Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-27
Paul @. StenSland Is
Sleeping Behind
the Bars
Chicago Man, Accused of
Stealing $1,000, 1000,
Gets Off Easy
lndeterminate Sentences, With Credit
for Good Behavior, Means Less
Than Ten Years Of Con-
finement
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Sept. 26.-Paul O. Stems
land, to whose confessed embezzle-
ment of $400.000 was due chiefly the
collapse of the Milwaukee Avenue State
bank, was given an indeterminate SEN
tence in the penitentiary within three
hours after his arrival in Chicago to-
day from the east and before another
three hours had elapsed the convicted
bank president had begun service of
the sentence at Joliet
Stensland pleaded guilty to two in
dictments, one charging embezzlement
and the other charging violation of the
state banking laws.
A fine of $120 was imposed on the lat
ter charge, which was based upon the
acceptance of $50 in deposits after the
bank was insolvent. The sentences inn
posed, which will operate concurrently,
are from one to five and one to ten
years, making the longest term the
prisoner will be compelled to serve Tot
more than ten years.
Stensland's arrival in Chicago was
greeted by a crowd of several hundred
persons who awaited the coming of the
Twentieth Century limited, on which
the president and his captorS We're pas
sengers. To reach the c2bs which were
to convey the party to the crlmlnal
court building it was necessary TO wait
for the police to clear passage from
the entrance of the baggage room, by
way of which the prisoner was con-
veyed to the street
The crowd was demonstrative, al
t.tOla n
effect upon Stensland was noticeable.
He became nervous and seemingly
apprehensive of Lodily harm. The drive
to the criminal courts building was ac-
complished without incident States
Attorney Healy was waiting in his prl-
vate office for the arrival OF stems
land and the prisoner was hurried,
haggard and trembling, between a
double line of police into Mr. Healys
presence. a conference lasting over an
hour ensued between Stensland, Healy,
Assistant States Attorneys Olsen and
Barber and several attaches of the
office.
Ennbezzer Confesses
What Stensland made known to the
states attorney was not divulged.
After the conference Mr.. Healy said
"Stensland made a full confession
of everything connected with the af-
fairs of the bank. He has told us of
his own acts and of the acts of others.
What he has revealed makes the banks
affairs less dark for himself"
The court proceedings which followed
immediately were conducted hurriedly.
Silence fell over the court room as
Stensland faced the bar His form was
shaken with emotion and he kept a
handkerchief in his hand and frequent
ly brushed away the tears which came
in his eyes.
Judge Kersten before the proceedings
were kept addressed the prisoner
whom he had known for many years
as a citizen and business man. He re-
viewed the case briefly and asked If
Stensland had any defense to offer
Upon receiving a negative reply the
court passed sentence and after the
ceremony the party filed out of the
court room. Stensland was unaccom-
panied by friends or attorney during
the entire proceedings.
Stensland was Joined by his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Inga Sandberg, as he left
the court room, and after having had
dinner at a nearby restaurant they, ac-
oompanied by Jailer Whitman and
Deputy Sheriff Mcmahon, were con-
veyed to the railroad station, where a
train was taken for the penitentiary at
Joliet.
Before O'Clock all lie routine neces-
sary to commit the convicted man to a
cell had been completed. Mrs. Sand
berg, who seemingly was much moved
by the evident distress of her father,
tainted in the warden's reception room
at the penitentiary as the last details
Of the incarceration were performed.