The San Francisco call., 1906-09-30
EXTREME PENAL LTY
GIVEN WE TEL.
fearful Appeal for Proba-
ton is Of No Avail in
Case of Youthful Thief
FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE

In the face OF a fearful appeal for
ienfency Judge Lawlor yesterday re-
fused to grant probation for Samuel
p Wetzel, the 20-year- lad convicted
OF the theft of jewelry from the home
of Mrs. Alice Coffin of 6Sl Fell street
and pronounced the maximum sentence
of five years In the State prison at San
Quentin after Wetzel had broken down
and confessed the theft which he de-
MED throughout the trial.
Attorney James f. Brennan appeared
for Wetzel when the case was called
yesterday morning and attempted to
secure an elimination of the facts re-
lating to prior convictions in connec-
ton with the passing of sentence. His
motion was denied. but he was granted
the right to introduce testimony in re-
gard TO Wetzels character and actions
while on probation. Wetzel twice
served sentences for larceny and has
two convictions for burglary pending
against him on Judge Lawlor's reserve
calendar.
WINS A PRETTY GIRL.
The present case was tried on a
charge of grand larceny and the jury
returned verdict finding him guilty
of petty larceny, the value of the
Jewelry stolen by him having been
shown to be less than was originally
alleged. During the trial wetzel was
accompanied at each session of the
court by Miss Ora Conrad, a pretty Los
Angeles girl, who admitted that the
defendant had won her heart and re-
ceived the promise of her hand. At
the same time Miss Alice Coffin, his
former sweetheart, and the daughter
OF the family from whom the jewelry
was stolen, appeared on the witness
stand and gave testimony against him.
While Wetzel yesterday pleaded that
he be given one more trial to prove
himself worthy of confidence and trust
his aged mother sat at his side in the
courtroom, her head bowed in grief,
and tears also sprang to the eyes of
the lads father when the sentence was
pronounced making the boy a convict
for FIVE years, Wetzel himself broke
down and wept as he admitted the theft
and told of the assault he made on
Deputy Sheriff McCauley with a pair
of handouts.
TELLS WHY HE STOLE.
II admit now that l committed the
theft" he said. II stole in order to
get money to take me to Los Angeles,
but didn't steal all the jewelry they
accused me of. | had asked twice for
a pass to Los Angeles, because 1 had
been promised a position there, but
couldn't get it. 1 was drunk, too, when
I did it,
Wetzel told of having met the Cof-
fms but a week before the fire and of
having helped them move their goods
of having stood in the bread line to Sc
cure food for them and later of having
become practically a member of the
family so far as the freedom of their
home was concerned. He declared as
an excuse for his intoxication that his
benefactors were people who always
drank great deal and always kept in
toxicants in the house, and Judge Law
lor took occasion in pronouncing judg-
ment to give Wetzel a severe reproach
for making such a statement. WetzeI
declared that his assault on Deputy
Sheriff McCauley was not premeditated.
but was the outcome of what he be-
lieved to be an opportunity to escape
which suddenly presented itself to him.
Wetzels father and mother both took
the stand and testified that Wetzel had
been at work constantly since he had
been placed on probation and had
helped to support the family. Both
asked that he be given another chance
Judge Lawlor stated that the boy had
failed to take the chance given him.
had proved by all his actions that he
was unworthy, and that he no longer
felt able to show him any leniency.