The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-01-15
"He Is Leading a Life That
Makes Ne Proud of Him."
Miss Barclay Wrote.
HE ADMITTED FORGERY.
But for Two Years De Forest
Has Lived Upright Lie
Judge Grain Paroles Him.

The plea Of his fancce In letter writ
ten TO Judge Grain saved William Earl
De Forest. convicted on his own ccrfes-
sion Of forgery In the second degree
from sentence Of five years in sins
raigned In Part II Of General Sessions
Two years ago young DE Forest, who
lives with his father at No. 36 Presl-
dent street. Brooklyn. was in the en-
ploy Of Charles II. Scott 4 Co.. No. l0g
Centre street, as bookkeeper. one day
10 send to one OF the firms customers.
Instead OF sending II De Forest forged
the customers Endorsement on the back
and cashed the check. He spent the
money In spree that night. and woke
up the next Morning to find that not
only was he a forger, but that ne was q
husband as well. having married a
young woman he met In an East Four
tsenth street resort that night.
Captured and Confessed.
He disappeared, bu, was apprehended
In Washington and confessed. Later
the young man as indicted for forgery
and released on bail. Shortly after his
release he obtained divorce and be.
gan to lead a different lie, How well
he was weaned from his old ways Is
eoquently related in the letter OF Miss
Sara Nesta Barclay. OF No. 3O6 Presto ut
street. Brooklyn, which was handed to
Judge Grain by tie young mans coun-
gel, Abraham Levy. The letter reads;
Il have known Mr.. De Fores during
the last ten years, possibly better than
any one else | was only child when
We met. He was big brother TO me
then, Il lover now. We are betrothed
For the past two years, true to his
promise to me, he has not taken any
alcoholic drinks. lie Is leading a life
that has made me proud Of him and |
am honored to be his betrothed. Only
this one shadow overhangs our lives |
have tried to he help TO him and !
hall cling 10 him until this shadow has
faded away forever.
NE lie Part Of My Life"
ut the same time he committed this
crime, and Of his divorce. | can only
plead that you extend clemency to him
because / love him. because he is part
OF my lie"
The Rev. Albert J. Lyman, pastor Of
the South Congregational Church
Brooklyn, also wrote to Judge Grain In
the young mans behalf, saying that he
looked forward to per FORMING the cere-
mony that would unite the young man
and Miss Barclay in marriage and mean
the fulilment OF the happiness that he
believed God intended for them. The
Court had also received n score OF OF her
letters from merchants. lawyers and
doctors. all testifying to young lie For
est's struggle to live down the fatal err
ror he made two years ago.
II have been fairly deluged with let
tiers In your favor, young man" said
Judge Grain, "all In the same strain
and testifyIng to your honest purpose
10 lead better life"
Her Appeal Decisive.
But IL IL the appeal or this young
woman, whose happiness is so closely
interviewer with your welfare. that
moves me to lensency In your behalf
II could have sent YOU. young man,
10 Sing Sing for Ave years. However,
there are so many persons interested
In you, and confident that YOU will not
so astray again, that ! will suspend
own hands"
At the announcement that meant his
freedom the young man was moved to
tears. HIS fnncee. who sat In the rea
OF the courtroom with his mother and
father. had been Ilspng, but when she
head that her b.,rothed had tcen dis
charged. she ran eagerly to hirr and
chung TO him. turning her smiles upon
the Court and thanking Judge Grain for
what he had done.
Technically the young man was IA.
rolled In the custody Of Mrs. r
walker, .he probationary officer OF the
court.