courtroom and
after having dinner at a nearby rest
aurant. they, accompanied by court
officers, were conveyed to the rail
road station. Four hours after his
arrival in Chicago Stensland lef, for
Joliet. The party left the train at a
station, five minutes walk from the
penitentiary entrance and before 3
o'clock all the routine necessary to
commit the convicted man to a Gel
had been completed. Mrs. Sandberg,
who seemingly was much moved by
the evident di stress of her father,
tainted in the warden's reception
room at the penitentiary as the last
details for the incarceration were be-
ing completed.
Immediately on Stensland's arrival
in Chicago he underwent a searching
question by States Attorney Olson
and others. His confession was taken
down by stenographers, as a prelim-
mary to the rapid-fire court proceed
ings.
Surrounded by Mob in Station.
A ruse by which his captors hoped
to take Stensland secretly from the
La Sale street station failed by a
claimants delay, and as a result the
former bank president was surround
ed in a big, low-ceilinged baggage
room at the station by 1000 men
and women. There were cries Of
hit him." uttered by men who had
lost their savings in the Stensland
bank wreck, and except that the
crowd was in ignorance of the almost
complete lack of police protection
he prisoner, it is believed, would have
been attacked.
Many Depositors in Crowd.
Three thousand persons had gath
cred at the railway station to see the
homecoming of the bank looter. III
the crowd were seen many Polish
Scandinavian and Bohemian faces.
They We're part of the $4,000 man and
women Stensland had deceived and
some of them bore looks of vengeance
on their countenances
Mr. Olson had been told a cab
would be in waiting at the Sherman
street side of the baggageroom and
he hastily led his party through a
maze of baggage piles to an open
door.
Strategy is Discovered.
Although it was believed that the |
arrangements had been such that |
none outside the gates, 100 yards |
away, would know .f the descent 20
the baggage room, some of the curious |
ones discovered the strategy of the |
station officials.
They're going out of the baggage |
room, yelled some one. There was a !
rush for the main station the original |
crowd gathering scores of followers |
with every yard of progress.
Alamed by Size of Crowd.
Alarmed by the size of the crowd |
and the threatening aspect of the stu |
alton, Harry Olson, assistant states |
attorney, in charge of the prisoner, |
decided not to leave the train with |
Stensland for a few minutes. The |
former banker was in the rear car of |
the tain. He was kept there in the
compartment reserved for the states
attorneys party until $40 a. m.
the baggage room" a station police
man announced,
"All right said Mr.. Olson. Come !
on, Stensland.'
Let my luggage be sent down at I
once continued the attorney. speak
ing to the bag gemaster.
Descend on Baggage Elevator.
Trunks that had been piled on a
baggage elevator were hastily dragged
off it and Stensland Detective Joseph 7.
Kinder, Attorney Olson and Theodore
Stensland descended.
There he is" shouted some one,
spying the gray-clad, stout figure of
the banker.
Stensland is Frightened.
Instantly the crowd rushed forward
and Mr.. Olson found himself and mis-
party surrounded. Stensland was
visibly agitated. He was frightened
and he showed it. Detective Kinder
drew the covering prisoner backwar
and nut his own huge form between
the prisoner and the crowd.
Edging slowly through the mass OF
people. growing denser every mo-