Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-09
PLEADS FOR
WAYWARDSON
COURT GRANTS FATHERS RE-
QUEST FOR MERCY
CLAIMS BOY HAD BEEN coAxED
FROM HOME
Druggist Falls in Efforts to Reform
Youth and Young Man Must
Serve Three Years in
Prison

A father stood in the criminal de-
partment of the superior court yester-
day earnestly pleading that his son be
spared from a term in the state penl-
Tertiary.
His entreaties were not in vain, and,
although the son Is charged with many
forgeries and other offenses, the court
said he would be given another chance,
and he was placed on probation for two
years.
The young man is d. r. Sprinkle.
He was arrested a year ago on a charge
of forgery, but through the enorts OF
his father was released. Time ana
again during the last year, 1t is salo,
he has committed similar acts and MS
father has been compelled TO pay the
losers by his sons misdeeds in order
to keep him out of prison.
HE was coaxed away from home by
a supposed friend some months ago,
said the father. This person said ne
was heir to a large estate and would
divide it with my son, but 1t was dls,
covered he had been deceived, ana
since then l have seen little of him.
HE married young woman who lert
him a short time ago, and he was ar
rested later I did not know ne was
in iail. and the fact was kept from me
by his wife
~ will try to make a better man OF
him if he is placed on probation ana
will see that anyone who has lost
through him is reimbursed.
Would Not Reform
notwithstanding the efforts of ]. G.
Vance. a druggist on Figueroa street,
Barney Smith would not reform ana
became so persistent in following eVli
that he landed in the superior court ana
received a sentence of three years.
Smith, said Vance, worked IN the
drug store last year but became SO I'M
reliable and headstrong the druggist
dischareed him. He was taken back
time and again, but no evidence OF
reformation was shown.
A week before the trouble which took
Smith into court the young man was
discharged from Vance's store anu
threatened to return and settle SONS
old scores with the druggist. Inc lat-
ter fearing Smith would carry out MS
threats hid his money in a small
drawer The store was robbed that
night. about $500 worth of cutlery pc
ing taken, and appearances lnolcateu
that a thorough but unsuccessful search
had been made for the money.
Later the property was FOUND IN tne
accomplish of Smit1 and who is await
ing trial on the charge of burglary.
Elmer Strangland, who said he was
with the young men at the time puC
left before the robbery was committed,
was last week placed on PROBATION TOT
two years.
"My intention was to go to santa
Monica on that day and to take my
own life. was tired OF hvins anu LII orS-
couraged because l was out OF Work.
7 srnnose I was a coward, for When
The time came 1 coulC not commit sui
eide. 80
when pointed that pistol at Bald
win I was trying to scare him' Out
was more frightened than ne.
This was the statement made IN the
sunerior court yesterday by Fernand
Dutillend, a young Frenchman, when
asked by Judge Smith If he had any
thing to say in his own behalf.
at think 1t would be cruelty to you to
turn you out upon the world, SAID the
court, and sentenced the prisoner TO
two years in Folsom.
Dutillend on January IL fesufrecleu
from the depths of his trunk an old
Fashioned pistol which had been handed
down from ancestors more than CEN
tury ago. He met L. H. BALDWIN,
moforman, at Santa Monica, and point
ing the weapon at his head demanded
money.
a struggle followed, and Baldwin Sc
cured the pistol. Dutillend, he said,
told him he was starving and had be-
come desperate. AS sentence was pro-
nounced the prisoner fell backward al
most into the arms of the baiiiff, who
had to support him from the ROOM
Harry Scott is superstitious and asked
that some other than March 20 be set
for his trial on a charge of robbery.
"WeI. how will April do?" asked
the court.
Just what want" said the prisoner;
that is my birthday"
Scott is charged with taking money
from a Mrs. Toy, but he claims to be
the victim of circumstances.
Church-What does it mean by "al-
ways room for one more" in street
car?
Gotham-Oh, I guess it means there
is always room for one more strap
Yonkers Statesman.