The San Francisco call., 1908-04-28
T.
BROWN CONFFSSES
AND IS SENTENCED
Banker Says He Takes Punish-
ment Worse Than Death
to Aid Depositors
His Story duplicates Bartnett
and Treadwells as Looters
of Failed Bank

81 finally concluded that L would ac-
cept a punishment worse than death
confinement in states prison-that L
California safe deposit and trust COM
pany and render my aid to those who
are interested In 1T. found myself
without means, overwhelmed with crim-
ina1 charges, confronted by practically
n conspiracy of those who had been nay
do n duty TINT 1 believed was mine
toward those who had dealt with the
bank, and under those circumstances
have pleaded guilty to charge where
1 did not receive penny and did not
appropriate dollar.
al am mt least free for short period
to render my services to the receiver
and to Disclose To him all TINT 1 cnn
thnt mny be of aid to him and to the
depositors, and 1 shall Immediately do
so. When 1 have done this shall go
to my punishment and try to live
through 1T, and In the closing days of
my life possibly i mny know a brief
peace, such as have never known since
my connection with the California safe
deposlt and trust company."-From
confession of ]. Dalzell Brown.
With head erect and manner as
| jaunty as when he presided as the re-
spected manager of the California safe
deposit and trust company. j. Dalzell
Brown pleaded guilty to the charge of
embezzlcment yesterday morning and
received at once n sentence OF lS
months Imprisonment in San Quentin.
A few hours later Brown made comp
plete confession before the grand jury.
stating that Walter j. Bartnett and
James and John Treadwell were pri-
nlarily responsible for wrecking the
bank He added to his confession an
offer to assist the receiver of the in
stitution and gave information which
will lead to the recovery of at least
| 500, 900 for the depositors.
Brown was particularly bitter against
Bartnett and the two Treadw ellis. He
said that they had controlled the bank,
!, had conspired the crooked schemes to
sap its blood and keep It going and
| added that John Treadwell, now in
New York. had with him. a large sum
ef money John Treadwel1 has not been
indicted and is said to be free from
| prosecution because OF the, statute of
| limitations Bartnett. according TO
Brown. appropriated $4,000 out of the
Cotton estate to his personal use.
Brown will accompany Assistant Dis
trict Attorney William Hoff Cook to
the bank this morning at II o'clock
and will explain to E. j. LIE Breton. the
receiver, number of matters which
have proved something of q puzzle.
Many Of the dummy loans will be
traced by Brown and the real borrow
ers called upon to make the sums good.
WILL DISCLOSE THE GUILTY
After he has done this work Brown
will become a witness for the state and
will give his testimony against Tread
we'll and Bartnett. Prosecutor Cook
| says that eonvictione~in these. cases.
with the aid OF Browns testimony, will
be very simple matter.
The particular accusation on which
Brown pleaded guilty was the indict-
nent charging him-swith the embezzle-
ment of SIS $1,000 bonds nf the Sdcra-
-mento railway gas and electric com
pany on April 20. 1903.
The case was. called yesterday morn
ing for trial before Judge Conley. of
MADEIRA, who is sitting in Judge Cooks
court. Hiram Johnson. attorney for
Brown, asked that his client be allowed
| to change his plea. aThereupons Brown
entered IL formal plea of guilty.
At this point in the proceedings
Prosecutor Cook informed the court
! i.iat as Brown, was to be a witness for
the state and the facts in his posses
sion indicated that Bartnett anil ire
Treadwclis We're the chief culrritS, he
hoped. that leniency would be. shown
Brown then received his sentence Of
Is months without a quiver. Judge
Conley named Folsom as the place of
confinement, but this was changed to
San Quentin upon the request of John
son.
Brown then went before the gran
Jury and made a complete confession.
Later he gave out the following state
ment:
TELLS HIS STORY
The better part OF my life has been given to
the California safe deposit and trust COMPANY
To maintain this Institution. to keep its doors
open and TO protect those interested in il 1
worked with zeal and intensity few can under
stands When / became the manager OF the In
stItution, about 10 years ago. I found approxi-
mately eight-tenths of its capital invested In or
loaned TO the interest OF the Treadwells which
at that time were represented by Bartnett
have struggled and worked and Fought to pre-
serve the bank and to maintain its credit. to
protect Its gdcpositors and Its creditors, aud in
the darkest days OF the institution was never
without hope OF success.
did mnnv things and made many sacrifices
that would have made under other circum-
stances during the 10 years that was osten-
sibly manager OF fhe hank. did for the bank
what never would have done for myself and
Whatever did that was culrable was done with
the sole object of aiding the bank and protecting
ITS creditors and depositors. BY no act that I
committed did 1 ever forfeit a single penny nor
did ever divert to myself single dollar that
/ procured culpably for the benefit Of the bank
PENALTY WORSE THAN DEATH
believe there are many ways in which can
yet aid the depositors and creditors Of the Cali
fornfa safe deposit and trust company l could
be of service to them harassed BY iudfct-
ments and being subject to numerous trials, and
! finally concluded that would accept a pun
ishment worse than death, confinement in states
! prison, that l might be able to tell the story
OF the California safe deposit aud trust COM
pany and render my aid to those who are inter-
ested In it. found myself without means over
whelmed with criminal charges. confronted by
practically conspiracy of those who had been
my associates In the bank and unahle to do
duty that believed was mine toward those who
had dealt with the bank. and under those cir
cumssances l have pleaded guilty to a charge
where did not receive penny and did not ap-
propriate dollar.
am at least free for 4 short period to rem
der my services to the receiver and to disclose
TO him all that can that may be Of aid to him
and to the depositors. and shall Immediately
do so When have done .this shall 20 to nv
punishment and try to Hive through It and In
the closing days Of my life possibly i may know
a brief peace, such as have never known since
my connection with the California safe deposit
and trust company.