Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-29
Winterset Pastor Who Used
Mails to ENtort Sent Up For
Thirteen Months
TO SERVE IN FEDERAL PRISON
Judge Mcpherson Expresses Deep
sympathy for swift's Wife and
,Daushter-carl Spencer, Convicted,
of Bank Embezzlement, Sentenced to
Five Years at Leavenworth.
,pecial to Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
+ Des Moines, May 29.-Rev. John H.
Swift, pastor of a prominent church at
Winterset, recently convicted Of using
| the. mail in attempt to extort money
from Banker Cornell, Of Winterset, was
sentenced by Judge Mcpherson in the
United States district court, to thirteen
months in the United States peniten-
tiary at Leavenworth, Kas.. at hard
labor Rev. Swift stood in silence be-
iafore the court, displaying neither by
expression or act the slightest emo
ton If, Within his breast there supged
a tumult of thoughtsgor thru his brain
there trooped feelings of despair or re-
gret he yelled them completely from
vision by a calm. impurtable exterior.
Imposing sentence upon Swift was
plainly an unwelcone duty for Judge
Mcpherson, not, perhaps, because of
Swift the man, but of Swift, the moral
and religious teacher, supposed to ac-
who was the chief figure in the worlds
greatest tragedy enacted On Calvary
1900 years ago. Judge Mcpherson APP
preached the task with reluctance, so
much SO that in pronouncing sentence
he scarcely cast "a glance at the pris-
onerY at the. bar
Judge Mcpherson said In part:
.T. L.
ia judge to sentence minister Of the
gospel for crime That profession, the
5hoblest in all the world respected and
revered by ali, which gives so much
comfort, men who are SO devoted to
good works, to self sacrificing SO pure
in life of such wealth of benefit to ALL
But it is known by all that there are
exceptions, and 1t is known that when
there is h fall, the fall is all the great
efs Men must be Judged according
to theslight they have.
+ I & This defendant has a good wife
and a good daughter. They suffer
MORE than does defendant, and have
my deepest sympathy. But cannot
tlfrn aside because Of sympathy for
the wife and daughter.
The defendant, for money, tried to
besnirch the good name Of Mr. Cor
nell lie tried to wiring the heart Of
Mrs Cornell, who had entertained this
man al her home, and as member
Of sliisS church, had rendered him many
Kindly offices.
THE defendant attempted to black
en- the fair name and reputation for
chastity Of Miss Turner. with no
brother nor father to protect her. She
is an ACCOMPLISHED young lady, of I'M
hlemished character, teacher il the
schools, and a member of the church
of which defendant was pastor, and
by defendants false accusations driv-
en- from the state.
I {. w hat can be said by any man in
of defendants punishment?
What can I, as Judge, say by way of
excuse for not denouncing by a. judg-
nient now to be rendered against such
a man, tho he be minister of the Cos
pei. for such crime % FsN
United States Marshal Clark will |
leave for Leavenworth this evening,
having Swift in charge. 1t is barely
possible he may succeed in: procuring |
bond for an appeal, but this is re-
garded as remote contingency.
Five Years for Spencer.
/ Carl Spencer, recently convicted for /
ambezzling 10000 or more belonging
to the bank was sentenced by Judge |
McPherson, in the United States dis
lrict court, to five years in the United
States prison at Leavenworth, Kan.
Attorneys for Spencer filed a motion
Tor a new trial. This was overruled,
when notice of appeal was given. 1t is
expected Spencer wilE file an appeal.
This will effect to release him pending
rial BY the United States court Of APP
reals, Judge MCPHERSON imposed the
east punishment permitted under the
ederal statutes. This was, perhaps
because Spencer's relatives had made
rood the amount of money en1bezzled.
Il was paid to the bond company, and
" the latter turned over to the bank.
rhe settlement operated to eliminate
he feeling of reprisal by either the
lank or the bond company Hence the
minimum sentence.