Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-19

OCEAN PARK POSTMASTER GETS
THREE YEARS
Prominent Friends lntercede for
Mercy, and Mitigating clrcum-
stances Are Considered
In Punishment

Judge 0lin Wellborn yesterday SEN
teneed Charles f. Lovelace, former post
master at Ocean Park. to serve three
years at hard labor in the penitentiary
at San Quentin
Lovelace pleaded guilty to two of eight
counts contained in an indictment charg-
ing embezzlement which was returned
BY the grand jury two weeks ago.
On a count charging the misuse OF
5000 IS a sentence of two years was inn
posed, while one year was added on the
charge that a money order for 500 had
been issued on December 20 to j. e. Fin
nall and no funds returned.
The memorable demands of the law were
never more truly exemplihed than when
the former postmaster stood in court sur
rounded by men who had known him for
years as Charley Lovelace; who had
been associated with him in a business
way and in ths social life of the little
beach city.
These friends pleaded strongly to the
court to show leniency, and even the rep
resentative of the government spoke In
high terms of the prisoner
When Lovelace was asked If he would
Dlcau guilty lnt ItAelA BSS 06NfAtSN NAA@-Af
his attorney w. II. Anderson. said an
acknowledgment of guilt would be made
in two of the eight counts, and the United
States district attorney agreed to discon-
tinue six of the counts.
Makes Brief Statement
Lovelace made short statement to the
court before sentence was pronounced.
Although It is known that much of the
money he took had been lost at the gam
ing table, never once has he said a word
of censure of the men associated with
him in card playing, and his last words
before sentence was pronounced contained
only an allusion to his former good rec
ord and a loving reference to his family.
''I am not a criminal, although / con-
fess that went wrong" he said. For
the sake of my family / desire your hon
or's considerat ton"
Judge wellborn in passing sentence de-
clared that no person would watch with
more interest the future conduct of the
defendant. and that he hoped the good
resolutions which Love1ace had made
would be lived up to when he was again
free.
A number of persons. prior TO the SEN
fencing of Lovelace. spoke in high terms
OF his good record. Among them were
A. H Fraser, Judge NJ r. King, DR.. w.
H. Kiger. c. W. Damorel and Attorneys
Force, Parker and w. II. Anderson.
A letter from Superior Judge George H.
Hutton was also read. Judge Hutton tes-
titled to the previous good record of the
man and asked that the court show
mercy.
Bears Brunt Eravely
Mr.. LAWYER, when asked for an ex-
preston of opinion, said that, while he
believed Lovelace to be a weak man,
certain strength of character had been
indicated when the prisoner refused to
attempt to cast blame on others.
For those who sat with him at the
gaming table" said Mr.. Lawler, "censure
cannot be too strong. It is ridiculous to
suppose that they did not know part OF
the money won from Lovelace belonged
to the government, when 1t was quite
evident that his legitimate sources were
not sufficient for the demands Of the
card table.
Were sympathy to control me, no pun
ishment would be asked in this case, but
the demands of justice will not permit
OF this course"
Mr.. Lawler said he believed the de-
PENDANT had mitigated mis- offense as far
as posi- lie, giving himself up to the
authorities and interposing no objections
Of a technical nature in an effort to de-
feat the ends of Justice