Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-18
u. A. Westerman Establishes His
Innocence When Brought
To Court.
GAMBLER STIFLY SENTENCED
Chris Hansen VIII Pay Fifty Dollars
For Beating Stranger Out Of
His Money.

trivial but which turned out TO be ons
of considerable Importance and keen
interest was fought out In Judge
Diehrs court this morning, when n 10
year-old youth named w. A. Wester-
man employed at the merchandise
store of ID. l.. Davis on west South
Temple street. was placed on trial on
the charge OF petit larceny. The young
man was accused OF stealing from an
old gentleman named Thomas a 81
gold piece He went into the court
with the charge OF theft lodged against
him. and a rather dark outlook for
the future. When he left the court
room an hour and a half later he
stood before the world innocent of the
serious charge against him. He was
pronounced not guilty after a thor
oueh Investigation which he. himself,
insisted upon.
According to the testimony of the
complainant he went to the store
where Westerman is employed, and
asked for loaf of bread, rendering
in payment a IS gold piece. The young
man was unable to make the change
and went into another department OF
the store to get change Unable to
get the same he returned. Thomas
said the young man told him to call
back later and get the change. and
When he did so, he said, the defendant
informed him that he would pay back
the -. and offered So then and tho
balance later After this Mr. Thomas
said. the youth offered him 81 so. say
ing. You stand half and | win stand
half to avoid any trouble. as ] do not
want my good name furnished and I
want TO protect the reputation of the
store" Following this offer. said
Thomas, Westerman refused to pay
anything, declaring that he had re-
turned the 81 piece and that Thomas
mad evidently mislaid It, Young wess-
erman took this course upon the ad-
wise OF his employer. day or two
following, westernan was arrested for
theft
NEWTON VOLUNTEERS.
When he came into court this morn
ing ne announced himself ready for
trial, but had no attorney then to de-
fend him VI e
Atty william Newton had heard
abont the case ana believed the young
mans story volunteered his services
Thomas and Westerman told their
stories, Thomas said he did not get
back the Sc and Westerman declared
that he returned the gold piece to the
old gentleman. Another witness, who
was sitting in the dry goods depart
ment, testified that he saw young West
erman come in for change and return
10 the grocery department and reach
out his hand as IL returning the
money The witness said he did not
see Thomas When the accused was
the = h., ,.t...
Atty Rogers that he made the offer
OF 500 to Thomas simply to avoid
trouble and notoriety
After the testimony was all in Mr..
Rogers argued that the young man
either stole the money outright or he
didn't. He said there was no room for
mistake and was Of the opinion that
the money was stolen.
But the case of the prosecution was
completely shattered by the evidence
of the defense and the argument Of
Atty. Newton,
II say that a mistake was made In
some manner" said counsel. ''Ihis
young man has been employed at that
store for more than two years and such
men do not stay In one place for that
length of time II they are dishonest
The prosecution has admitted that the
young mans reputation for honesty ls
beyond question and 1t is but natural
llldl NltU ne WIS accused OF n dis
honest act the first thought that would
suggest itself to his mind was TO offer
to stand hnlf the loss. II there was
loss I'm order TO protect his good name
and avoid trouble. When his employer
advised him not 10 pay any money to
MI Thomas he took that advice oe-
caus9 ,,, ne didn't propose to pay
he courted this Investigation be-
cause he knew he was Innocent. In
appearing here for the young man It Is
a labor OF love and am glad to be able
10 defend him ana / say that this young
man II Innocent and know this court
VIII net ma him guilty on the testi-
hlouN that has been offered Relative,
ol the young man have offered to give
Thomas 50 bur the defendant would not
listen 10 such 4 proposition because he
knew he was innocent"
When Judge Diehl pronounced Was-
terman not guilty there were many
expressions OF pleasure among th,
spectators The hoy. accompanied b,
MS sister and Mr. Davis, Immediately
returned TO work.
DID NOT CARRY AWAY.
Joe Baker laborer pleaded guilty
10 stealing some brass and iron from
the old copper plant, but he objected to
the clause la the complaint which said
did steal take, and carry away" He
said he did not carry the stun away
but admitted stealing It. For the next
30 days he VIII perform labor with
i pick and shovel for the city.
A youth answering 10 the name OF
g. Roberts, admitted he got drunk
last night. but could not offer any ok.
'use for his actions while intoxicated
II appears mat every time he gels
trunk he has ID mania for disturbing
he pence aud smashing things up
generally. He Was arrested at the
jrphoum r0ominghouse where no
reated quite row.
HANSEN PLEADS GUILTY.
Chris Hansen. arrested yesterday
afternoon hy Detective Sheets and
'unney Tor running a gambling house
On Fourth South and State streets. APP
learod before Judge Diehl this morn
nF. Hansen Is the man charged with
winding a man out az $50 IN tho
rambling dive, He pleaded guilty 10
he charge ana the court fined him
$40
Leon n Simons, a clean looking and
yell dressed young man. pleaded
,uilty "a NagrancY but begged for
nance 10 loaHo this city lie stated
hat Ms mother would be here from
ne east on Monday and was going
% take him 10 California Tho court
permitted him 10 20,